The Milton City Council has approved on second reading an ordinance that would let police write parking citations under local law, possibly resulting in lower fines for violators.
Officers currently write tickets for routine parking violations under state law, and the typical fine is $178, Police Chief Rich Austin told the council.
With a city ordinance, Austin said, “we envision most fines would be approximately $25 to $50. This is more in line with our neighboring jurisdictions, and we feel with this change we can still have a positive impact on parking enforcement and be more fair to our citizens.”
The city ordinance would bar obstructing traffic and crosswalks, double parking, parking in “no parking” zones, and parking motor homes, trailers, semi trailers or truck tractors in residential areas – with exceptions for vehicles making deliveries or used in construction or utility work, or motor coaches, trailer coaches or motor homes parked for less than 24 hours.
The measure also allows the city’s public safety ambassadors to write citations.
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