Portsmouth doubles fines for most parking violations

New penalties range from $30 to $100

By Jim McGaw
Posted 8/15/17

PORTSMOUTH — Be careful where you leave your car in town, because it will now cost you significantly more if you get a ticket.

Following the recommendation of Police Chief Thomas F. …

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Portsmouth doubles fines for most parking violations

New penalties range from $30 to $100

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Be careful where you leave your car in town, because it will now cost you significantly more if you get a ticket.

Following the recommendation of Police Chief Thomas F. Lee, the Town Council Tuesday night voted unanimously to increase parking fines from the current $15 to $30, $50 or $100, depending on the violation.

Until Tuesday night, the fine for illegal parking in Portsmouth was $15, and it didn’t matter whether you left your car in a loading zone at the Portsmouth Business Park or a handicapped spot at Clements’ Marketplace. Chief Lee said none of the fines had been increased since 1991, and most had been in place since 1976.

In a memo to the council, he noted that most of Middletown’s and Newport’s parking fines are set at $40 at $50, respectively. The fine for parking in a handicapped spot in Newport is $100, the same penalty charged for the same violation on state property.

Chief Lee recommended that most of the parking fines be increased from $15 to $30. For violations that impact public safety — parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, or in a fire lane or handicapped spot — the fine should be raised to $50, he said.

Council member Linda L. Ujifusa, who put the matter on the agenda, agreed.

“We have to make sure the violations of our safety laws have meaningful consequences. Fifteen dollars is not enough,” she said.

Chief Lee said the increases are not exorbitant, and they’re not intended to be revenue-generators for the town. From July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, he noted, police recorded only 46 parking violations, totaling $675 in fines. He added that police will continue to show discretion with the higher fines.

“We don’t write a lot of parking tickets. We’re not Newport; we don’t have metered parking,” Chief Lee said. Even by doubling the parking fines, “we’d still have the lowest fines on the island,” he said.

Support from fire chief

Fire Chief Michael Cranson strongly supported the increases. He said during special events such as band concerts or football games, vehicles are often found parked illegally in fire lanes at the high school and middle school, making it difficult for apparatus to access fields or buildings.

Council President Keith Hamilton said while he’s not usually in favor of increasing fines, he believed the penalty for parking in a handicapped spot should be $100 — double what Chief Lee originally suggested — to bring the town in line with the state. Ms. Ujifusa agreed to amend her motion to accommodate that request.

Council member Paul Kesson asked Chief Lee about the 10-foot rule when it came to fire hydrants. He noted that his own car was parked within that distance of a hydrant outside of Town Hall.

The police chief promptly whipped out an official pad of paper. “I’ve got a ticket right here, sir,” he joked.

Actually, Chief Lee said, the area where Mr. Kesson was parked was an “angled spot” that doesn’t block access to a hydrant, so the council member was not in violation.

Portsmouth Town Council, Portsmouth Police Department, Portsmouth Fire Department

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