Park illegally in this Pierce County city and it’ll cost you. Fine just went to $145
The city of Lakewood approved an ordinance Monday that made all parking infractions in the city result in a $145 penalty. It goes into effect Aug. 12, city spokesperson Brynn Grimley said.
Currently, there’s a variety of fines for parking illegally in Lakewood.
Parking on sidewalks can result in a $20 fine and running a red light carries a maximum $101 penalty, according to a staff report in Monday’s City Council agenda. You can get a $124 ticket for blocking traffic, a $250 ticket for infractions captured by automatic traffic safety cameras or a $35 ticket for blocking the Postal Service.
City staff said the new universal $145 fee will likely discourage repeat parking offenders as, “The current penalty is not providing resolution of the issue,” city attorney Heidi Wachter wrote in a request for council action.
“In addition to frustration for some residents is the occasional congestion at city parks, particularly during good weather,” Wachter wrote. “Without meaningful consequences parking enforcement becomes a challenge.”
Lakewood will continue following state law for speeding in school zones, where fines range from $223 to $817, depending on how many miles over the speed limit a driver was going.
As previously reported by The News Tribune, the City of Tacoma may be changing its parking rules. The City Council was expected to make a decision Tuesday night about whether to create “permit parking only” zones in namely the business districts with a $30 penalty.
