City parking tickets could hit your wallet much harder in 2017.
After a decision by the Durango City Council this winter, all parking fines will go up Jan. 15.
The council opted to increase parking fines to keep Durango Transit running without reductions in service.
“No one likes to have increased fines or increased fees, but in this case the alternatives that were presented were either cut routes on the Transit loops or increase fares, and both of those reduce the ridership,” Mayor Christina Rinderle said.
About 70 percent of those riding the Durango Transit are dependent on it.
“The people that are riding the bus can barely afford to ride,” Transportation and Sustainability Director Amber Blake said.
As part of the menu of options, the board could have increased parking meter rates, but the council did not want to keep people from shopping downtown, Rinderle said.
As a result of parking fine increases, the city expects to raise the $265,800 needed for the buses and trolleys, even though some people may become more conscientious about feeding the meter.
From Dec. 1, 2015, through Nov. 11 the city issued 32,468 parking tickets.
Blake expects the number will decline a bit, but she factored it into revenue projections.
“For people that are frequent ticket-getters ,it might be enough to change their behavior,” she said.
Also, it could also encourage more people to purchase permits for municipal lots or for spaces along Narrow Gauge Avenue.
Residents should expect the following parking ticket increases:
For an expired parking meter, the most common citation, the penalty will go up from $12 to $25.The next four most common citations, leaving your car in an area where parking is prohibited from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., expired registration, parking over the line, and parking in a municipal lot without a permit, the penalties will go up from $15 to $25.Fines will escalate differently after Jan. 15 as well.
Currently, all fines double after seven days and after 28 days. But when fines up go up, they will double only after 30 days. Also, violators will receive a reminder after 10 days that they have an unpaid ticket.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
