Free juror parking starts Tuesday in Miami-Dade County

Free parking available at Miami-Dade County Courthouse, Richard E Gerstein Justice Building

MIAMI – Local 10 calls it justice for jurors.

When the new fiscal year begins Tuesday, Miami-Dade residents called for jury duty will be able to park in several county-owned lots for free.

A Local 10 investigation last November found Miami-Dade was the only county in the state charging jurors to park.

Commissioner Lynda Bell saw the story and proposed legislation to put the brakes on the practice.

"This is not fair, this is not correct. This was no-brainer legislation, quite frankly," said Bell.

Bell said the county shouldn't place an unfair burden on residents called to serve.

"We didn't know. Thank you for putting it on our radar," Bell told Local 10's Jeff Weinsier.

Miami-Dade had been charging jurors $5 to park. If they left for lunch and came back, it was another $5.

The back of a jury summons now has a parking pass attached and specifies locations that are free.

"It's a $170,000 impact on the general fund but it's the right thing to do," said Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

Each year, 65,000 county residents are called for jury duty.

Parking locations

Miami-Dade County Courthouse
73 W. Flagler Street
Free juror parking available at:
Hickman Lot #5, 270 NW 2nd Street, Miami, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Cultural Center Garage, 50 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
1351 NW 12th Street
Free juror parking available at:
Municipal toll lot, Northwest 13th Avenue south of 12th Street under S.R. 836 Expressway
Additional parking in private and municipal lots near Justice Building, including Mahi Temple on Northwest 14th Avenue and North River Drive on the Miami River

Free parking also available at all Metrorail stations.