Politics & Government

Pleasantville Raises Some Parking Fines

The new fines, in effect for about a week, are more about preventing drivers from taking advantage of laws than raising revenue, according to the village.

Vehicles parked in permit-only lots are facing a dramatic increase in fines as of last week, per the Village of Pleasantville's updated master fee schedule.

Instead of a $20 ticket, permit-less car owners will be slapped with a $50 fee in permit-only lots.

Village Administrator Patricia Dwyer said the measure is "just an issue of fundamental fairness."

She said the Board of Trustees believes vehicles have been parking in lots, such as the one at Memorial Plaza next to the train station, without permits, all day.

"People are taking the ticket versus [driving] to the city and gambling with finding parking or a garage," she explained.

The fees for the permits themselves, as well as meters, haven't changed.

Other increases, all effective as of July 26, include:

  • No time metered space — $20 (was $15)
  • Left side to curb — $20 (was $15)
  • Prohibited parking — $50 (was $20)
  • Double parking — $75 (was $50)
  • Not within lines — $20 (was $10)
  • Parking in a handicap space without a permit — $100 + a $30 state-mandated surcharge
Dwyer said the Village hasn't updated its traffic and parking fines for "over 10 years," and said the amounts are comparable to other area municipalities.

The changes, she said, "were not done for revenue generation."

According to the village's fiscal year revenue sheets, the village has so far collected $9,560 in parking fines since June 1. Last fiscal year, the village received $35,552.

During the 2012-13 fiscal year, Pleasantville received $241,146 in parking meter fees and $162,510 in parking permit fees.

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