Council hearing considers raising North End parking fines to $100 for TD Garden events

The Boston City Council Committee on Government Operations on Sept. 26 heard public testimony and administration briefing on docket 1206, a proposed ordinance that would raise the fine for parking in resident-permit-only spaces in the North End during TD Garden events from $60 to $100 and add a $33 late penalty for unpaid violations after 21 days.

Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, district 1 and chair of the committee, opened the hearing and described the bill as aimed at protecting residents’ access to limited on-street parking in one of Boston’s most densely populated neighborhoods while encouraging transit use for large events. “The ordinance amends the City of Boston code to increase parking fines in the North End residential parking district during TD Garden events from $60 to a $100 per violation,” she said.

The measure drew sustained public comment from North End residents who described daily difficulty finding legal parking near their homes on event days. Dariel Meehan, a North End resident, said: “It is virtually impossible to find a place to park.” Resident Carrie Akashian said the neighborhood “has no more spots to lose” and described families who rely on cars for…