PITTSBURGH \u2014 The Pittsburgh Parking Authority is making big changes after our exclusive reporting on AI cameras ticketing people in some lots on the South Side.<\/p>\n
After Chief Investigator Rick Earle began digging into this, the parking authority announced they will no longer issue tickets on Sundays in its lots that are now being monitored by cameras.<\/p>\n
The authority recently installed cameras at some of its parking lots and began enforcing paid parking 24 hours a day, seven days a week. <\/p>\n
That was until church members attending Sunday services on the South Side got tickets in the mail after using one of the parking lots. <\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone in church got a ticket, at least one,\u201d said the Rev. Patrick Carpenter.<\/p>\n
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Church members ticketed for parking in lot they have used for 30 years in Pittsburgh<\/a><\/p>\n And so did Vietnam veterans attending a memorial service right next to a lot on Carson Street on another Sunday morning.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Vietnam veterans ticketed during memorial service; city vows to make it right<\/a><\/p>\n Earle spoke with one of the veterans who got a $25 ticket in the mail, but never saw a parking enforcement officer.<\/p>\n Earle: \u201cWhat was your reaction?\u201d<\/p>\n Connor: \u201cWow.\u201d<\/p>\n The veterans and church members told Earle they\u2019ve used the lots for years and never been ticketed, and they were unaware of the changes.<\/p>\n Despite the new signs, Pittsburgh council member Bob Charland believes the drivers were caught off guard.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople just not knowing that they\u2019re parking somewhere that needed to feed the meter. I think people would probably be okay with it if they at least had some warning,\u201d Charland said.<\/p>\n The authority has agreed to waive the tickets for the church members and veterans. <\/p>\n They will issue refunds for any of them who had already submitted payment.<\/p>\n And now 11 Investigates has learned the authority is making more changes.<\/p>\n In a statement sent to 11 Investigates, the authority said the board voted earlier this year to extend enforcement to help the city during a \u201csignificant budget challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n But now, in response to public feedback, the authority said it will no longer issue tickets in those lots on Sundays. <\/p>\n Councilman Bobby Wilson is on the authority board, but said he didn\u2019t recall voting to extend parking in those lots.<\/p>\n He said he\u2019s grateful to the authority for working with the community. <\/p>\n \u201cYou know this might be out of the grace of the Parking Authority in some of these instances, but I think it\u2019s always important for the Parking Authority to be partners in the neighborhood,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n The statement from the authority went on to say that it remains committed to being a responsible partner to the city while also responding to community input. <\/p>\n But the authority also warned that this change could impact revenue, as drivers will now be able to park in authority lots for free while avoiding paying for parking spaces on the street.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92025 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n