Citation Rates Increase for Repeat Parking Offenders
The Pensacola City Council recently approved an increase in the dollar amount for parking fines assessed to those who are multiple repeat violators. The change was requested by the Downtown Improvement Board in response to a steep increase in multiple violations by the same people, which in turn creates a reduction in available parking for other downtown visitors.
A year-over-year comparison of parking tickets had shown that:
- In 2018, the number of second or more citations issued to the same vehicle was 1,751 tickets
- In 2019, that number more than doubled to 4,109
Downtown business owners say that repeat offenders make parking more difficult for their customers, which results in fewer people visiting downtown shops and restaurants.
As of March 1, 2020, a first-offense parking violation remains the same at $10, but for the second violation within the same block and in the same year the fine is now $20 instead of $15. Third violations have increased to $40 from $30, and each violation beyond that now carries a fine of $100.
For any citation in one zone during one month followed by another citation in a different zone, the parking fine will not increase. The city will reset the number of violations within one zone every twelve months.
For more information about parking downtown in a DIB-managed spot, visit the DIB Parking page.