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Committee backs raising illegal winter-parking citation during snow emergencies from $25 to $50 and refers ordinance to city attorney
Summary
The Ordinance Committee voted to pursue an ordinance change to raise the fine for illegal parking during snow emergencies from $25 to $50, and directed the city attorney to draft ordinance language for referral to the full council and a public hearing.
The Ordinance Committee voted on March 11 to pursue an ordinance amendment increasing the fine for illegal parking during declared snow emergencies from $25 to $50.
The sponsor said the current $25 fine functioned as a cost of doing business and did not deter repeat violators; other council members, public-safety staff and the police department supported increasing the fine to improve compliance with emergency parking restrictions and ease snow-removal operations. Committee members noted that state statute caps exist and that the proposed change will require a public hearing and city-attorney drafting of final language.
Why it matters: Higher fines aim to deter illegal parking that interferes with plowing and public-safety access during winter storms and reduces the operational burden on DPW and towing services.
Next steps: The committee voted to send the proposal to the city attorney for drafting and to the full council with a favorable recommendation to begin the ordinance process and schedule the required public hearing.
