By Bethany Bray
New parking fines may have residents thinking twice about where they leave their car.
If approved by selectmen, parking fines will increase for everything from parking more than 12 inches from the curb to parking in a fire lane. The fine for parking in a reserved handicap space or blocking a handicap access ramp would increase from $100 to $250.
Proposed by Police Chief Brian Pattullo, most of the increases are $5 or $10, but the fine for parking in a bus stop is increasing from $15 to $100.
Selectmen will vote on the proposed fines at their July 6 meeting.
Using data from the number of tickets given out last year, Pattullo estimated the new fines could potentially bring in an additional $70,000.
"Obviously, motorists have the ability to park legally and avoid the fine, which, of course, is the ultimate goal," wrote Pattullo in a June 16 memo to selectmen.
The increases are comparable to surrounding communities, wrote Pattullo, who included a chart of parking fine amounts from eight of Andover's neighboring cities and towns. Most of the chief's proposed fines were within $5 or $10 of the communities on the chart.
An additional $5 fee is added to any parking violations not paid to the town within 21 days.
Violations
Increasing from $15 to $20
Meter/pay and display violation
Not paying a parking meter, or letting your time expire
Not parking within marked spaces
Parking overnight (where restricted)
Parking in a restricted area
Parking in the wrong direction
Parking more than 12 inches from the curb
Parking other than designated times
Parking on curbed planting strip
Parking without a permit in a "permit parking only" area
Parking in a taxi or ambulance stand and service zone
Increasing from $20 to $30, with a maximum of $50
Parking on a crosswalk
Parking within 20 feet of an intersection
Parking in front of a private road or driveway
Snow removal or snow emergency
Parking on a sidewalk
Unattended running motor vehicle
25 feet of a fire station entrance
Double parking
Obstructing traffic
Across the street from any fire station, when posted
Expired or invalid registration plate
Expired or invalid inspection
Remaining at $100
Parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant
Parking in a fire lane
Increasing from $100 to $250
Parking in a reserved handicap space or blocking a handicap access ramp
