A shopping center in Yonkers, N.Y. (yep, Consumerist’s global headquarters) didn’t think that it was doing anything wrong when it set up its own parking meters along the private streets on its property. Customers fed them. You park next to a meter, you feed it, right? Park Ridge has collected money and even issued its own parking tickets since the spring of 2011. The problem, of course, is that the city of Yonkers is the only entity with the authority to issue parking tickets and run meters. According to city officials, the shopping center’s developer kept collecting meter money and ticketing non-payers even after the City Council asked them to stop.

Private companies can charge anyone to park in garages or lots, of course, and Park Ridge does have a garage. Ten minutes on the meter cost a quarter, or $1.50 per hour. The garage cost a minimum of $3.25 for six hours.

Ridge Hill meters come under legal scrutiny [Poughkeepsie Journal-News]

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