FUMING drivers have been slammed with $50 tickets thanks to a new parking rule at Costco.
Drivers had no idea about the new rule until they noticed sneaky slips on their cars.
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Over 30 drivers found parking tickets on their vehicles in the new Costco lot on South Kanner Highway, according to Treasure Coast Newspapers.
The Stuart Costco officially opened its doors on April 25, 2025, and is located on 3173 Kanner Highway, Stuart, Florida 34994-4822.
To ensure traffic flow was smooth and prevent any auto accidents, there were local authorities who helped manage Stuart Costco’s opening day.
Between April 25 and April 27, Stuart police issued 31 citations to drivers who were parked illegally.
As per police spokesperson Lieutenant Brian Bossio, the parking tickets were issued for a range of reasons, including obstructing traffic, parking in a fire lane, and parking 15 feet from a fire hydrant.
Drivers were ticketed between $25 and $50, depending on the severity of the offense.
“No one is happy getting a parking ticket, but all of the tickets that were issued were based around public safety,” Bossio told Treasure Coast Newspapers.
Stuart police were hired to help with traffic issues and manage the Costco parking lot by handing out tickets along Southeast Legacy Way.
The three officers were hired by Costco to facilitate parking violations, meaning they were not answering calls on those days.
Authorities mentioned that some consumers called the police department to complain about receiving a ticket.
None of the tickets were handed directly to drivers — they were placed on the vehicles.
With the new parking rule, customers are concerned that they won’t have any place to park when making a trip to the grocery store.
Several drivers circled the lot, which has 1,725 spots, waiting for shoppers to move their cars.
Some drivers even resorted to parking illegally on the Costco curb for convenience.
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made
Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.
- Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid.
- Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too.
- Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid.
- Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
- When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument:
- “I didn’t know the law.”
- “I was on my way to move my car.”
- “I can’t afford this ticket.”
- “I’ve been doing this for years.”
- “I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.”
- Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.
Source: Reader’s Digest
Still, Florida residents were grateful that the wholesale retailer decided to open up shop in this location.
“The gas station is already up and running prior to the warehouse opening,” wrote one shopper on Reddit.
“I got to peek in the doors and from what I could see this location has a sushi section! Exciting stuff for the Treasure Coast area.”
Others had mixed feelings about the new store, especially considering how it will impact traffic around the neighborhood.
“I’m scared of what it will do to the traffic on Kanner,” they wrote.
“We live close and the traffic has increased every year. But I’m very excited for the store itself.”
Other retail stores have cracked down on parking rules as drivers face strict consequences for parking illegally.
Some Walmart and Sam’s Club stores have introduced a new parking enforcement system, which will begin on May 1.
Now, drivers can enjoy only three hours of free parking before they are issued a citation, according to KHON.
Rule breakers will be subjected to towing or greater fines for their noncompliance.
This comes as the retailer attempts to free up parking spots for handicapped shoppers and ticket those who have parked without the proper paperwork.
Costco did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.