OFF THE CUFF:Black Friday parking alert

WHEN pay days coincide with Friday, Panama City’s traffic crawl tends to grind to a halt, so when Friday becomes Black Friday expect an even darker scene.

The Panama City Mayor’s Office has issued a statement asking people not to block streets or pavements near shopping malls on “Black Friday.” November 28.
It said shoppers must be tolerant and patient when arriving at retailers and must also correctly park their vehicles to avoid congestion, which will hurt the businesses.
This year, 82,899 drivers have been ticketed for parking infractions in Panama City and Black Friday will certainly bring more
The Mayor’s Office has also noted that it is illegal for merchants to block parking spaces on streets to reserve parking spaces for their businesses.
Fines for violating this ban range from $250 to $1,000.