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Kingston begins expanded parking enforcement; staff report dozens of citations in early shifts
Summary
City parking division representatives told the Complete Streets Advisory Committee enforcement resumed during posted hours and on Saturdays; staff reported multiple tickets and said enforcement aims to improve safety and compliance, not revenue generation.
A representative of Kingston’s Parking Division reported to the Complete Streets Advisory Committee that the city has resumed enforcement during posted hours, including expanded Saturday shifts, after citizen complaints about unsafe or obstructive parking.
The parking representative reported a recent four‑hour shift produced 16 citations and later said a Saturday enforcement operation generated 116 tickets, of which 73 were for expired meters. The enforcement incidents included vehicles parked in bike-lane buffer zones, fire-hydrant and accessible-parking violations, and vehicles blocking sidewalks. “The majority of the safety violations were people who were not parked in marked spaces,” the parking official said.
Committee members asked about daylighting (keeping intersections clear) and how to request no-parking signs. The parking representative said the city can install a no‑parking‑from‑corner sign up to about 18 feet by request through the Department of Public Works; larger regulatory changes require legislation. The representative also described towing policy during snow emergencies: towing is focused on designated snow emergency routes and alternate-side streets, and the last storm required towing 27 vehicles on priority routes.
Committee members raised enforcement equity concerns and the parking official said the goal is increased compliance and safety rather than revenue. The city increased fines for safety violations (the meeting record stated fines rose from $20 to $50 for many safety citations), and staff said the increase reduced illegal parking in some corridors.
Ending: The committee encouraged public reporting via the city’s queue/alert system for sidewalk or blocked‑driveway complaints and asked staff to continue coordinating with DPW on sign placements.
