Chattanooga City Council Approves Parking Ticket Fine

Chattanooga City Council has approved a new measure that will raise parking ticket fines across the city.

Under the new plan, a basic parking ticket will increase from $11 to $20, a move aimed at addressing ongoing parking violations.
“There will be a difference in price; everything has gone up, so even the cost of parking tickets will increase to deter parking in front of businesses, allowing customers to come in and out more easily,” said Isaiah Hester from the City Council.

City officials noted that many drivers have found it cheaper to pay the fine than to pay for parking, leading to this decision. The change raises concerns among some residents, who worry it might lead to more frustration over parking availability.

But the city council is optimistic that the increase in fines will lead to better parking practices and more turnover in busy areas.

“So the businesses in that corridor didn’t have enough parking, which made it difficult for customers to access them. This change aims to reduce the number of people parking in those areas, allowing patrons to easily visit without having to walk all the way across Frazier Avenue,” said Hester.