City officials say the additional fee wasn't their idea.

"This latest increase is something that we're required to do by state law."

Howard Chan is the city's Parking Services Manager. He says the $3 surcharge was approved with the state Budget Act of 2010. That's on top of a $9.50 surcharge the state forced the city to add last year.

Chan stresses, the revenue from this latest increase doesn't go to the city.

"It goes to the same place the existing $9.50 goes to and it's the state court systems."

Getting a parking ticket from the city will now cost you $42.50…with the city getting $30 and the state getting the rest.

Chan says the latest $3 surcharge will end in July of 2013 when the state fee sunsets.