Illegal Parking Fines to Increase

The City Council gave tentative approval this week to an increase in fines for illegal parking in San Clemente.

The council had planned to raise the fines from $28 to $32. But some residents complained that even $32 was too low. The cost of parking permits is increasing by a greater percentage than the fines are, so law-abiding citizens were getting unfairly penalized, residents said.

Consequently, the council approved a fine increase to $35, and $50 for parking in front of a fire hydrant. Metered parking will increase from 75 cents an hour to $1. And annual parking permits will go up by $10, to $50 for residents and $65 for nonresidents.

The increases passed 4 to 0. Councilman Joseph Anderson was absent.

The council will review the increases at its May 21 meeting, and if members give final approval, the new fines and meter costs will go into effect 30 days later. The costs of the annual parking permits will increase June 1, to give people a chance to buy them before the prices go up.