ORLANDO, Fla. – If you’re planning to visit Downtown Orlando’s nightlife this weekend, you might want to get there early.
The city of Orlando has quietly implemented new parking garage rules for the downtown area in the latest step to crack down on nighttime safety issues, a spokesperson told News 6.
On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, drivers cannot park at city parking garages after 11 p.m. unless they are permitted to be there. Drivers already parked in the garages will be able to exit.
The new rule went into effect on May 10.
“I heard something from my friends who went out over the weekend. They were like downtown was so different. There were all these rules,” said one person walking downtown.
“You can’t find any place to park, and there are some great bars downtown,” said another person.
A city spokesperson said the policy was meant to “ensure the safety of residents and patrons in our downtown and to manage the large crowds that converge on the weekends.”
The city manages a dozen parking garages and lots around the downtown area, with some normally open 24/7, like the Central Boulevard Garage, according to the city’s website.
The new policy is the latest in a string of changes made to crack down on the downtown nightlife scene.
Last year Orlando officials instituted a moratorium on new nightclubs that is in effect through September 20 of this year.
Businesses are also now required to get a special permit to sell alcohol after midnight and are required to pay for security. Changes have also been made to private parking lots and the city noise ordinance.
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