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Panama City holds first reading of parking ordinance that adds fines and applies violations to golf carts
Summary
The commission conducted the first reading of Ordinance 32‑71 to add a schedule of parking fines, new parking violations and to make golf carts subject to parking rules; a public commenter urged the commission to consider exceptions for disabled vehicles and late‑night situations.
The Panama City Commission on July 8 conducted the first reading of Ordinance 32‑71, which would amend Chapter 22 (Traffic and Vehicles) to add a schedule of fines for parking violations, add certain violations and make parking violations applicable to golf carts.
A staff summary described the draft as the result of a consensus among the city manager, police chief and fire chief, and said it adds specific fines for types of parking violations, and addresses complaints that had been brought to the manager’s attention.
Public commenter Derek Thomas, who gave his address as 1100 West Tenth Street, said he was concerned about how fines and towing rules would affect people whose vehicles break down or who leave a car overnight after using a bar: "If you're at a bar and for whatever reason you've had too much to drink you should be able to leave your car there and get a ride back in the morning to pick it up. So I hope that that is considered when you're considering parking fees." He also raised concerns about permitting a day‑of retrieval if a vehicle needs towing.
Staff recommended the commission conduct the first reading; the commission read the ordinance and the item will return for further consideration in a subsequent hearing.
