PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) – Folks who park in the city may be eligible for a once-in-a-lifetime break.

City officials are considering a proposal to forgive one parking ticket per person.

“From what I understand, business people are concerned people coming to the city for the first time don’t understand the meter regulations,” said City Manager John Bohenko. “I would suspect once you get a ticket and it’s been forgiven, when you come back you’ll be more aware of what’s going on.”

Deputy Police Chief Len DiSesa, who serves on the city’s Parking Committee, said he likes the idea. “I think it’s fair,” he said.

The ticket forgiveness program was originally proposed by the Downtown Business Association. It’s expected to cost the city about $480,000 per year, or 15 cents on the tax rate in the first year. Subsequent years would reduce the loss as more people use up their one forgiveness ticket.

The city would have to purchase software at roughly $40,000 to $50,000 plus an annual license fee. A part-time data entry person may be required to keep track of the who’s been forgiven at a cost of approximately $20,000.

The City Council will have to sign off on a final proposal, which may be considered this fall. Public input also will be gathered.

First-time expired meter violations from July 2004 to June 2005 represented 63 percent of the total violations. The total revenue from first time violations was $488,969, about 30 percent of which was from late fees.

If the forgiveness program is implemented, parking tickets would include a box to allow violators to mark if it is their first expired meter violation in the city. City staff would then cross reference a database of names and license plate numbers to ensure there is no duplication.

The city currently forgives approximately 4,800 tickets each year through appeals, Bohenko said.