Faulty Meters Lead To Free Parking For Glendale Drivers

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The city of Glendale has a message for its drivers: go ahead and ignore that parking meter.

The city shut down dozens of meters along a stretch of Brand Boulevard and in adjacent parking lots after electronic parking pay stations gave tickets to drivers who didn't deserve them -- leaving some very upset.

"There's nothing that makes people more angry is getting a parking ticket, i mean we're counting our minutes anyway," said customer Marsha Ramos.

Local business owners, however, are pushing for the meters to go back on-line as soon as possible on a stretch of road that is home to some of the area's biggest car dealerships and other high-traffic businesses.

Helen McDonagh, owner of Massage Envy, says before the meters debuted two years ago, parking was practically non-existent on Brand Blvd.

"It's very important that the cars turn over here so that our customers can find convenient parking," said McDonagh.

Officials estimate it could take up to five weeks to fix the faulty meters.

While parking will be free, the time limits for those spaces will still apply, and officers warn they will ticket any vehicle in violation.