STATESBORO, GA (WTOC) – When you go to Target, Walmart, or even a city parking garage, do you ever wonder how drivers think they can park in a compact parking spot?

The vehicle may not fit, but as WTOC’s Don Logana found out, these people may know something we didn’t know. Those parking spots may simply be outdated.

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It turns out the car industry, and even the parking industry, is pretty vague on what defines a compact car.

“A Prius is more of a compact car than a Chevy Avalanche,” said Kristi Bryant, GSU Parking Director.

But, how do you define that?

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One thing is for sure: dings, dents, and scratches are going to happen. It is one reason the Parking Services Director at Georgia Southern University, Kristi Bryant, says her office has a tough time with parking regulations. Cars are always changing and getting bigger, and a typical 90 degree compact car space is eight-feet wide and 15-feet long. Some are as small as seven to seven-and-a-half feet wide.

“Here at Georgia Southern, we have made the commitment to make the spaces at least 8.5 feet wide, and new construction nine-foot wide,” Bryant said.

Here is what you probably don’t know. Bryant says parking codes, including compact parking, are only for public parking. Private parking is not bound by the regulations, so, old, outdated spaces will likely stay that way, unless there is new construction.

“Most are including compact parking spaces now. Most are including hybrids spaces along with big push for electric vehicles,” said Bryant.

Georgia Southern is spending a pretty penny to make bigger compact parking spaces, and parking spaces over all, which explains why private companies aren’t re-striping or retro-fitting.

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“It’s extremely costly. You are probably looking at $1 and $2 million dollars to come in and completely re-engineer everything,” said Bryant.

The city of Savannah says they are unaware of any parking regulation changes, and they aren’t making any changes. Bryant says, Georgia Southern is private, and they are doing for the sake of their students’ and faculty’s’ parking well-being.

“The frustration level and safety level will be increased, and that is what this is all about,” she said. “Make everyone’s experience more comfortable.

And, if you are wondering why, an obviously “non”-compact car is not towed at a local store. It’s probably because it’s private property and up to the store to have the car towed. The city of Savannah will ticket vehicles that are in a compact parking space.

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