RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh restaurant owner is trying to protect parking spaces for patrons.

In October, the owner of a nearby parking lot started charging $3 and threatening to give violators the boot -- a move Mo's Diner feared would scare off business.

"I don't want to go to dinner, to a nice dinner here, and get towed and get booted," customer Lynn Vogel said.

As a result, Holly Mohajer, the owner of Mo's Diner, started warning customers when they called for reservations. She even put it in writing on the back of the menu.

Mohajer wants to welcome visitors, not give them the boot.

"This is a destination, so I don't want them to be discouraged by anything to come down here, or else, they'll go someplace else," she said.

Mohajer said she wants to remind people that street parking is free after 5 p.m.