Fines and tickets are on the verge of being increased

The A.C. Whelan School Student Council held its annual Career Day last week. As part of the festivities, kindergarten teacher Helen Puppo dressed up like Principal John Macero (left), who played the part of Superintendent Paul Dakin.

The A.C. Whelan School Student Council held its annual Career Day last week. As part of the festivities, kindergarten teacher Helen Puppo dressed up like Principal John Macero (left), who played the part of Superintendent Paul Dakin.

By Seth Daniel
[email protected]

Parking tickets and related fines will most likely increase if the city gets its way today, Wednesday, June 3.

The Traffic Commission will meet on June 3 in order to discuss several increases to various traffic offenses.

The largest increase will be tickets for parking in a bus stop, which will go from a $15 fine to a $100 fine – an increase of over 600 percent.

Other fines that are scheduled for an increase are:

• Parking meter violation, $10 to $20

• Parking meter overtime by over two hours, $10 to $20

• Parking overtime not at a meter, $10 to $20

• Parking in a loading zone, $10 to $15

• Parking at a taxi stand, $10 to $15

• Parking more than a foot from the curb, $10 to $15

• Parking on the sidewalk, $15 to $20

• Parking at a bus stop, $15 to $100

• Parking within a posted area, $15 to $20

• Parking in a permit area without a sticker, $15 to $20

• Obstructing street sweeping, $15 to $20

•Parking without a valid registration, $15 to $20

•Parking without a valid inspection sticker, $15 to $20

•Late fees, from $5 to $10

Parking Clerk John Henry officially requested the increases.

The power to increase parking ticket fines used to rest with the City Council, and historically the council had been hesitant to increase the fines. However, a few months back, Mayor Tom Ambrosino proposed to take that power from the council and to bestow it on the Traffic Commission.

Councillors voted to relinquish those duties in a non-controversial vote.

“It was anticipated that the city clerk would seek an increase in parking fees and fines for fiscal year 2010,” said the mayor. “The bus stop increase is consistent with the new statute, which makes that a much more serious offense.”

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