PARKING codes are set to change across a major US city and could see a rise in drivers receiving fines.
The police department in Washington, Iowa, are to get more serious on residents breaking local parking laws – with officers to seek out offenders instead of issuing parking tickets in response to complaints.
Parking codes are set to change across a major US city[/caption]
It could see a rise in drivers receiving fines – especially during snow emergencies[/caption]
Southeast Iowa Union reports that police on patrol routes across the city will spend the next several weeks issuing written warnings to cars that are caught violating commonly broken parking laws.
City Police Chief Jim Lester said: “We just felt that, you know, maybe it’s time we spend a little more time addressing these issues while we’re on patrol.
“Rather than being a little more complaint-based, being a little more proactive in our approach.”
Worse still for drivers, officers will likely ramp up their efforts by the start of 2025.
The current plan is to issue slap-on-the-wrist style written warnings to rule-breaking vehicles.
But by the start of 2025, efforts will begin to hand out fines, with the standard citywide fine at $25 that can rise to $50 during snow emergencies.
Lester added: “It’s a matter of education, and I’m hopeful that we’ll see a change in the behavior, that’s what we’re looking for.
“Early to mid-January, we’ll probably be looking at [tickets].
“It’s a matter of educating people why the changes were in place, and this is why we’re now enforcing that.
“I think with time and everybody working together, it will alleviate some of that.”
The change comes as parking complaints around town have become more frequent, according to Lester.
A recent press release from the police department also said city officials had growing safety concerns around illegal parking, along with a handful of changes to Washington’s street parking laws in recent months.
Earlier this year, Washington City Council members approved several new no-parking zones, and also made adjustments to the list of accessible parking spots around town.
More recently, advocates have called for stricter enforcement of rules banning trailers parked in front lawns, and pushing equipment into the street that violates other sections of the code.
In a press release, Lester wrote: “Officers field several calls each week about vehicles parked in no-parking zones or vehicles being stored on city streets for periods longer than 24 hours.
“With recent Ordinance changes and the upcoming winter snow plowing season, it was decided to spend some time this fall concentrating on residential neighborhoods focusing on the different parking violations.”
This comes as a home-owner has been left fuming after coming across an illegally parked vehicle that had incurred over $22,000-worth of parking tickets.
A red Toyota Sienna parked up on Grove Street, San Francisco, was spotted with a missing bumper and scratched paint work – and 90 tickets parking tickets to its name
A Reddit user, who posted a picture of the car to the site upon checking its number plate on the city’s parking website, was angered to discover it owed $22,300 in unpaid fines from 90 tickets.
They posted the image along with the caption: “The owner of this car parks absolutely wherever they want — sidewalks, crosswalks, loading zones, RPP zones — with zero consequences, over and over again.”
The post then went viral, with commenters sharing their own frustrations on parking enforcement in the area.
Currently, drivers can expect to receive written warnings – but this will change in 2025[/caption]
