Related video above: Colorado Springs’ final Parking and Curb Management Plan released.

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Parking can be a headache in any city, especially in the areas that attract tourists, and downtown Colorado Springs is no exception. As the parking system has gone through a transition from the traditional meter system to a hybrid that includes coins, credit cards, or mobile apps, many people are left with questions.

According to the City’s parking information page, parking is available in three garages downtown, as well as several surface lots, and metered parking spots along the streets. Meters take coins or credit cards to add time, but drivers can also use the ParkMobile App, which is free to download and can be used to pay for metered parking downtown and in Old Colorado City.

Over the years, it’s been common practice that if a driver parks in a space with remaining meter time, that time is considered a “donation” from the previous person who had parked there, and any additional coins would simply add time. With the ParkMobile app, however, payment is specifically tied to a driver’s license plate.

FOX21 News recently looked into how the City approaches metered parking through the app vs the traditional way of paying. We were prompted to do so when a community member recently shared their story with FOX21.

According to the community member, she parked in a space that still had time on the meter when she arrived, and so she added time on the ParkMobile app. She said that she returned before the time should have expired to find a parking ticket on her car.

When she contacted the number listed on the back of the ticket, the parking enforcement officer said she was issued the ticket because the license plate on the parked car didn’t match the plate that was supposed to be there. The woman stated that the app displayed her own license plate information correctly, though at the time the ticket was issued, the previously entered time would still have been active before her added time kicked in.

According to Alyssa Alt, Parking Enterprise Manager, while the City can’t speak to a specific incident, payments made through the app are tied to a vehicle’s license plate rather than the physical meter. Because of this, any remaining time left by a previous driver on the meter does not apply when a new driver uses the app. Each ParkMobile session is specifically tied to the vehicle of the person who entered the payment and begins at the time the payment is initiated.

“The ParkMobile app offers drivers in Colorado Springs added flexibility and convenience,” said Alt. “It allows individuals to start a parking session from a mobile device, extend time remotely, and receive expiration reminders. This helps prevent overstaying a meter and avoids unnecessary overpayment.”

According to Alt, if the correct license plate and parking space numbers are entered, the system generally functions as expected, but to prevent confusion, drivers should choose either the meter or the app for payment, not both. If time remains on the meter, but a driver uses the ParkMobile app to pay, it should be treated as a new and separate session.

People are encouraged to use the method that works best for them, but if they have questions, they should call the Parking Enterprise team at (719) 385-5681.