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Downtown two‑hour parking enforcement increases after staff hires and patrol changes
Summary
Laramie police report enforcement of downtown two‑hour parking rose from 107 citations in 2023 to 274 in 2024 and about 472 in 2025 after adding staff, directed patrols and increasing fines from $10 to $40; councilors debated equity and potential pilot options like metering.
The Laramie Police Department told the City Council on Nov. 25 that changes to staffing and enforcement have substantially increased compliance with the city’s two‑hour downtown parking rules.
Lieutenant Hutchinson said the two‑hour downtown parking regulation (Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) exists to improve turnover and business access. Using a prior parking inventory and a Downtown Alliance map, staff said the downtown area includes roughly 459 two‑hour on‑street spaces and about 224 24‑hour off‑street spaces.
Hutchinson said the department moved from a mostly complaint‑based ‘‘mark and return’’ enforcement strategy to a proactive approach that includes directed patrols and a dedicated community service officer for residential and downtown parking. The department said it is adding a third community service officer to support those duties.
Citation totals rose as staffing stabilized: 107 two‑hour parking citations in 2023; 274 in 2024; and about 472 in 2025 to date. Hutchinson said staff also increased the fine for the first violation from $10 to $40 and added second and third citation tiers, which reduced repeat offenders.
Councilors raised equity concerns, noting that strict two‑hour limits can be burdensome for people with limited mobility or for customers with longer appointments. Councilor Lockhart argued employees should not occupy short‑term spaces, while others proposed piloting parking meters or adjusting time limits in particular blocks. Staff said previous RFPs for automated camera/AI meter solutions did not produce viable proposals and that policy decisions on metering or longer limits would be for council to decide.
Hutchinson said downtown merchants and the Downtown Alliance have expressed appreciation for increased enforcement because of improved turnover, and the department said it will continue to enforce the ordinance as written while the council considers broader policy alternatives.
Sources: Presentation by Lieutenant Hutchinson to the Laramie City Council, Nov. 25, 2025, and council discussion at that meeting.
