Parking crackdown in US cities now in force with fines of up to $500 – but under ’14 day’ rule you can pay half

RESIDENTS of a US city saw parking fine rates increase last week, with the city claiming higher prices will increase overall safety for residents and visitors.

Some fines for parking tickets have increased by $200.

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Residents of San Marcos, Texas are now expected to pay higher fees for parking starting April 19 as part of the city’s mission to make the city safer for everyone.

“Effective parking enforcement ensures reduced traffic congestion, improved visibility and accessibility, increased pedestrian safety and mitigates the likelihood of accidents, while improving overall street safety,” wrote Parking Enforcement Coordinator Samantha Deyo, in a new statement.

Level one parking fines now cost $50, a $30 increase from 2023, with level two violations jumping from $30 to $100.

Level three violations increased from $50 to $250, while level four violations remained at $500.

Level one tickets are issued for low-risk parking violations, such as parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk, having wheels more than 18 inches from the curb, parking on the wrong side of the street, or parking within three feet of a mailbox during specific times.

However, as published on the city’s official website websiteLevel one violation fees can be halved by paying the fine within 14 days of the date of issue.

Level two violations are issued to drivers who back into parking spaces that prohibit back parking, park in a no parking zone, block a driveway or alley, or obstruct a sidewalk.

Obstructing a fire zone, parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or in a bike lane, or parking a commercial vehicle in a residential area will result in a level three violation.

Level four violations are the highest level of penalties and do not include associated court or administrative fees.

Mayor Jane Huson said the fee increase shouldn’t worry residents who follow the rules.

“These are self-inflicted wounds. You can avoid this increase by not getting a parking ticket,” she said during a city council meeting, as cited by the newspaper. University Star.

“This is not a tax that people have to pay.”

In addition to reducing level one violations by paying fines within 14 days, drivers can also avoid penalties by working with law enforcement.

“If you receive a citation, don’t ignore it, contact the court and they will find a way to help most of the time,” Deyo said.

How to Fight a Parking Ticket

You can avoid being fined by following all published laws and regulations, but sometimes mistakes are made

Like any form of citation, parking tickets can be avoided by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes can be made.

Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket comes as a surprise to you, there are some things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.

• Read the ticket carefully. Look for errors such as incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would render the ticket invalid.
• Take pictures. The vehicle in the space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that were not cited for performing the same parking service. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with time and date is accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or on crooked posts, or that are not “obvious” are also great things to photograph.
• Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If it is not listed, the ticket is not valid.
• Immediately follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have appeal instructions. Waiting until the last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
• When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument:
  • “I didn’t know the law.”
  • “I was going to move my car.”
  • “I can’t pay this ticket.”
  • “I’ve been doing this for years.”
  • “I checked with the parking officer, who said everything was fine.”
• Contact a lawyer. If you are facing obstacles and feel stuck, you may want to contact a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.

Source: Reader Summary

“There is often excessive use of parking on city center streets that exceeds established time limits.”

This isn’t the first time San Marcos has cracked down on parking.

In August 2023, the city implemented a boot law to penalize drivers with unpaid parking tickets by booting or impounding their vehicles.

A driver with unpaid tickets would, however, receive a sticker giving them 10 days to pay or appeal the fine before being kicked out.