Tuesday, August 19, 2008 --- 8:55 a.m.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- A new report from the Wausau Police Department probably won't make motorists happy.

The report says officers issued more than 16,000 parking tickets last year -- a 71 percent increase from the previous year.

Wausau Traffic Lt. Dennis Saager says the increase is due to more officers on the street as well as hand-held computers that make ticket-writing more efficient.

Jim Janke is the co-owner of Janke Book Store downtown. He says he hasn't heard any customers complain about the stricter parking enforcement.

He says the tighter rules are probably good for business, because someone who parks illegally all day can make other potential customers less likely to shop downtown.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)