Atlanta City Council Approves PARKatlanta Fine Increases
Council approves to plug revenue shortfall.
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The Atlanta City Council on Monday approved a controversial ordinance that raises fines for motorists who leave their cars parked at meter after their allotted time has expired.
The vote — 8-4 — follows several weeks of discussion and debate regarding the unpopular measure.
Several residents spoke out against the measure, urging the council to vote it down because they said PARKatlanta, the Milwaukee-based company contracted to enforce parking rules, wrote tickets illegally, double-ticketed or had misleading signage.
One woman recounted how a PARKatlanta official ticketed her as she waited for another motorist to exit their parking space.
Nevertheless, the Atlanta City Council approved.
The measure is fueled by the city's efforts to recoup about $4 million it will not receive after an arbitrator ruled PARKatlanta did not have to pay nearly 75 percent of what it was originally contracted to pay to the city.
The arbitrator's decision followed the city council's move last year to restrict the Milwaukee-based company’s operations with a moratorium on reduced hours and new meters.
That $4 million difference would be enough to fund 50 new Atlanta police officers.
Councilman Alex Wan, whose district includes parts of East Atlanta and Virginia-Highland patches, voted against the measure saying the concerns and complaints his office has received regarding PARKatlanta warranted foregoing that revenue until both sides "got it right."
The legislation, drafted by at-large Atlanta City Councilman H. Lamar Willis, raises the initial penalty for parking at an expired meter by $10 to $35.
If the ticket is not paid within 14 days, the fee doubles to $70. And if it's still not fully paid within 45 days, the fine increases to $95.
Since PARKatlanta began issuing tickets nearly 31 months ago, more than 150,000 unpaid tickets have run up a total of $7.4 million.
The measure will not be applied retroactively.
The fine increases only apply to tickets issued for expired parking at metered spaces, not to violators of residential permit parking in neighborhoods that have them, such as Inman Park or Atkins Park.
spike
6:00 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
This old boy has got the message from the City Council/Park Atlanta loud and clear - stay the heck out of Va-Hi, Midtown or L5P, and if you have to go, use a pay lot. Not one dime will I give to those carpetbaggers. It was a pennywise scheme to begin with that the Council manage to screw up even further in their blind lust for revenue from a backdoor tax that they wouldn't be held accountable for.
Not.One.Dime.
Bob T.
8:55 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
I AGREE.
sw
12:48 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
absolutely shameful. I just moved here and am disgusted with park parking. This makes it MUCH WORSE! Shame on the crooked career politicians
Meinert
6:46 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Park Atlanta is the worst move for the VaHi business district. I've watched them literally hover in order to write a ticket. My friends who own Georges constantly watch as people get confused trying to operate the ticket dispenser. People get frustrated when they try to pay, and further when they're a minute late and find a ticket. Seeing a Park Atlanta vehicle using a parking space requiring payment, I asked if the employees paid--they laughed at me.
Bob T.
8:55 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
I AGREE.
Bob T.
8:56 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
It's a total ripoff.
SG Williams
10:11 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
I can't speak about Park Atlanta. However, the meters are needed. I have seen people use street parking as long term parking for their vehicles. I had three spaces near my Midtown condo and the owners of the cars that parked there would not move their car for days/weeks.
TM Irving
8:23 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
It is so poorly managed also - why don't they go after those who owe the 7.4 million dollars in fines???????? This is a very sad state of parking for the City of Atlanta. Extremely sad.
Laura Day Calk
8:42 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Remember. City of Atlanta picks and chooses its own holidays so just because it is a national and county holiday you might need to pay. No way to be sure though. I found out the $50 way on Presidents Day. Went to website to dispute and got no response for 18 months. Just got a bill for an outstanding ticket for my sons car from 2009! First we've received. ParkAtlanta is a terrible company and a bad idea for Atlantans.
Laura Day Calk
8:45 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Though I agree that free parking is a thing of the past and I actually appreciate the meters because it is much easier to get a space because cars have to move on. Just could be done better. Those are our only 2 tickets. Both handled poorly from ParkAtlanta end
Clicker
8:59 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I'll repeat my comment from another post.
Let's look into who negotiated and inked this bad deal in the first place. Was it the same city council who is now raising fees to cover their sloppy business decisions? That would require actual journalism (as opposed to 'Vote for Best Taco!")
You can't blame Park Atlanta. They were contracted to do a service at a price and that is what they are doing. Now, the residents are up in arms because something is happening that rarely happens any more - rules are being enforced and suddenly rule breakers have achieved victim status. Gimme a break!
Bob Crossett
7:35 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Take back our city, one council member at a time! H. Lamar Willis, you may not feel the need to respond to emails regarding your actions, but election time will be hear soon enough
Bob T.
10:04 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I was planning on writing something similiar to what you have done, but you have hit the nail on the head....................I wish we could throw them all out, and start anew.