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Council committee to revisit parking-penalty ordinance after members propose narrowing raised fines
Summary
A legislative-committee item to update Brook Park’s parking-violation penalties was placed on the March 18 caucus agenda after councilors discussed an amendment to preserve a lower penalty for most parking violations while treating certain handicapped-parking violations more severely.
Brook Park’s legislative committee agreed to take additional time to consider an ordinance that would update penalties for parking violations after council members and the law director discussed narrowing the scope of higher fines.
The draft ordinance would modernize Brook Park Codified Ordinances Chapter 351 penalties; during committee discussion Councilman Dufour proposed an amendment to carve out a specific subsection (division f of §351.04) and to preserve the lower penalty for other parking violations. The proposed carve-out would leave the most-serious handicapped-parking or equivalent violations subject to a higher third-degree misdemeanor penalty while retaining fourth-degree misdemeanor penalties for other parking infractions.
Madam Law Director told the committee she had reviewed the draft and said the department prepared the ordinance to correct a long-standing inconsistency; she also acknowledged the political sensitivity of raising penalties and recommended council review. "If counsel feels that way, then I would strongly suggest that we could look at your piece," she said, describing the department’s willingness to draft an amendment that addresses council concerns.
Committee members voted unanimously to place the ordinance, with the proposed carve‑out amendment under consideration, on the March 18 caucus agenda for further review. The committee did not adopt a final penalty level; the March 18 meeting will include the law department’s recommended language and the council’s proposed amendment for additional deliberation.
