County to set fines for no-parking zones; hearing scheduled for Aug. 12

Susan Eugenius, county engineer in Public Works, told the commissioners the sheriff’s office requested amendments to the county traffic code to allow local fines for parking in designated no-parking zones. "We're proposing $50 for the first violation, $100 for the second, and $200 for the third violation," Eugenius said, explaining the proposed ordinance would add sections to the traffic code that set those fines. Eugenius said the state previously set fines for parking and no-parking zones but that responsibility has been returned to local jurisdictions, so the county must now adopt its own fine schedule. Commissioners discussed the mechanics of setting fines and whether to allow a fine range (for example, "up to" a specified amount) to give the county more flexibility in the future; staff said they would consult with the sheriff’s office and county attorneys on that option. Eugenius clarified that the ordinance would set fines, not the locations of no-parking zones; those zones are established through separate public hearings and staff will provide the commissioners a current list of about a dozen places with no-parking designations. The board set a public hearing for Aug. 12 to consider the traffic-code amendment and the proposed fine schedule. No vote adopting the ordinance occurred at the agenda review; the hearing will provide the public an opportunity to comment and the sheriff’s office and legal staff will be available for the August meeting.