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Sensors knock extra time off meters when cars move in Salem

SALEM, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – Drivers in Salem are lamenting new sensors that virtually eliminate all extra time left on parking meters when cars leave their spots.

According to SalemNews.com, the new sensors were installed in parking spaces on Washington Street last week. When a vehicle leaves the spot it had occupied, the meter gets reset to 5 minutes.

"It's one of life's little pleasures, and they're taking it away," Paula Graziani told SalemNews.com.

Jim Hacker, Salem's parking director, told the paper he hadn't heard any complaints. Hacker said the sensors were installed to help push drivers into parking garages for long term parking to open up more space on downtown streets.

The sensors were installed in 130 out of the city's 600 parking metered spots.