Jan. 30, 2001-- Reported by Central Utah Correspondent Sam Penrod
Going to court in Utah County now will cost you extra, no matter who you are.
The state has recently implemented fees for its parking lot around Fourth District Court.
So now, defendants, attorneys and even jurors are having to pay up to park.
The self service parking lot went into operation back in December.
But even after a couple of months, the idea of paying to park at the courthouse has not gained any popularity.
A sign now welcomes you to Fourth District Court in Provo.
It tells you it's a dollar an hour, or five dollars a day, to park.
The state recently bought all of the remaining property on the courthouse block to prepare for future expansion, and paved the land for parking in the meantime as a way to generate funds to maintain the courthouse.
Dennis Vance goes to the courthouse a few times each week to research court records.
Dennis Vance/Court: "I PARK ACROSS THE STREET AND SOMEDAY I'M SURE THEY'LL CATCH ON TO THAT AND TOW THE CAR."
And he's not alone.
Nearby businesses say they often find their parking lots nearly full before they even open for business in the morning.
Utah County Attorney Kay Bryson, whose office prosecutes cases on behalf of the state, is opposed to the pay parking lot which affects not only his staff, but anyone with business at the courthouse.
Kay Bryson/Utah County Attorney: "WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREE AND OPEN ACCESS TO THE COURT. I
THINK THIS INHIBITS THAT FREE AND OPEN ACCESS."
Bryson was recently given parking permits for only about 25 percent of his prosecutors and staff.
He argues the state shouldn't be making money from public property at the expense of public defenders, defense attorneys, defandants, victims, police officers and jurors who all can't escape the fee box.
State Court administrators told Eyewitness News today they are working on a proposal to eliminate charges from the original courthouse parking area and to only charge for parking in the new expanded lot.
Gordon Bissegger/Administrative Services Director: "I THINK THIS WILL RESOLVE THEIR CONCERN AND THERE WILL STILL BE FREE PARKING FOR THE PUBLIC TO USE AND TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE SOME REVENUE TO DEFRAY THE COST OF OPERATING THE BUILDING."
The state court system estimates it could generate up to $30,000 a year from the pay parking lot.
In the next few days, it hopes to find some kind of solution that seems reasonable to everyone involved.
