Car Lockout in Athens, GA

Locked out downtown

The Athens Downtown Development Authority enforces downtown on-street parking and runs the West Washington Street deck, while the Downtown Athens Parking System runs the College Avenue deck. The county's parking page lists meter enforcement from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with a two-hour maximum between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., so a lockout at a meter can run into that limit. Give the block, the side of the street and the nearest cross street. In a deck, give the deck name and the level.

Game weekends near campus

On home football weekends, UGA Transportation and Parking Services asks drivers to clear most campus lots by 5:00 a.m. Saturday, and vehicles left after that may be cited or towed at the owner's expense. If you are locked out in a campus lot that week, give the lot number and the time, because the clearing deadline is the clock that matters.

Heat and cold risks

Georgia's summers are long, hot and humid, per NOAA, so never leave a child or a pet in a closed car. If either is inside a locked car, call 911 first, before you contact anyone else. Georgia's winters are short and usually mild, but a person or animal shut in a car in cold weather is also at risk.

What to send

• Where the car is: block and cross street, deck name and level, or campus lot number.
• Make, model, year and color, and whether the keys are inside the car, in your pocket or lost.
• Whether the space is metered or time-limited, and how long the car has been there.
• Whether anyone or any animal is inside; if so, 911 comes first.
• Photo ID and the registration for the car.

If the keys are gone rather than locked inside, see car key replacement. The car lockout page explains the service, and the Athens page lists more local rules.