As the city of Gainesville considers a plan that would turn free downtown parking into metered spots, they are tweaking the system they use to collect payment for parking tickets.
When the city realized people were abusing their system they decided to pursue back fines for repeat offenders.
Since they began using computer software to track people with three or more parking tickets down they've collected an additional 25 to 30 thousand dollars.
But the effort is on hold because of a software glitch that was billing people who did not receive any parking tickets but did have the same name as someone who did.
The city does not begin pursuing fines until someone is ticketed three times, and some people continue to take advantage of the system.
Each year the 435 metered parking spots bring in about 170 thousand dollars for the city to be used as general fund revenue.
Assistant City Manager Paul Folkers says the city's parking study was not conducted because of the problem they have had collecting fines.