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Torrington moves vehicle-and-traffic ordinance changes to public hearing, including parking fee adjustments
Summary
The City Council scheduled a public hearing on revisions to ordinance chapter 194 (vehicles and traffic), which include modernizing language, new permit structures and proposed fee increases for parking permits, booting and fines; the police chief emphasized the changes are intended primarily as a deterrent, not a revenue source.
The Torrington City Council voted to schedule a public hearing on Aug. 4 to consider extensive revisions to chapter 194 of the city code governing vehicles and traffic. The proposed changes were presented to the council after review by police and parking staff and a discussion at the Ordinance Committee.
The amendments would update archaic language, expand parking-permit program options for downtown residents and visitors, modernize meter-payment language (to include non-coin payments) and increase a number of fines and permit fees that city staff said have not kept pace with other municipalities.
Why it matters: The ordinance affects daily life for downtown residents and businesses, changes how downtown residential and commercial permits are priced and enforces parking rules that support public safety and emergency access.
Major points consulted during committee and council discussion - Definitions, obsolete references and administrative language were modernized (for example, removing references to Franklin Street where no longer applicable, and changing references from "board" to "parking authority"). - Permit fees: the draft raises some commercial permits from $12 monthly to $18 monthly and adjusts quarterly/annual equivalents; it also proposes a lower, more moderate annual residential permit than previously proposed $600 figures for downtown residents. - Visitor and day passes: the draft adds a day-pass structure valid for up to seven consecutive days and specifies how day passes would be issued and where they are valid. - Enforcement, immobilization (boots) and escalation: boot fees would increase (example cited: a boot immobilization fee from $25 to $75 in the draft). The appeals process is clarified, and the city proposes allowing electronic/mail notices and video or remote hearings.
Police chief's intent and public framing Police Chief Baldwin, presenting the ordinance work, said raising fine amounts is meant to deter unsafe behavior rather than to generate revenue: "we're not looking to generate revenue as a police department. We're looking at public safety," he said during the council meeting when responding to public and council questions.
Next steps and public input The council voted to place the ordinance on the Aug. 4 public hearing calendar. Council members said the hearing will be the venue for detailed questions about fee levels, enforcement details and historical collection rates; staff said they will supply historical ticketing and collection figures for public review prior to the hearing.
Ending: The council irected staff to prepare supplemental data (historical fees and collection statistics) for the public hearing so residents and businesses can review proposed changes before the Aug. 4 hearing.
