The Waukesha Common Council held a second reading of proposed amendments to municipal code Chapter 7 on parking regulations and forfeitures Tuesday, discussing several changes requested by the police department but taking no final votes.

Why it matters: The draft ordinance is intended to give police clearer authority to remove vehicles that cannot be identified and to update fines, which the city said will help clear hazardous parked vehicles and align forfeitures with neighboring communities.

City staff described four substantive changes under consideration: a requirement that fire lanes be properly marked so parking in a fire lane is explicitly prohibited; a requirement that vehicles parked on city streets be registered if state law requires registration; a narrower authority to remove illegally parked but unidentifiable vehicles without waiting the usual 72‑hour public‑nuisance period when officers make reasonable efforts to locate an owner; and an across‑the‑board increase in several forfeitures (generally an initial $25 and $44 if unpaid after 15 days, with higher amounts for certain serious violations). One staff presenter said the towing change "says that if the police encounter a vehicle that's illegally parked and they make an effort to find the owner through the usual means ... then they do not have to wait 72 hours to remove the vehicle from the street." (city staff)

Council members pressed a range of clarifying questions. Alderman Narickin asked where the 72‑hour standard originates; staff replied it is already in chapter 12 (public nuisances) and parallels existing limits on inoperable vehicles on private property. Several aldermen argued 72 hours is reasonable to allow owners time to retrieve a disabled vehicle; others suggested private‑property parking penalties should be substantially higher. Alderman Narickin proposed, and said he would pursue at third reading, raising the first‑offense forfeiture for parking on private property to $100 (and $200 after 15 days).

The draft also proposes a higher initial penalty and higher unpaid amounts for violations such as parking too close to a fire hydrant or blocking a loading zone; handicap parking penalties would increase from $150 to $175 if approved as written. Staff noted a couple of typographical fixes in the version attached to the agenda and said the ordinance will be updated before final action.

No final vote was taken during the meeting; the item was on second reading and the council invited amendments and additional review before a third reading.