Flagler Beach magistrate trims fines, orders education or service in multiple parking appeals

Magistrate Gregory Popp presided over a Flagler Beach special magistrate hearing to hear appeals of parking citations; he reduced or dismissed penalties in most cases but denied at least one appeal. The hearing covered wrong-direction parking, sidewalk parking, parking near intersections and newly striped no-parking areas; outcomes included dismissals, reduced fines and requirements that appellants complete short education or service tasks within 60 days.

Why it matters: The magistrate’s decisions underline a pattern by which the city and the magistrate use reduced civil penalties plus outreach or service as an alternative to full fines for first-time or mitigating circumstances while emphasizing public-safety reasons for strict no-parking rules (especially wrong-direction parking and striped/hashed emergency access areas).

In his opening remarks, Magistrate Gregory Popp told appellants that “these are your appeals” and explained the hearing standard: the burden is on appellants to show error or mitigating circumstances. He repeatedly flagged wrong-way parking as especially dangerous, saying it creates follow-on moving violations and compromises visibility.

Key outcomes (selected cases):

- Alyssa J. LaCirenza (employee, Golden Lion): Citation for parking the wrong direction (May 13). Popp offered a reduced civil penalty of $25 if LaCirenza conducts an educational outreach to 25 licensed drivers and files…