Video – Municipal Money Grab in Cobourg or Fair Game?

Pete Fisher
4 months ago
• Categories: Local

The Charles Street parking lot in Cobourg is still causing confusion for visitors to Cobourg.

And most times the tourists visiting Cobourg experience a $160 ticket.

Today’s Northumberland stopped by the Charles Street parking lot just east of Division Street on Saturday, July 27, 2024 shortly before 6 p.m.

The municipal parking lot is designated for only residents of Cobourg that have purchased parking passes.

But as previously reported by Today’s Northumberland the signage can be confusing.

On the west side of the entrance is a ticket machine and on the east side is a sign stating the parking lot is only for residents of Cobourg.

When Today’s Northumberland walked around the parking lot there were upwards of seven tickets placed on vehicles at a cost of $160 each for parking illegally.

One person who arrived and found the ticket on their windshield stated they were from Cobourg and had purchased a residential parking pass and would be calling officials on Monday to rectify the error.

But three other people who weren’t from the area said the sign/s are very confusing.

A Bowmanville family was shocked after they received a ticket on their windshield after arriving back after a day on the beach.

The person said they paid $15 for parking and thought they were “safe.”

But after arriving at his vehicle, a ticket for $160.00 was awaiting for him.

“I said the green P. And as soon as I saw that I knew I could park here – that’s what I did.”

The person said when he pulled into the parking lot and read the sign that had a “P” on it, he thought he was parking correctly because the machine and sign was directly in front of the parking lot.

Another family from Toronto arrived back at their vehicle to find a ticket on their windshield.

They had went back to the ticket dispenser and deposited enough money for two tickets, but the money didn’t matter because they were parked in an area for local residents only.

Because the sign stated it was for local residents only on the east side of the parking lot, the woman said she thought her family was safe because they paid for parking on the west side where the ticket dispenser was located.

“I’m going to dispute this one – I’m not going to pay it.”

The woman said how the parking lot is marked is “misleading.”

It’s their first time visiting Cobourg and it was a “great day,” but the woman added after getting the ticket

“it’s not the best experience.”

Another person from Durham Region who came down for the day said he saw the machine and parked in the lot.

“I paid $15 for three hours and as soon as I come here I saw a ticket for $160 and I don’t know the reason.”

The man said he wasn’t aware of the residential spot because the paid spot is what he noticed when parking.

“If it’s a residential parking – why is there a paid spot?”

The cost of the ticket alone is enough to take time away from his two children traveling in the summer.

The man said that he has no other option that to appeal the ticket.

“It’s really frustrating because I paid for the parking.”