SYRACUSE -- Anyone who has ever put money in a parking meter knows the risk they run if they don't make it back in time. A new policy will take effect in Syracuse on Monday which help drivers at a meter who are running a few minutes late.

Under the new policy, the people who hand out tickets will give drivers a 10-minute grace period after their metered parking receipt expires, before giving them a ticket. According to the city, the reason the grace period is to encourage people to spend more time downtown.

If drivers get a ticket that falls within the 10-minute window, they will have to keep their slip to get the ticket dismissed.