Portland hikes parking fines

Parking in downtown Portland isn’t always easy.

If you’re a student at Portland State, you’ve probably experienced it firsthand.

You’re already running behind, thanks to the 20 minutes you spent circling the block trying to find a spot. Now you’re late for class.

You park and sprint through the Park Blocks before sneaking into the back of the classroom, hoping to slide in noiselessly and unnoticed.

Then it hits you: You forgot to pay for parking.

After Feb. 7, it will be worth the time to make sure the parking meter has been paid.

The Multnomah County Circuit Court has announced that parking fines for seven parking violations will increase throughout Portland.

Gabe Mouer, a senior at PSU, has had the misfortune of receiving several parking tickets in his time at the university. The combination of the lack of available parking spaces and the increase in parking fines has discouraged him and others from driving downtown.

“If it wasn’t for work, we wouldn’t be driving. We wouldn’t be parking downtown,” Mouer said. “Parking is always a hassle.”

The fine for parking without paying or failing to display a meter receipt will be raised from $45 to $60, while improperly displaying a meter receipt will now result in a $39 penalty.

It will now be an $80 fine for parking in an area permit zone, while parking in a carpool space will cost you $90.

The largest fine increases are those involving loading zones. Obstructing a truck loading zone and overextending your time in a loading zone will both result in a $90 fine, which was previously $65.

Fines are going up, but if students can find comfort in one aspect of the price hike, it’s that the fine for overstaying one’s time at a paid spot will remain $39.

Once a year the Circuit Court conducts a review of parking violations and their impact on parking behavior. With the cost of enforcement a consideration, the court re-examines the city’s parking bail amounts and how the fines line up with those of comparable cities. The hike brings Portland’s fines closer to those of San Francisco and Seattle.

The increase in parking violation fees will create up to $700,000 in new revenue for the Portland Bureau of Transportation. The additional funds will help the bureau continue operations and maintain parking enforcement.

The motivation behind this decision is not solely money; it’s also about encouraging proper parking behavior and compliance with parking regulations, said Cheryl Kuck, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Transportation. This is vital in a heavily congested downtown, she explained.

“Regulations are in place so you can find a place, park, conduct your business, move along, and allow other people to conduct their business,” Kuck said. “If we didn’t regulate parking, the downtown area would often be clogged with downtown employees parking for eight hours at a time.”

The hope is that increased fines will not only encourage drivers to park correctly and responsibly, but also be a motivator for visitors to look at other means of getting to the downtown area.

“We do hope to encourage people to carpool, use public transportation, walk or bike, or to use car parks when visiting downtown.”

The concern over parking is felt by students and nonstudents alike.

Bennett Dewan works downtown and isn’t bothered by the increased fines, but feels the effects of Portland’s parking situation. “Increased fines don’t discourage me. Increased fare rates, smart park prices and decreased park times will.

“Accessibility to parking spots is the concern,” Dewan said. “The real issue is affordable parking and more open parking spaces downtown.”

The fine increases will take effect Feb. 7, except for the truck loading zone overtime fine, which will not be effective until July 1.