A judge sided with a Munhall man Pittsburgh police cited and fined for parking in a public, on-street spot in Market Square erroneously claimed by a Green Tree valet service.

Joe Smetana, 49, pleaded not guilty to parking illegally because he said when he parked his car about 4:30 p.m. Oct. 4, employees of Tri State Valet Inc. hadn't posted “No Parking” signs in the square to warn visitors they would be using the spaces. When Smetana returned about 8 p.m. after work, his car had been towed.

A judge found Smetana not guilty on Monday. He will receive a refund of the $96 parking fee. He plans to take documents provided by the court in an attempt to receive a refund of the $115 towing fee from McGann & Chester Towing Inc.

The Tribune-Review profiled Smetana's plight Wednesday as part of a series of stories about complaints from Market Square visitors about Tri State Valet's methods.

Jeremy Boren is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7935 or jboren@tribweb.com.

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