(source: Wikimedia Commons)
There's at least one city councilmember who's less than pleased with Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr's plan to increase all parking violation fines.
Councilman Gabe Leland, whose district represents the city's west side, issued a statement today, calling Orr's plan a potential "deterrent" to attracting people to the city.
I don’t believe the argument to raise the parking ticket fines from $30 to $45 and eliminate the $10 early payment fine are justification for this action. The emergency manager’s order to increase ticket fines places city government inefficiencies on the backs of our residents who need to do business in downtown and other parts of our city. And, this will increase the barrier for people to frequent Detroit-based establishments; likely to be a deterrent for some to shop and dine in our city.
Leland suggested implementing a plan that maintains current rates for fines and reduces operating inefficiencies to collecting parking fines.
"In my view, generating revenue by increasing fines when residents from neighborhoods must go downtown to get licenses and permits, attend court appointments and do other necessary business, is the wrong direction," Leland said. "...Additionally, generating revenue using fines when we are trying to grow this city and attract residents and customers to Detroit-based businesses is an anti-growth strategy."
The plan, which city officials say would go into effect in early June, would eliminate the city's $10 early payment reduction, and increase fines for most parking meter violations from $20 to $45. Fines would spike to $65 if they're not paid off within 30 days.
