Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio unveiled a plan Tuesday to avoid airport parking fees by transporting inmates on the Metro light rail, but officials claim that parking is already free.

Arpaio said he planned to transport extradited inmates using the light rail from 44th and Washington streets to the Fourth Avenue Jail in order to eliminate parking fees at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. MCSO estimates that the new system can save about $72,000 in transport fees.

Arpaio said free parking offered to law enforcement agencies was revoked several years ago and MCSO has been paying $25 per day for each car parked at the airport. Sky Harbor officials said Tuesday that all state law enforcement agencies have access to free and secure parking as long as they notify the Airport Police Bureau in advance.

�Law enforcement officers park in a secure location at the airport and the officer and their prisoners are transported by Phoenix Police to their airline gate,� Deborah Ostreicher, Deputy Aviation Director for Sky Harbor, said in an e-mail. �The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office currently (uses) this service.�

Despite differing claims from both sides, Arpaio planned to move forward with the measure. Arpaio said use of a rail system to transport inmates is not uncommon nationally and the plan will not present any danger to the public.

Under the new policy, inmates brought back to Arizona on warrants would be escorted on the light rail by two armed deputies, Arpaio said.

The inmates are not required to be separated from other commuters but Metro Light Rail officials are concerned that passengers may still object to the new arrangement and fear for their safety, Metro Light Rail spokeswoman Hillary Foose said.

Arpaio demonstrated the plan Tuesday evening by transporting an inmate on the light rail while surrounded by members of the media. The unidentified inmate was being brought in on charges of fraud. The scene immediately got the attention of light rail riders.

�It depends on if (the inmates) are violent or non-violent,� Phoenix resident and light-rail rider Nick Correa said. �If they have a history of violence, I'd have a problem with that.�

Arpaio said he would reconsider the plan only if he received written verification that his deputies would be able to park for free at the airport. Sky Harbor officials maintained Tuesday night that free parking was available to all law enforcement agencies.

�If they need to come to the airport and pick up or transport a prisoner, they can still do that for free,� Sky Harbor spokeswoman Julie Rodriguez said.