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City Council to vote on making parking offense fines consistent through city

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD The Public Safety Committee of the City Council voted to recommend consistency in parking fines for some offenses across the city.

On Wednesday, Committee Chair Jose Tosado heard from Deputy City Solicitor Kathleen Breck who explained that certain parking offenses carry a $15 fine if they are committed within the central business district and $5 if they are found in other parts of the city. The division was put in place by the City Council in 2004 and has meant that police officers writing the tickets must make the determination of the amount based on the location of the offense.

She said a discussion of parking tickets came about when the Springfield Parking Authority took over the job of ticketing parking offenders. The city's fine structure was reviewed and Breck said some of the fines exceeded state limits and were reduced.

The following parking offenses will now be $15 anywhere in the city if the full City Council approves of the changes:

Within an intersection

Upon a sidewalk

Upon any crosswalk

Wheels over 18 inches from curb

Allowing less than 10-foot wide clear and unobstructed lane for passing traffic

Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant

Within five feet of a driveway or alley, or obstructing marked crossing lanes

Within 25 feet of intersecting way

Within five feet of bus stop post

On any terrace, median strip or crossover

Left side to curb (except on one-way streets).

The changes could be taken up on the City Council meeting on Oct. 20.