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Increase Parking Fines in Wheeling

“Feeding the meter” may be about to become a better idea than it has been for many years in Wheeling. Failing to do so could become a much more costly proposition.

Members of City Council’s Finance Committee are recommending fines for various parking offenses be increased substantially. They have remained the same for some time.

City officials are not considering the change to raise more revenue, though that probably will be one result. Their idea is that making fines stiffer will do more to discourage people from parking illegally in downtown Wheeling.

That has been a complaint of downtown business owners for many years. People who park at on-street meters all day, sometimes to go to work at those same businesses, tie up space customers could be using.

Currently, long-term parking at a meter while failing to put money in it may be attractive to some scofflaws. The fine for overtime parking is just $3. But if council goes along with the committee recommendation, the fine would increase to $10. If not paid for 30 days or more, the amount would double.

Fines for other infractions, such as parking illegally in loading zones or in front of fire hydrants, also would increase, most of them to $25.

City officials have discussed such action for years, in attempts to help both downtown businesses and the customers who would like to patronize them if they could park nearby. After begging and pleading with those who hog parking spaces, it is time for the meter to run out on council’s patience with the scofflaws.

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