Portland parking fines skyrocket

sweetlou said on November 30, 2009 at 2:04 PM

Too bad they aren't raising the fines on sidewalk sleeping/begging/intimidating. I'd say the new fines are keeping me from downtown, but it's really the stench and threats of the homeless punks...

sweetlou said on November 30, 2009 at 2:09 PM

I can't let this one go yet... "aimed at deterring rampant parking abuse..." Why don't you deter rampant citizen abuse by cleaning up the sidewalks? "We put fines in place to change behavior..." How is the city changing the behavior of the street punks threatening hard working people, aggressively panhandling, selling drugs, fighting, stealing and depositing their waste in doorways, streetcar stops or in the libray? "...parking scofflaws were creating "very real safety hazards." What about the very real safety hazards of the third world country that is downtown...?

shallowend said on November 30, 2009 at 2:32 PM

One of my employees is called Tiny (He's 6' 9" and 330), but has a placard from Washington because he recently had reconstruction on a leg after an accident. One of the parking Nazis harassed him because he looks OK and wrote him a ticket AFTER seeing the placard, his ID card, and his license. He plans to report the person for filing a false police report. (And yes, our security camera got it all on tape.)

hamchuck said on November 30, 2009 at 2:38 PM

Duh. People sleeping on the streets already prove they have no money, and will cost us to jail/house them, so why bother. On the other hand, people who drive, and abuse parking, tend to have extra money to toss around. Going after them for breaking the law just makes good financial sense. Now, the argument would be how the money is used - whether a portion of it will go to clean up, jail, house, or relocate those street sleepers.

bob47 said on November 30, 2009 at 2:53 PM

If you watch Parking Wars on A&E you'll get a good idea of the type of people who are complaining about this increase in fines. If you’re seriously complaining about it then it must affect you; which can only mean you don’t know how to properly park. Enjoy the new fines!! I know I won’t!!

bob47 said on November 30, 2009 at 2:59 PM

I love this one though! -- "We do not put fines in place to make money, Transportation Bureau Director Susan D. Keil said." -- "The city expects to generate an additional $500,000 per year from the new taxes." -- LOL Sniff sniff, you smell that? That's pure BS right there!

bob47 said on November 30, 2009 at 3:00 PM

I love this one though! -- "We do not put fines in place to make money, Transportation Bureau Director Susan D. Keil said." -- "The city expects to generate an additional $500,000 per year from the new taxes." -- LOL Sniff sniff, you smell that? That's pure BS right there!

bob47 said on November 30, 2009 at 3:00 PM

I love this one though! -- "We do not put fines in place to make money, Transportation Bureau Director Susan D. Keil said." -- "The city expects to generate an additional $500,000 per year from the new taxes." -- LOL Sniff sniff, you smell that? That's pure BS right there!

stephmarie2 said on November 30, 2009 at 3:21 PM

The only fines that are increased substantially are ones that people should Not be violating. Lazy people are the ones who are complaining here.

topazgirl said on November 30, 2009 at 3:38 PM

People that complain about tickets for parking illegally are the same people that have radar detectors in their cars to avoid tickets for speeding!! If you don't break the law, you have nothing to worry about! Parking is at a premium in the downtown area...and especially for the disabled! Not only can't they find parking, but then they can't even use the sidewalks due to the ramps being blocked! This is the height of self-centeredness! Perhaps if a major inconvenience, like towing, were utilized more often for the chronic offenders, as well, this would be stronger insentive for them to obey the rules!...

lydiahawk said on November 30, 2009 at 4:45 PM

The bus/MAX is a nice way to travel in and out of downtown. Stress free, no parking worries. I think downtown parkers should get some kind of grace period, however, with fines this big. There are unexpected circumstances that can easily hold a person up for a few extra minutes, like waiting in holiday check-out lines.

