TO:
FROM
DATE:
RE:
THE CITY OF NASHUA “The Cate Cty’
Economic Development Division — Parking Department
Office of the Mayor
Tim Cummings, Economic Development Director
: Jill Stansfield, Parking Manager
September 22, 2020
Concems Relative to O-20-032: Reducing the Fine for Overnight Parking
Violations
The Parking Department has concerns relative to Ordinance O-20-032 which I will use this memo as a
vehicle to outline these concerns.
Dropping the fine amount from $25 to $10 will actually promote and increase overnight parking,
which is not allowed unless permitted. The legislation calls for a sixty-percent reduction in the
overnight parking fine amount.
The reason this policy is in place is to change behavior. The legislation before you will not
change the behavior and there may be an increase in illegitimate overnight parking.
By reducing the parking fine it will drastically hinder the Parking Department’s ability to
effectively enforce and curb non-compliant behavior, especially in overnight permit areas in
downtown, and, as a result, have unintended consequences for residents.
Over the course of the past two years, parking enforcement has continued to observe and report
several areas where non-permit vehicle owners continuously choose to park illegally and
willingly continue to receive tickets and pay the fines. And, in several of these areas, this type of
behavior has actually caused a lack of available parking for permit holders. The result of such a
drastic reduction in the fine amount will not only be less of a deterrent for those who
continuously choose to park illegally in resident permit areas, the unintentional consequence of
this reduction would ultimately negatively impact residents who are lawfully participating in the
City’s current overnight parking permit program.
Revenue from parking violations has covered the cost(s) related to parking enforcement expenses
the legislation will jeopardize this going forward and there will need to another funding source
(most likely from the property tax levy) or conversely a reduction in service, i.e. no more Parking
Enforcement patrolling at night, which may lead to public safety concerns with block driveways
and hinder snow removal operations.
As a reminder, a parking study is slated to begin in the spring of 2021, which will include a thorough
review of the City’s current overnight parking program and a review of all current fines.
Recommendation
The Parking Department strongly recommends that no changes be made to the current overnight parking
fine amount until the study has concluded and the findings and recommendations have been presented to
the City
and members of the Board of Alderman.
229 Main Street, Suite 234 * Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 » Phone (603) 589-3106
