According to reporting by The New Bedford Light, New Bedford’s new parking ordinance will significantly increase fines for many parking violations.
Under the new ordinance, most violations that previously carried a $10 fine will increase to $25. Those include parking the wrong way on a one-way street and parking within 20 feet of an intersection. Most violations currently carrying $15 or $25 fines will increase to $50, including double parking, parking in a no-parking area, parking within five feet of a driveway and parking on a sidewalk.
The largest increase will apply to parking within 10 feet of a crosswalk, with the fine rising from $10 to $50.
The ordinance also establishes penalties for several violations that previously had no listed fine. Those include a $100 fine for parking at a boat ramp without a trailer, as well as fines ranging from $25 to $50 for resident parking permit violations.
Only five existing fines will remain unchanged: $20 for expired meters, $50 for heavy truck parking, $50 for snow-removal bans, $200 for handicap parking and $50 for expired inspection stickers.
New Bedford Police Department Public Information Officer Holly Huntoon said the goal of the new fine structure is to encourage compliance with parking regulations intended to promote safety, rather than simply increase the number of citations issued.
Huntoon said the Police Department developed the proposal after comparing New Bedford’s parking fines with those in similar Massachusetts municipalities, where penalties were generally higher.
During the meeting, Sgt. Brian Crosby said complaints from residents also helped prompt the proposal, specifically pointing to parking issues along East Rodney French Boulevard near Cisco Brewers.
Source: The New Bedford Light.
