June 16, 2000

Parking problems at a popular Salt Lake City restaurant have caught the attention of other small business owners.

Members of a small business group say towing or ticketing customers is not an effective solution. Government specialist Richard Piatt has details.

Everyone's worst parking nightmare is now a reality at lots of places where a lot of people want to be.

Yesterday we told you about problems at the Dodo restaurant. It turns out that's just one of many such problem parking places.

Near the University of Utah, it's parking where you can get it for some people. One woman left her car where she wasn't supposed to for at least 10 minutes today.

The owner of an S.U.V. parked on the curb out of frustration. Everyone else fends for themselves, too.

Vicki VanOrman/Trying To Park: IT'S DIFFICULT. AND I DON'T COME HERE VERY OFTEN BECAUSE OF THAT.

Such maneuvering in 1300 East parking lots happens because parking on neighborhood streets is permited only near the University.

Such permits are just the thing residents on Sherman Avenue want, because of the Dodo Resturant. Dozens of people would like to park there every day if they could.

But they're not supposed to. Salt Lake City enforces parking restrictions that just so happen to coincide with the Dodo's peak business hours.

Such enforcement is not just making the Dodo's owners mad. Other small business owners relate to the situation.

Steven Rosenberg/Vest Pocket Business Coalition: THEY'VE BASICALLY SINGLED OUT A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. AND RESTRICTED PARKING ON THIS STREET, TARGETED SOLEY AT THE VIABILITY OF HIS BUSINESS.

The people who enforce parking laws say there are lots of streets where people park illegally because choices are few.

Near schools, sporting events, religious or social events, or popular neighborhood hangouts. All are places where parking spots are prime real estate.

The Vest Pocket business coalition will meet with the mayor Monday to try and work out the Dodo's problem. But there may be another solution, says a friendly parking enforcer.

Harold Fields/Parking Enforcement Officer: IN BIGGER METROPOLITAN AREAS THEY WALK. YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T GET TO THE DOOR. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WALK A FEW BLOCKS.