FOX Carolina 21Drivers stuck in Greenville garage for hours

Several drivers had their patience tested while they were trying to get out of a Greenville parking garage Thursday night.

FOX Carolina was the only station there as drivers struggled to pay their fees at the automated machine at parking garage next to the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Some of the drivers told FOX Carolina that they had been waiting between two and three hours to exit the structure.

SLIDESHOW: Drivers stuck in parking garage

A few of the drivers lost their cool while waiting in line, according to witnesses. That was when Greenville Police were called in to keep the waiting drivers orderly.

Greenville Public Works Director Mike Murphy said the hotel did not tell his office that there would be a large event held there on Thursday night. He said the card reader exiting the garage is not meant to be used for large groups.

"It takes about a minute and 30 seconds for every person to go through, assuming they have their cash or debit card ready," Murphy said.

Murphy said that eventually a parking attendant was brought in to help, but there was a break down in communication.

"The parking attendant out there (did) not really understand what the problem was," Murphy said.

Murphy said they now have a policy in place to help mitigate a situation like this again. He said that a flat, $2 rate will be charged during big events at the hotel of which his office is not aware.

Copyright 2012 FOX Carolina (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.