Boston Transportation Commissioner Tom Tinlin wants to increase the cost of parking violations outside Boston Proper to reduce the number of motorists he says now tie up neighborhood parking spaces all day because current tickets cost less than a day in a downtown garage.
Tinlin wants to increase the price of a parking violation outside the city core from $15 to $25. He told a City Council committee today that the current $15 fine "would be the cheapest garage in the city of Boston." Parking tickets downtown and in nearby areas, such as the North End, would not increase
He said an increase would raise an extra $600,000 a year, based on the number of tickets issued last year, but that the goal is to change driver behavior, not raise more money.
Councilor Charles Yancey (Dorchester) said the city should really wait to increase fines until the economy improves and said it should do something about what he said was a large number of city and state police cars illegally parked in the area around Dorchester District Court.
Tinlin said the issue is that "people are gaming the system" by parking where fines are lower than garage rates and that his staff would look into the court-area issue.
He added that the new fees could go into effect sometime next month, after neighborhoods are notified.
Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!
Ad: