THE recent nationwide emphasis on parking law enforcement is set to continue in another major American city which is also a popular tourist destination.
Drivers who are in violation of the laws could receive fines as costly as $250, or have their vehicles towed or booted if they’re repeat offenders.
Dark days may lie ahead for a popular Sunshine State tourist destination[/caption]
The city’s downtown area completes its revitalization just as the new laws take effect[/caption]
While tourist hotspots are the biggest concern, the new laws apply citywide[/caption]
Panama City, Florida’s warning period for Ordinance No. 3271 ends on October 1, at which point the Panama City Police Department will begin issuing citations.
This comes after police have so far spent the month issuing warnings to violators in highly frequented areas such as Downtown Panama City.
The downtown area is described as “alive with energy, featuring a thriving social district where visitors can sip and stroll, live entertainment, [and] family-friendly events” per Visit Florida.
The website also specifies that the area is currently undergoing an “exciting revitalization” which is “set to be completed by the end of 2025,” just as these new parking laws are enforced with fines.
These fines range from $20 to $250, and also “apply to golf carts, which are considered motor vehicles for the purpose of enforcing these codes” per the city government’s official website.
All fines previously carried a uniform $46 fine, per local NBC affiliate WJHG.
Those vehicles, including golf carts, which accumulate three or more violations from October onward are at risk of being towed or booted.
The City says the ordinance is intended to enhance traffic safety, reduce roadway congestion, and give residents, visitors, and businesses citywide easier access to public parking.
In addition to altering previously established parking laws and fines, it also added new ones.
These include “parking in reserved spots in public parking where there are posted signs and parking along street right-of-way curbs interfering with residential drives.”
The former carries a fine of $30, while the latter carries a fine of $100.
The city also decreed it unlawful for any vehicle missing a current and valid registration license plate and registration sticker to stop, stand, or park on any street or public parking space within city limits.
Vehicles violating this new rule will be fined $20.
Violations which will be fined the maximum of $250 include “parking in or obstructing fire safety lane,” “blocking fire hydrant,” “parking by disabled permit only,” and “parking in access aisles designated for use by persons who have disabled parking permits.”
Ordinance No. 3271 was passed in July, with the city hearing its first reading earlier that month as the downtown area began attracting more and more people, per local ABC affiliate WMBB.
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made
Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.
- Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid.
- Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too.
- Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid.
- Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
- When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument: I didn’t know the law; I was on my way to move my car; I can’t afford this ticket; I’ve been doing this for years; or I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.
- Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.
Source: Reader’s Digest
“What we’re trying to do is say, ‘hey guys, we want you downtown we want you here but just park where you’re supposed to,’” explained Panama City Commissioner Robbie Hughes at the time.
He elaborated that doing so will ensure that fire, police, and other government agencies and public services can enter and exit the area freely as needed.
PARKING OFFENDERS PUNISHED NATIONWIDE
Panama City is only the latest to crack down on parking violations, with a New Jersey city set to use cameras to automatically ticket various parking law offenders without any immediate notification.
March saw New York City start cracking down on double parkers, using a similar plan to automatically slap offenders with $250 fines.
In April, the City began towing abandoned cars from the streets, resulting in roughly 400 spots being opened up in the initiative’s first two weeks.
