CITY OF PORTLAND BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION
PRESS RELEASE
November 18, 2009
Contact: Cheryl E. Kuck
Phone: 503-823-5909
Email: cherylemma.kuck@pdxtrans.org
Posted: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=39132&a=272805
Parking Fines Increase to Deter Violations
Standard $10 increase per violation - with exceptions
(Portland, Ore.) – The Portland Bureau of Transportation announced today that the Multnomah County Circuit Court has approved a standard increase in fines for most parking violations. This includes a new violation and fine for the City Council-approved auxiliary vehicular lane on the transit mall. The increase will take effect on Nov. 30, 2009.
Parking or stopping in the auxiliary vehicular lane through the transit mall is prohibited due to safety concerns and could result in a $245 fine. This fine amount, says Parking Enforcement Manager Nolan Mackrill, is consistent with the fines for moving violations in the transit mall. For example, making a right turn from the vehicle travel lane across the bus/light rail lanes is prohibited, and the fine is $250.
Beginning Nov. 30, all parking violation fines will increase by $10 per violation, with some notable exceptions:
Parking at a fire hydrant will increase from $100 to $150;
Blocking a handicapped access ramp will increase from $150 to $210;
Parking in a disabled zone without a valid permit will increase from $190 to $450;
Unlawful use of a disabled parking permit will increase from $450 to $720;
Overtime parking will not increase until January 4, 2010, out of consideration for the holidays.
The overtime parking fine will remain at $24 through the holidays and on January 4, 2010, will be increased to $34, which is still below the average of $43.75 for comparable cities to Portland, according to a study of nine major cities in the U.S.*
The Portland Bureau of Transportation recommended the increases in order to address the trends of rising parking violations, to cover costs of service, and to maintain a fine schedule that aligns with similar metropolitan jurisdictions. The increases are expected to net the City approximately $500,000 additional General Transportation Revenue, after the Court’s 60% share off the top of all parking fees collected.
“We do not put fines in place to make money,” Transportation Bureau Director Susan D. Keil said. “We put fines in place to change behavior. Our goal is to have fine amounts sufficient to cause some deterrence from ignoring the law.”
The City believes that substantial increases are necessary to minimize safety violations and disabled parking abuses. “Blocking a fire hydrant, blocking a handicapped access ramp, and stopping and parking on the transit mall pose very real safety hazards,” Mackrill said.
When a vehicle is parked in a no parking zone, a number of serious consequences may result. That vehicle may hinder visibility for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists; limit safe clearance for turning vehicles; impede traffic flow; increase congestion; hinder freight operations; slow emergency response vehicles; and generally disable travelers in all modes from getting around Portland safely and efficiently.
In addition to fine increases that reflect the City’s concern for safety, fine increases relevant to disabled parking are in response to recommendations from the City’s Disabled Parking Task Force. They asked the Court for maximum bail amounts to discourage parking in a disabled zone - on or off the street - without a permit, and unlawful use of a disabled parking permit.
The City advises motorists that these fines are avoidable costs for residents and visitors. “Every individual can avoid the consequences of this bail increase simply by obeying the parking laws,” Mackrill said. The City advises motorists to take a moment after parking to read the signs, display their permits and parking receipts properly, and ensure their vehicle is legally parked within space markings and not blocking crosswalks, hydrants, ramps, and other rights of way.
The last increase in fines for parking violations occurred in July 2006. Prior to that increase, the Court had not increased fines for overtime violations since October 1998, and for other parking violations since March 2000. The City now annually reviews costs of service and parking violations to determine if fine amounts are having the desired effect on parking behavior. This year’s review resulted in a report to the Multnomah County Circuit Court with recommendations for bail increases. The Multnomah County Circuit Court, while accepting the City’s proposal and establishing the increased fine schedule, still maintains discretion in adjusting fine amounts for individual violations.
For the City of Portland parking violation and bail schedule, visit our website at www.portlandonline.com/transportation and search “parking violation and bail.”
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*Parking study included Denver, Long Beach, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Seattle, and Tucson.
Cheryl E. Kuck
Community Outreach & Public Information
Portland Bureau of Transportation
1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 800
Portland, Oregon 97204
503-823-5552 phone
503-823-5909 cell
503-955-3023 pager
cherylemma.kuck@pdxtrans.org
The Portland Bureau of Transportation fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the ADA Title II, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. For accommodations and additional information, contact the Title VI Coordinator at Room 1204, 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204, or by telephone 503-823-2559, City TDD 503-823-6868.
