A City Council committee voted 4-0 Jan. 25 to recommend that all parking tickets not paid by the 21st day after the citation was written will be subject to a late fee that nearly doubles the ticket. The full City Council will vote in February or March on the recommendation by the Budget and Finance Committee. Some tickets will cost more than $100 if a late fee is added. A second late fee of $10 will be added if the ticket isn’t paid by the 57th day. A heavy late fee is already assessed on late parking tickets, but these proposed changes increase the fee to $40-65, depending on the ticket. The city auditor recommended a change to the standard 30-day wait before a late fee is assessed, shortening the deadline by nine days. The auditor’s report suggested the city modify its payment and appeal timeline to that of state standards. The California vehicle sections state that a parking ticket must be paid or contested within 21 days from the date of issuance or 14 days after the mailing of the notice of a parking violation, according to the auditor’s report. District 7 City Councilwoman Marti Emerald made the motion to forward the changes to the City Council and committee chairman Todd Gloria seconded the motion. No one spoke against the idea and no public speakers came out for or against the proposed changes. The committee also voted to send a delinquent ticket into collections on the 73rd day after it is written, which would place a hold on vehicle registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Late fees would not apply for some parking tickets like parking in a disabled spot without a placard. Disabled parking violations run between about $350 and $450. Parking violations and proposed fee assessments for late tickets: • Right wheel more than 18 inches from curb FINE: $59.50 LATE FEE: $47 • Restricted parking zone during street sweeping FINE:$52.50 LATE FEE: $40 • Unauthorized airport parking FINE: $79.50 LATE FEE: $67 • Expired meter FINE: $42.50 LATE FEE: $30 • Washing/polishing car in business district FINE: $52.50 LATE FEE: $40 • Selling/leasing car on street FINE: $77.50 LATE FEE: $65 • Parked on posted private property FINE: $72.50 LATE FEE: $60 • Bald tires FINE: $52.50 LATE FEE: $40 • Alley parking FINE: $59.50 LATE FEE: $47 • Defective/tinted windows FINE:?$52.50 LATE FEE: $40 • Expired registration FINE: $52.50 LATE FEE: $40 • Blocking/parking too close to fire hydrant FINE: $77.50 LATE FEE: $65 • Car not moved 1/10 mile in 72 hours FINE: $53.50 LATE FEE: $41 • Red zone parking FINE: $52.50 LATE FEE: $40 • Selling merchandise from parked car FINE: $53.50 LATE FEE: $41 • Violating residential permit FINE:?$52.50 LATE FEE: $40 • Double parking FINE:?$57.50 LATE FEE: $45 • Less than 7 ½ feet from railroad track FINE: $77.50 LATE FEE: $65 • Driveway parking into sidewalk FINE:?$57.50 LATE FEE: $45 • Wheel not cramped on hill FINE: $59.50 LATE FEE: $47 • Parking in commercial loading zone FINE:?$57.50 LATE FEE: $45 • Parking in taxi zone FINE: $52.50 LATE FEE:?$40 • Repairing/storing vehicle on street FINE: $52.50 LATE FEE: $40
(Source: city of San Diego)