‘Out of sync with modern times,’ says official as city parking tickets to triple after remaining unchanged for 20 years | 6503BIK | 2024-05-02 12:08:01
'Out of sync with modern times,' says official as city parking tickets to triple after remaining unchanged for 20 years | 6503BIK | 2024-05-02 12:08:01
DRIVERS are bracing for parking fines to triple after officials said low ticket prices didn't act as a strong deterrent.
Allentown, Pennsylvania officials stated they needed to raise parking fines, which had stayed at $15 for 20 years.
"The parking fines are bearable to the public such that motorists choose to illegally park for convenience and incur an affordably low fine," Jon Haney, deputy director of the Allentown Parking Authority, wrote to the city council, according to The Morning Call.
Haney said the fines were "out of sync with current times."
Allentown is the third largest city in Pennsylvania.
However, the ticket price didn't reflect the parking challenges typical of a large city, he said.
Currently, drivers pay just $15 for a litany of parking violations.
Parking in a no-parking zone, parking too far from the curb, or parking in a crosswalk will get a small fee.
Costs rise to $25 if drivers don't pay in 10 days. The fines max out at $70.
Haney suggested parking ticket prices should double to better reflect the harm of illegal parking.
The city council will vote on a measure that will more than double ticket prices.
If implemented, parking tickets will cost drivers between $35 and $50.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> The fines would rise to $65 after 10 days without payment. The maximum fine would be $90.
Fine changes could help the city budget its balance sheet, according to The Morning Call.
Allentown's parking authority currently faces a $1.8 million budget shortfall.
Last year, the city cut back on its parking enforcement mechanism after residents complained they received too many tickets.
Allentown also changed pricing at its public parking facilities.
<p class="article__content--intro"> Parking on a public street is generally legal, even in front of someone's house, experts say. </p> </div> </div> The city council voted to increase parking prices from $1 to $2.
Monthly parking passes were also increased from $100 to $125.
The parking authority is looking at building more parking garages in growing parts of the city.
But the parking authority board chair, Ted Zeller, said financial headwinds could stop the construction of the new spaces.
The proposal to increase parking tickets is co-sponsored by two people on the parking authority board.
A final vote is scheduled for May 1.
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