The Laramie Police Department reported increases in downtown two‑hour parking enforcement after staff shifted from complaint‑based marking‑and‑return practices to proactive directed patrols and more consistent community‑service‑officer staffing.

Lieutenant Hutchinson said the downtown two‑hour parking area covers streets between 1st and 6th and several side streets; staff counted roughly 1,767 on‑street two‑hour spaces and about 1,945 off‑street spots in the area used for calculations. He said enforcement citations rose from 172 in 2023 to 274 in 2024 and to 477 so far in 2025, and that a 2024 council change to increase the fine from $10 to $40 (and raise repeat‑offender fines) helped reduce repeat offenders.

Hutchinson explained the department added directed patrols and assigned community service officers to focus on residential areas near the university and downtown; staffing consistency and adding a third community service officer were presented as intended steps to maintain enforcement. He also noted practical problems with the marking/return method—officers were often diverted by higher‑priority calls and vehicles left before citations could be issued.

Councilor Lockhart challenged the strict two‑hour rule as a deterrent to customers, noting an example where a resident with mobility issues picked up a service that took nearly three hours and would have faced a $40 ticket. He suggested longer paid parking options or meters that allow multi‑hour stays. Other councilors said downtown businesses had complained about employees occupying turnover spots and that the council had previously explored meters and technology pilots; staff said an RFP for parking solutions did not produce a viable trial technology.

No ordinance changes or formal votes were taken; councilors discussed possible further study of meters, loading/unloading zones, and targeted employee‑parking solutions as part of broader parking and master‑plan work.