New Fines Proposed For Parking Violations

Havre de Grace police will soon have the proper fines to support the parking violations they levy in downtown Havre de Grace.

Havre de Grace City Council introduced a new fee schedule for parking violations during . The proposed fines have been raised in order to enable the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to flag the registrations of violators, forcing them to pay fines. Previously, fines for simple parking violations—such as parking beyond the time limit—were not high enough to render a flag on a registrant’s account.

“Right now there is no way of enforcing any punitive damage for non-payment. There are some folks locally that know that, so this will help us enforce it,” Havre de Grace police spokesman PFC Jeff Gilpin said. “Now, it will be tied to the state, and more severe punishment for violators will come down now. We’re hoping also that the increased cost, although it’s used to get into the Maryland flagging system, that it will deter people from illegally parking.”

Gilpin said the proposed fee changes would enable the city to avoid taking any drastic measures to handle the .

“Without implementing meters, this will probably be an excellent enforcement tool for us,” Gilpin said.

The following is the proposed new fee schedule provided by the City of Havre de Grace:

Handicapped Parking (190-72)                                                                        $125

Vehicles, Driving over Curbs or Sidewalks (190-23)                                    $100

Imitation of Signs, Signals (190-15)                                                                        $100

Vehicles Display or Repair on Streets            (190-53)                                    $100

Fire Lane             (190-47A-11 k)                                                                        $ 50

Too Close to Fire Hydrant (190-47 A-11d)                                                            $ 50

Abandoned Vehicle (190-50)                                                                        $ 50

Parking at Yellow/Red Curb or “No Parking Zone” (190-47 A-6)            $ 25

Time Limit Violation (Sec 49 A5)                                                                        $ 25

Parking Facing Wrong Direction (Sec 53B)                                                $ 25

Prohibited Parking on City Property (Sec 73)                                                $ 25

Angled Parking (190-52)                                                                                    $ 25

Commercial Vehicle in Residential Zone (190-65)                                                $ 25

Parking on a sidewalk (190-47 A-11(a))                                                            $25

Other Parking Violations (190-47)                                                                        $ 25

Interference with traffic control devices and Markings (190-16)                        $ 25

Failure to comply with Signs, Signals and Directions (190-17)                        $ 25

Obstruction of Intersections, Crosswalks or Sidewalk (190-20)                        $ 25

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The fee changes will be up for a public hearing at 7 p.m. before the next City Council meeting, scheduled for Aug. 1.