cruisingspeed said on November 30, 2009 at 5:17 PM

I parked downtown, fed the meter and went into Powell's Books. Keeping an eye on the time, I came back to my car just before the meter expired, however, a large delivery truck was parked in the street, blocking me in. I went back into Powell's to try and find the driver. When I got back a couple of minutes later, the truck was gone and I had an overtime parking ticket. The judge said 'pay up, boy'.

adamg said on November 30, 2009 at 5:27 PM

I would like to see the littering fine (know its a state law) look more like Massachusetts littering law. Its a $10,000 fine. If you've every been there you'll notice its a very clear place. Lets change behavior -- if it doesn't hurt people will make it a cost of doing business.

pdxfriend said on November 30, 2009 at 5:57 PM

If the city is looking for revenue, then it really should start enforcing the anti-litter ordinance. All day long people who smoke downtown drop their used butts (often while still burning, which is a separate offense in itself) wherever they happen to be standing. Dropping butts on the street is littering and is illegal. The city would make tons of money while at the same time helping to stop littering, pollution and fire hazards. It's just absurd that the city takes no steps to enforce the law in this regard.

last__boyscout said on November 30, 2009 at 9:41 PM

City officials have done this to Portland and it's businesses, you used to be able to actually drive downtown, it was enjoyable and easy to shop. Not any more, I never drive downtown and will avoid spending my money downtown if at all possible. Portland's politicians hate the automobile, my business involves people that enjoy cars, and those people can afford to spend their money elsewhere, so they do. The Governor and the mayor care more about bums and illegals than the businesses that pay their wages.

unixpmp said on November 30, 2009 at 10:38 PM

I just don't understand this disrespect. If these city council demons from satan's loin know how to make such stupid rules and laws, then they should really license all the pan handlers and tax them! These people woule possibly make the city a good $500K in new taxes. I'll tell you what guys, its much easier running an underground business in Portland Oregon then a legal one. THE PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL DISRESPECTS PORTLAND'S PEOPLE! Ahh one more thing... Someone should plant one of them Portland Pothole Hotline signs on a really busted unpaved road in the SE :). The demon city council only places them on nice smooth roads. Smart scammers!

nwskeptic said on November 30, 2009 at 11:10 PM

I've already pretty much given up on downtown, so I can't say this will affect me much. It certainly is one less reason to go there though, but I have to agree with the person posting about the transients sleeping and doing worse on the sidewalks - that is the #1 deterrent for me. Higher parking fines is a distant second.

charlieharper said on December 1, 2009 at 3:40 AM

Just another tax on the people while we are in a depression. Portland government is absolutely insane. About all you can expect when the slime in charge is an admitted serial liar and a pedophile.

caffineaddict said on December 1, 2009 at 8:24 AM

All I hear, save for one person in this comment section, is a bunch of whining about something that they don't HAVE to whine about. If you don't want the ticket, don't break the law. If you don't plan on things like trucks blocking your car in for a few minutes, that's not the city's fault, that is your fault for poor planning. You should've just put in an extra dime to buy you 7 more minutes of time. Why people don't overestimate their parking time is beyond me. If you think you're only going to be 15 minutes, why not err on the side of caution and pay for 30, especially this time of year, because there are lines you have to go through, crowds you have to deal with, trucks making deliveries to stores that may block you in. If you're getting parking fines, you've got no one to blame but yourself. And if you people are going to stop coming downtown because you feel your above obeying the laws, that's just more parking spaces for those of us that know how to follow rules.

lewwaters said on December 1, 2009 at 3:08 PM

What? No increased fines for bicyclists? When do they help the city and pay their "fair share?" All the more reason I stay on my side of the river.

doggers said on December 1, 2009 at 4:07 PM

Half a million dollars in fines is a deterent, not a money raiser? If you want to change attitudes, try impounding cars. Once impounded, one is not likely to do that again. But, they are pricing and fining people, buyers, shoppers, buisnesses, etc, out of downtown so the bums have a nicer place to hangout. If you build it, they will come. Well, Portland built it.