Fees resume at Haulover Bridge parking lot

After a two-year hiatus, parking fees resume at the beachfront lot under Haulover Bridge.
BY RODOLFO R. ROMAN
Special to The Miami Herald
Beachgoers will have to cough up some cash if they plan to park under the Haulover Bridge.

For two years, parking under the bridge was free during construction of the One Bal Harbour project.

But this week, police have started enforcing parking rules at the bridge parking lot.

The lot has new pay-and-display meters, meaning that drivers have to feed coins, bills or credit cards into the parking meters and place receipts on their dashboards. There is a three-hour maximum.

''They are convenient because people don't have to search for change,'' said Village Manager Alfred Treppeda.

Enforcement was scheduled to begin Tuesday. The 65-spot lot is owned by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Before the construction of One Bal Harbour, parking at the lot cost 25 cents for 10 minutes with all the revenue going to the village. Now, the rate will be 25 cents for 15 minutes with 60 percent of the revenue going to the village. The rest goes to the the state.

The money collected is used for general village operations. ''The meters provide us with some revenue,'' Treppeda said. ``It could help us maintain the lot and meters.''

The fine for expired parking is $18, he said.

The lot had been a subject of controversy after local surfers protested the parking spots should be open around the clock. But the village objected to the idea, saying a 24-hour parking lot would invite crime and violence.

The village and FDOT agreed to a five-year lease in February. Parking hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.