OXNARD : Council May Raise Parking Ticket Rates

The Oxnard City Council will consider raising the average price of parking tickets by a third today in response to a state law that shifts authority over parking violations from the court system to cities.

The new rates, if approved, would take effect July 1.

Oxnard, like most other cities in Ventura County, already issues parking citations and collects money on citations issued within its boundaries, but refers drivers who want to contest the citations to Municipal Court.

About 15 parking cases from Oxnard go to court each month, said Oxnard City Atty. Gary Gillig.

Under terms of a 1992 state law, cities have until July 1 to set up a program to evaluate contested citations. Oxnard officials had disputed the deadline, saying the city had until the end of the year, but County Counsel James L. McBride informed the city two weeks ago that the county would not process parking citations after June 30.

In the rush to approve the new program, city officials have not had time to explore sharing the cost of hiring a hearing officer with other cities, Gillig said.

The Legislature also granted cities the authority to set their own fines, a power that could enhance revenues in the long run, Gillig said.

Today, the council will consider a $10 across-the-board increase in parking fines, which now average about $30. Half of the increase would pay for the costs to evaluate contested citations.

The council will also consider a near-doubling of the late payment fee, raising the amount to $25 from the $13 currently charged for payments that are more than 45 days late.

In its last budget, Oxnard officials estimated that the city would receive $250,000 from parking citations during the fiscal year that ends June 30.