ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, August 24, 1996              TAG: 9608260041
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-1  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY

ALL AMERICA CITY CELEBRATION'S PARKING SNAFU TO BE REMEDIED

IF YOU PARKED IN THE LOT behind Billy's Ritz and got a ticket, you can call and have it voided.

Sure, there's no such thing as a free lunch. But is there free parking? Some folk who attended the All America City celebration in downtown Roanoke Aug. 17 may be wondering.

The city promised free parking for the celebration in the First Union Tower garage, and large signs directed motorists to Norfolk Avenue, which feeds into the garage's entrance.

But the signs inadvertently led some to park in a city-owned lot managed by Republic Parking off Norfolk Avenue behind Billy's Ritz bar and restaurant. And some who parked there ended up with another All-America icon: a $5 parking ticket.

One Botetourt County woman who attended the celebration and got a ticket said a Republic employee was writing them "just as fast as he could."

She notified city police Officer Lylburn Ollie, who began the process of setting things straight.

Michelle Bono, the city's public information officer, said when the city realized what had happened, it ordered tickets written by Republic employees removed from the cars in the lot.

And those who returned to their cars before tickets were snatched back don't have to pay them. For the price of a phone call, they can get them voided.

"It was our error in assuming that people, once they got to Norfolk Avenue, would turn into the [First Union] garage," Bono said. "People who had never been to the First Union Tower garage didn't realize that's where the signs were directing them."

Anyone who received a ticket Saturday night in Republic's Norfolk Avenue lot can get it voided by calling Beth Carter, manager of Republic Parking, at 343-0585.

"We're sorry that happened," Bono said.

For the record, the spaces in the First Union Tower were filled up by 8 p.m. The overflow was directed to the Williamson Road and Church Avenue garages.

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