Eighty-five years ago Sunday, parking meters first went into operation in Chattanooga.
The cost to park for one hour on an inner-city core of streets on Oct. 20, 1939, between Fifth and 11th streets and between Broad Street (where parking was angled) and Georgia Avenue, was a nickel. The fine for an expired meter was $2, but $1 if you paid it promptly.
How far we have come.
Earlier this week, the Chattanooga City Council approved raising parking ticket fines just shy of 82% from $11 to $20.
“There will be a difference in price,” City Councilman Isaiah Hester told WDEF. “Everything has gone up, so even the cost of parking tickets will increase to deter parking in front of businesses, allowing customers to come in and out more easily.”