San Juan Bautista
– Double-parkers and otherwise annoying motorists beware: the
Mission City has increased fines for parking violations and will
soon be enforcing them in earnest.
San Juan Bautista – Double-parkers and otherwise annoying motorists beware: the Mission City has increased fines for parking violations and will soon be enforcing them in earnest.
Earlier in the year, the City Council voted to update an old ordinance regarding parking violations. The new fees were established to coincide with the updated parking ordinance and were formally approved at Tuesday’s City Council Meeting.
“As soon as we get the tickets printed up, the new rules will go into effect,” San Juan Bautista City Manager Jan McClintock said. “We always had the ordinance on the books, but because it was so old it was pretty much unenforceable.”
As such, the parking situation in San Juan had a tendency to get out of control, particularly on downtown Third Street, as many locals can probably attest to.
“Particularly during these large events we have, we’ve seen a lot of problems,” said McClintock. “Residences being blocked, double parking, that sort of thing.”
City Councilman Chuck Geiger said he was glad the city’s parking laws are finally being updated.
“We’re not out to get anybody,” he said. “But people need to abide by the law and be responsible. This should have been happening for years now.”
The fines vary depending on the parking infraction in question, the cheapest being $35 for something simple like blocking a driveway, and the most expensive being a $275 fine for parking in a handicapped zone. Other violations incur fines of $50, $75 or $100.
“We probably will have a lot of tickets the first few months,” Geiger said. “But I think through word of mouth people will start to understand we’re serious about this and get in compliance.”
Geiger pointed out that the tickets would be particularly useful in generating much-needed revenue for the mission city.
“If we want to go ahead with this big expensive water project, we have to find every penny we can get,” he said. “We’re not just doing this for the money, but that part is important.”
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Department will be responsible for enforcing the parking violations.
Geiger said he did not believe the updated parking rules would cause a problem with too many locals.
“I really think there will be a lot of understanding in town. People know that this is the right thing to do,” he said.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
