MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — While beachgoers say they aren't having a huge problem finding parking on Madeira Beach, many however, are struggling to find ways to pay for the parking spot.
"Yes it is!" Linda Morris said. "You have to hit the green button so it can say validated. But I kept hitting it and it wasn't saying validating. It's scary."
Morris said she has the same issue every time. She said she ended up getting charged multiple times for an hour a few weeks ago.
"It was $18 for an hour," Morris said.
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"I didn't tell my husband," she joked.
Parking in Madiera Beach costs $2.50 an hour.
Linda isn't the only one with this issue.
"It does get aggravating for them at times," said Lauree Tyner.
Tyner works at the Snack Shack and hears all the complaints. This is why city leaders have decided to hire a part-time parking enforcement officer for the season.
The officer will not issue tickets. Instead, they will help people use the meters so they're not overcharged like Linda Morris and others have been.
"You have to give Kudos to the city," Tyner said.
The officer will work from May until September or October and make about $7,000. The city is not going to have to use any extra money for this position.
"That's good," Morris said.
For those who don't want to use the parking meters, the city does have an app. You can download that app from the App store on your phone, or from the website.
