Free Sunday parking in Oakland is no more.
On Sunday, the city began issuing citations for unpaid parking meters, ending a grace period that began after the city rolled out the change in January.
The enforcement – from noon to 6 p.m. – was intended to increase parking turnover and make it easier for customers to stop by businesses in high-demand areas during busy weekend hours.
“Free Sunday parking has historical ties to outdated blue laws, which prohibited business activities on Sundays to promote rest and religious observance. Today, Sundays are among the busiest days for businesses such as restaurants, shops and entertainment venues,” the city said on its website. “Updating meter hours helps ensure parking is available when demand is the highest, including weekends.”
The move also came as the city, faced with a massive budget deficit, looked to stabilize its finances and stepped up parking enforcement last year. The Sunday enforcement is projected to add $1.3 million in revenue to the city’s general fund, city staffers said in a report in December.
Drivers who fail to pay for meters face a fee of up to $71.
During the grace period, the city issued warnings. Repeat offenses, however, resulted in citations.
Sunday parking enforcement is hotly contested. Sunday parking meters remain free in most neighborhoods in San Francisco. In recent years, the city moved to extend enforcement of parking meters to Sundays, only to reverse course.
This article originally published at Oakland begins issuing citations for unpaid Sunday parking meters .