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Senators amend parking-enforcement bill to remove 40,000-population limit after tourism concerns
Summary
Committee amended a parking-enforcement bill to remove the provision that barred localities with populations under 40,000 from contracting out parking enforcement after testimony that tourist towns like Williamsburg (pop. 16,000; >2 million visitors/year) face outsized parking demands; the motion to report as amended carried (Eyes 11, No 0, Abstentions 3).
The Transportation Committee amended a bill that had barred localities with populations under 40,000 from contracting out parking enforcement, removing the population threshold after members heard from Williamsburg officials that tourism can create enforcement demands inconsistent with population counts.
The sponsor said the population-based restriction unfairly limited towns such as Williamsburg, which has about 16,000 residents but receives more than 2 million visitors annually. Michelle DeWitt, Deputy City Manager for Williamsburg, said the city experiences impacts similar to much larger jurisdictions and asked that it be allowed the same contracting options as larger localities.
Committee members discussed alternatives including lowering the population threshold or striking it entirely and debated the reason the language was in the bill originally. After discussion, members moved to amend the bill to remove the 40,000-population threshold and related high-tourism language; the committee voted to report the bill as amended (Eyes 11, No 0, Abstentions 3).
The amendment broadens the bill’s potential reach and directs further consideration of how localities with large tourist visitation but small resident populations should be treated under parking-enforcement rules. The committee record shows the amendment was adopted and the measure was reported as amended.
