Forest Hills residents say they are being hit with parking tickets and towing bills at a lot near a popular Grand Rapids Township restaurant. The enforcement has raised questions about who is behind it and whether the tickets are legal.

A ticket in 10 minutes

Michelle, a Forest Hills neighbor, said she parked behind Noco Provisions for less than 10 minutes before finding a ticket on her car.

"To go from an honest mistake and have somebody jump on it right away, within 10 minutes, it just feels kinda gross," she said.

The parking lot sits behind Noco Provisions and in front of Azul Agave, a Mexican restaurant that has not yet opened. Neighbors first posted complaints about the tickets and towings on social media in April.

One driver reported being charged $461 in towing fees plus a ticket violation.

Who is behind the enforcement?

A follow-up investigation by FOX 17 provided answers to the questions neighbors had raised.

• The Kent County Sheriff's Office confirmed the tickets are not issued by law enforcement.
• Grand Rapids Township said it was not behind the tickets.
• Noco Provisions issued a written statement saying it has nothing to do with the ticketing or towing.
• The owner of Azul Agave confirmed her restaurant is not authorizing the enforcement.

John Francis, property manager with Francis Realty Co, confirmed his company manages the lot and handles the enforcement.

Francis said people had parked in the lot without consequences for a long time. The company decided to start actively enforcing parking restrictions to protect private property and tenants connected to the lot. He pointed to signs posted throughout the property.

Where does the money go?

Francis confirmed that money from parking tickets does not go to the landlord or the property management company. He could not say where the money does go.

The towing company said money paid to them stays with them. The company cited rising costs for fuel and storage.

The Sheriff's Office said it does not enforce the private tickets. If the tickets go unpaid, they could be sent to collections.

What drivers can do

Noco Provisions reminds customers that they have overflow parking available next to Kennedy's Flower Shop across Delray Avenue.

Neighbors say the situation highlights how private parking enforcement can catch drivers off guard. With signs posted throughout the lot, Francis Realty Co says the restrictions are clear. But residents say the sudden enforcement change came as a surprise.