The Canton Downtown Development Authority is eyeing a new system that would allow waivers of downtown parking fees.

Parking validation is a cooperative effort between businesses and local government that would give the businesses in the downtown area the ability to waive parking fees.

The program, officials said, would promote shopping and dining by offering free parking for patrons who exceed the two-hour limit on parking downtown.

A merchant who wishes to participate would receive a stamp. If a patron receives a parking ticket, he or she could return to the store or restaurant they were visiting to have the ticket stamped. The stamped ticket then could then be mailed to the Canton Police Department for processing. A $20 monthly fee for use of the stamp would be charged to participating merchants.

"It is great publicity. Patrons can come to downtown and not have to worry about tickets," said Wanda Roach of Canton, chairwoman of the downtown development authority.

The authority board took no action, so the idea could be presented to Canton Police Chief Jeff Lance and City Attorney Bobby Dyer for review. The delay also allows time to poll authority members Cleveland Chambers, Zach Kell and Stan Rogers, who have downtown businesses and were not present at the meeting.

Ms. Roach said she hopes to make a recommendation to the Canton City Council by August. The parking validation system would require the council's approval before going into effect.

Doug Key, who serves on the board and owns Key's Jewelry in downtown Canton, said he doesn't know how useful the validation system would be as the majority of tickets are issued to downtown business owners and employees.

The number given to customers, he added, "is a very small percentage of the tickets."

"I would wonder how many (downtown business owners)` would pay $240 a year," he said, referring to the annual cost of the stamp.

The board also talked about possibly increasing fines for habitual parking violators. A person is labeled habitual after receiving three tickets in a month.

Authority member Rebecca Johnston of Canton said the board's goal is to open up more parking downtown for customers, adding she sees merit to the validation system.

"I'm for finding a solution to making parking better for the customers," she said.