Andrea Medeiros
amedeiros@abc6.com
It was the first test of Foxboro's new parking ban, Sunday, the season home opener for the Patriots.
Homeowners weren't allowed to charge fans to park, but we found out some of them were doing it anyway.
It was exciting day for Pats fans, Sunday, walking their usual path on North Street, but this year one thing's a little different.
More cops were patrolling the area, making sure people aren't paying to park at homes like Kathy Hickson's.
"We're the ones who have to put up with all the traffic and the inconvenience during the game, we should be able to have people park, and if they want to charge so be it," said Hickson who lives of North Street.
She said she's never charged for people to park at her home, but a lot of other people have. Some have even converted their backyards into parking lots and charge less money to accommodate Pats fans.
There are some areas where I've seen over 20 cars parked, that might be a little too much," said Hickson, "But they should try and come to some kind of resolution, have a fine line. I don't think it should be completely banned at all. I don't think it's fair."
Parking in Gillette's lot is 40 dollars, so one couple said why not risk it and pay half that to park at a friend's house.
"You don't have to deal with that whole nightmare of traffic, it's a big plus," said Tim King.
"We live in Connecticut," said Julie King, "It's a three hour ride. From here to get on the highway is 15 minutes. If we were to come out of the stadium, it would be an hour."
The person who owns the home they're paying 25 dollars to park at could face a fine. A new by–law says homeowners who charge a fee for fans to park on their lawns and driveways could have to cough up 100 dollars per car.
"That could be very interesting," said Hickson, "I don't know how they'll be able to tell. Are they gonna pull a sting? I don't know."
Kathy knows, even with the by-law, people here are still charging. Some houses had 10 to 15 cars in their backyards, Sunday. Others were playing it safe and put up cones and no parking signs.
