Missoula raises parking fines, adds escalations to target repeat offenders; changes take effect Jan. 1, 2026

The Missoula City Council approved an ordinance amendment on June 2 that raises and restructures fines for several parking violations and establishes an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.

Jody Pilgrim, director of parking services for the Missoula Parking Commission, presented the changes and said the revisions are intended to discourage repeat offenders and to reduce safety-impacting violations such as blocking crosswalks, bike lanes and bus zones.

"Parking fines in Missoula were last changed in 02/2012," Pilgrim said. She told the council the commission's parking study found the current escalation is not deterring repeat violators and recommended steeper penalties for the smaller subset of habitual offenders.

Under the ordinance that council adopted, meter and overtime violations will keep a $0 first violation (a warning) with escalations stepping by $10 increments to a $40 maximum. Improper parking violations (blocking driveways, sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, fire hydrants and bus zones) will start at $20 and escalate by $20 each repeat offense up to a $100 maximum; the residential parking permit (RPP) penalties were aligned to the same escalation scheme. Disabled-parking fines are unchanged at $100 because that amount is set by state law, Pilgrim said.

Pilgrim also summarized enforcement data: in 2024 the Missoula Parking Commission issued 12,089 meter violations to 8,701 unique plates; first-time warnings accounted for 64 percent of meter violations and 82 percent of cited drivers received a single violation that year. "For others, a steeper escalation to the fine may be necessary to change their parking behavior," Pilgrim said.

Councilors and members of the public raised concerns about impacts on low-income residents and employees who must park downtown. A public commenter suggested a sliding fee or voucher for people below the poverty line. Pilgrim responded that the commission offers lower-cost parking options for employees and downtown residents — for example, discounted lot parking at $2 per day and the garage first hour free — and that the commission is sensitive to timing and business concerns; the ordinance was written to delay implementation until Jan. 1, 2026 to allow outreach.

Pilgrim said the parking plan's consultant projected that higher fines can reduce violations and may reduce fine revenue: "Our consultants stated that there would be a 2% decrease for every 10% increase in fine," she told the council, noting the commission expects improved compliance and does not project that fine revenue will increase.

Councilor Becerra moved to approve the ordinance amendment; the motion carried on roll-call vote, 9 in favor and 2 opposed. Supporters in the public hearing included Scott Sprowl, who told the council he supported the increases and praised the commission for outreach, while other commenters urged protections for low-income residents.

The ordinance amendments will take effect Jan. 1, 2026; staff said they will undertake outreach to business owners and the public prior to implementation.