Parking isn’t a day at the beach

Angelique Flores

A day at the beach can be fun and relaxing, as long as you don’t get a

parking ticket.

Parking a few blocks away from Downtown is free, but you have to walk a

ways.Getting a spot closer to the beach and pier is going to cost you.

But it may be worth it.

“Park in the structures,” suggests Carrie Benoit, a Downtown merchant.

“It’s the safest spot. You won’t have to worry about time overlap and

tickets.”

Knowledge is power in the effort to avoid a ticket or paying more than

you have to for parking. An expired meter will cost between $32 and $36,

depending on the location, if the parking patrol catches your car. In

Downtown, a number of the meters go until midnight and have time limits,

so be sure to check the signs after you pull into a space.

Some parking places to take advantage of are in and near Downtown. The

city’s beach has a 2,400 space parking lot and additional parking on

Pacific Coast Highway and nearby streets.

Daily parking in the municipal beach parking lot, between First Street

and Beach Boulevard, is available at $7 per day weekdays, weekends and

holidays. Between June 1 and Sept. 15, no vehicles -- excluding

commercial buses -- over 25 feet long are permitted in the facility on

weekends. Entrances are at First Street, Huntington Street and Beach

Boulevard. Fees are subject to change.

Annual parking passes for the municipal beach are available throughout

the year. Passes are valid in all beach parking lots from Beach Boulevard

to the pier, the off-street metered lots on the ocean side at Goldenwest,

the metered lot adjacent to the Warner Fire Station boat ramp and the

meters along Pacific Coast Highway from Beach Boulevard to Bolsa Chica

State Beach.

Passes cost $100, and $25 for seniors 62 years and older. Seniors must

present a driver’s license and matching valid vehicle registration at the

time of purchase. Passes, except for senior passes, are prorated the day

after Labor Day to $35. Passes go on sale Dec. 1 of each year.

The Main Promenade parking structure has 830 spaces on the east side of

Main Street between Walnut and Olive streets. Parking fees are $1 per

half hour, with a $7 maximum from May 1 through Sept. 30 and $1 per hour

with a $5 maximum from Oct. 1 through April 30. Annual parking passes are

also available.

Annual passes for the municipal lots and Main Promenade parking structure

may be purchased only at Beach Division Headquarters, 103 Pacific Coast

Highway. Call 536-5281.

Pier Plaza parking, next to the pier, has two new lots that use a

Park-N-Pay system during the fall and winter months. Fees are $1.50 per

hour. A $7 daily fee is charged during the spring and summer months.

Credit cards are accepted. The Municipal Beach parking pass is valid in

these lots. For more information, call 536-5287.