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Ogdensburg lawmakers may double parking fines to deter violations

Posted 1/23/15

By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG -- City council will consider doubling fines for parking violations in hopes of deterring drivers from leaving their vehicles in restricted areas. The change would raise …

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Ogdensburg lawmakers may double parking fines to deter violations

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- City council will consider doubling fines for parking violations in hopes of deterring drivers from leaving their vehicles in restricted areas.

The change would raise fines for violations of all night parking, time restricted parking, no standing, no stopping, alternate side parking, blocking driveway, parked facing wrong way, blocking sidewalks and parked 20 feet of crosswalk from $10 to $20.

The fine for blocking fire lanes would increase from $20 to $40.

City council discussed the issue at a May meeting, after City Manager John Pinkerton pointed out that parking ticket fines in Ogdensburg are only $10.

Pinkerton said the low fine does not deter violators and suggested increasing penalties to give the law more bite.

City Police Chief Richard Polniak echoed the suggestion adding that it is impossible for the city’s small police force to patrol the entire city for illegally parked vehicles.

Council instructed staff to investigate the matter, which resulted in the recommendation to double the fines.

On Monday the city is expected to call for a public hearing regarding the change to parking violation fines. If the resolution passes, the hearing would be held March 1.