By Andrea Gregory

Davis Square has always been a hot spot to take in dinner and a movie. However, after enjoying a night on the town some people would return to their cars only to find an orange parking ticket strapped to their windshield.

The problem was a two-hour parking constraint in the metered lots.

Thomas P. Champion, spokesman for the city, said sometime people come to enjoy Davis Square nightlife, but just don‚Äôt run back out to the meters. 

In the parking lots the meters last until 8 p.m. The city has adjusted the meter lots to take three hours worth of quarters, which should allow people who want to enjoy longer stays in the city not to face penalties.

“This will make sure people don’t get into that bind. They can buy three hours of parking It is in effect now,” he said.Champion called it a minor change in policy aimed at pleasing local business owners and Davis Square patrons. The issue first came to the city’s attention when a few local business owners informally raised concerns over the meters’ two-hour limit.

The meters have all been reset to except three-hour payments. New stickers are expected to be applied soon. The parking meters on the street will remain at two hours. Those meters run out at 6 p.m.