Adams to Increase Parking Fees, Fines
ADAMS, Mass. — Motorists may see an increase in parking violations fines — but town officials want to be confident that enforcement will be consistent.
The town is undergoing a review to update fees and fines across the board. Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco is suggesting new parking violation fines of $15 to better align Adams with surrounding communities. The current parking ticket is $5 and no one is sure the last time it was updated.
"A $5 ticket is not even worth writing. We don't do this to generate money but it is costing us money to write them," Mazzucco told the Selectmen last week. "I think some of the frustration with the police when it comes to monitoring the parking is at the end of the day it is only a $5 ticket."
He has even heard from residents who felt it wasn't worth their time to pay the ticket because it was so low.
Selectman Jeffrey Snoonian said he was fine with the increase and that, in his travels, he has never seen a parking ticket that low. He said the lowest he usually sees is $25.
Mazzucco also suggested decreasing the meter time from an hour for a quarter to 45 minutes.
"It's still a very generous meter time and we can slowly move towards more change but for now I think it is beneficial," he said. "I remember the first time I put a quarter in a meter and got seven minutes, so we are still comparably a bargain."
Selectman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said he felt the town should just get rid of the meters altogether because the police do not enforce the violation. He said the board was told by the prior administration that when the meters were installed, someone would be hired to survey them.
Selectman Joseph Nowak agreed the police should be more consistent with meter enforcement if the town plans to meter parking.
"I say either get a meter reader or get the police to go out and do it because that's part of their job giving tickets," Nowak said. "They don't mind pulling people over in car and giving them a ticket but they don't want to go out on the street and do it. I just don't understand."
Mazzucco said it would cost the town more money to hire a meter reader and that he has continued discussions with the police chief about enforcement. He added that the increased fee may encourage the police to check meters more often
The board agreed that the town must figure out how to move forward with parking and enforcement and asked to see how many tickets have been written in six months to a year's time.
"We need to figure this out," Snoonian said. "We can talk to the police and if it is just not possible, we can cut the meters out and cement over them."
He added that it is also a concern to businesses who do not want people using up downtown parking all day.
Mazzucco also suggested a $250 fee for parking a vehicle that impedes emergency vehicles. Currently, the fee is $25. He said the Fire Department should put a sign at the station warning people of this fee.
He recommended the fee increases go into effect in spring 2017.
The board also went over some small increases in the town clerk's department. The largest increase was for a marriage license, which doubled from $10 to $20, so it is more in line with other towns.
Small increases were tacked on to various fees to even out the numbers so it is easier to make change.
Tags: fines, parking meters, parking tickets,
