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Westport raises railroad-permit parking fine to $50, plans LPR enforcement
Summary
The Board of Selectmen approved raising illegal-permit parking fines in Saugatuck and Greens Farms permit lots from $25 to $50 and heard plans to move to license-plate-recognition enforcement, with implementation targeted before summer.
The Westport Board of Selectmen on Jan. 14 approved increasing the fine for illegal permit parking in Saugatuck and Greens Farms railroad-station permit lots from $25 to $50 and discussed steps to improve enforcement.
Ryan Paulson, railroad operations director for the police department, told the board that permit-lot violations have increased "in some cases, over 50 violations a day" and that neighboring municipalities impose higher penalties. "My request is to increase our $25 fine to a $50 fine, to better, hopefully act as a better deterrent and to reserve this parking for permit holders," Paulson said. He described planned outreach including variable message signs, press releases and notices to commuters.
Paulson also described a shift toward license-plate-recognition (LPR) enforcement: cameras have been procured, and the department expects installation and implementation before summer, pending development of the permit-renewal portal and vendor configuration. Paulson said the current system purges data, limiting the town's ability to track repeat offenders; an LPR system would enable license-plate-based permits and better repeat-offender enforcement.
Jennifer Johnson, an RTM district representative and former transit director, said she supports the $50 fine and urged the town to consider a strategic, townwide approach to parking, noting constraints such as school-bus needs and the potential for permit-holders to be displaced.
Selectman 2 moved to accept the change; the motion was seconded and the board approved the increase by voice vote.
