The Cities With the Heftiest Parking Fines
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A new report looks at how violations like blocking traffic, loading zones or pedestrian ramps can put a dent in drivers' wallets.
San Francisco has some of the most expensive parking fines in America, according to a report by Investopedia. Following San Francisco, the other top cities with the largest parking fines are New York City and Chicago.
According to Investopedia, a study released by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency shows that two of the fines given in San Francisco are $1,000 for obstructing traffic without a permit and $110 for blocking the charging bay or parking in a truck-loading zone.
In New York City, you can be slapped with a $65 fine for just standing or parking at an angle to the curb, according to Investopedia. A $165 fine is handed out for parking in front of a pedestrian ramp, and a $115 fine is given for stopping, standing or parking where signs, street markings or traffic control devices do not permit you to do so.
Standing often refers to stopping someplace to load or unload a car, with the driver not remaining behind the wheel and the car not remaining running. Motorists can usually drop people off without violating standing rules.
Residents of New York City can make money by reporting illegally parked cars, collecting part of the resulting fines. City Council member Stephen Levin said this was not designed to increase revenue for the city but to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
“It’s not for all parking violations, just for the dangerous ones—parking in bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks,” Levin wrote on Twitter. “People die going into traffic avoiding cars doing this. Unfortunately, police don’t usually enforce.”
Chicago is another city known for large fines. The city is home to the highest parking meter fees in the U.S., and its parking violation fines are among the highest as well, according to Investopedia. In the city, you can get a $150 fine for blocking a fire lane, a $150 fine for parking or standing in a bicycle lane and a $200 fine for parking in a disabled parking zone.
Chicago’s website lists out all the parking, standing and compliance violations that can be issued to your vehicle.
For more information from this report click here.
Andre Claudio is an assistant editor at Route Fifty.
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