ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Overtime parking just got pricier in St. Petersburg after City Council raised the ticket for staying past paid time, moving that fine from $17.50 up to $32.50 because leaders concluded too many motorists treated the old amount as a bargain compared with feeding the meter.
Council member Richie Floyd said he had watched drivers take the citation on purpose rather than buy more time. The same vote pushed hydrant and no-parking tickets up by $15 and refreshed residential permit rules.
Staff had pitched the hike as a way to keep cars circulating and open curb space for shops. Talk also covered lifting annual residential permits from $15 toward $30 per vehicle and toughening tickets when outsiders clog permit blocks during downtown events.
Money from the bigger citations is lined up for the city Safe Streets program so roadway and transportation projects across St. Petersburg can move forward.
Visitors who commented afterward still described downtown meter rates as manageable next to larger cities, while neighbors asked for a balance that keeps festivals easy to reach without packing residential blocks.
Anyone leaving a car downtown should check posted limits and hydrant markings, because overtime and restricted-zone tickets now cost more. Streets near parks and venues may see tighter enforcement when crowds arrive.
Council members said the prior fine level had stopped working as a deterrent, leaving customers circling for short stops while long-stay drivers gambled on a cheap ticket.
Section: More St. Petersburg FL politics news
Filed under: St. Petersburg FL Politics News
