NEWPORT BEACH : Parking Violation Penalties Increase

The price of a parking ticket is going up.

The Newport Beach City Council has increased the price of parking violations, making this city one of the most expensive places in the county to forget to feed meters, park in red zones or block alleys.

Because of a recent change in the state law, the county courts will no longer prosecute parking violations. That leaves the processing of citations and appeal hearings to the cities, said Glen Everroad, revenue manager, adding that Newport Beach may hire an extra person to handle the load.

Each year this tourist-attracting beach city issues about 100,000 parking violations that bring in about $2 million in revenue. The city has not increased its rates since 1983, Everroad said.

The following increases will go into effect in about two weeks:

* An expired-meter violation from $22 to $32.

* Parking in a red zone from $32 to $42.

* Blocking an alley from $22 to $42.

* Parking at a curb during street sweeping from $22 to $29.

* Parking in a loading zone: $22 to $33.

* Parking in a ‘No Parking’ zone: $32 to $42.

* 72-hour parking violation: $32 to $42.

* One- and two-hour violations, $22 to $26.

* Parking in a loading zone: $22 to $33.