Parking rules go into effect
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on October 6, 2016 9:58 AM
City officials could start issuing parking tickets as early as today following the Goldsboro City Council's Wednesday approval of new parking fines.
The heightened level of parking enforcement follows concerns voiced by downtown merchants after the city's $15 million Streetscape project led to an uptick in downtown traffic and parking in non-designated areas.
The approved changes to the city's traffic ordinance are citywide, with code enforcement officers being tasked with issuing tickets, either based on complaint or intermittent monitoring.
Parking tickets of $25 or $50 will be issued, along with additional fees for nonpayment within 15 days. An earlier proposal recommended payment within 48 hours, and a revised ordinance suggested seven days.
Councilman Antonio Williams disagreed with the payoff period, during the council's Wednesday work session.
"I've never seen a ticket where you have to pay it in seven days," Williams said. "That should be changed."
James Rowe, Goldsboro planning director, said other cities require the shortened timeframe.
"Some cities require 48 hours," Rowe said. "(In) Wilson, if you don't pay within 48 hours, they hit you with an additional fine."
Councilman Gene Aycock said the ticketing rules may appear severe, but drivers can face even steeper fines in larger cities.
"If you go anywhere else, like Raleigh or whatever, you get towed and it'll cost you $200 bucks that day to get your car back," Aycock said.
Williams said people should be given 30 days to pay off a ticket, while other members of the council suggested 14 or 15 days.
The council voted to allow offenders 15 days to pay off tickets, instead of the shorter seven-day period.
The ordinance includes $25 and $50 parking fines, along with additional late fees and associated costs of taking civil action in court to enforce collection.
Anyone found parking in a handicapped zone and anyone found tampering with tire markings, used to track parking time limits, will be issued a $50 parking ticket. In addition, anyone found tampering with or improperly removing a parking ticket from a vehicle will face a $50 fine.
The majority of parking violations will come with a $25 fine and include parking within a bus stop, 15 feet of a fire hydrant, loading zone, traffic lane, an intersection or within a 25-foot distance of an intersection. Also, within 30 feet of a flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control signal or other prohibited zone.
Other $25 fines would be issued for parking in front of a driveway, on the left-hand side of a two-way street in a business district, within a sidewalk, double parking and parking on any street for longer than seven days.
Tickets can be paid within 15 days in the city utility collections department in the City Hall Annex, at 200 N. Center St. If the ticket is not paid within the designated timeframe, an additional $25 late fee will be charged. Failure to pay within 30 days, will lead to civil action in court, and offenders will be charged another $100, which covers related attorney costs. Other court-related fees could also be assessed.
The city can also tow vehicles, and parking citations will be added to a person's state Division of Motor Vehicle record, according to the ordinance.
A new Goldsboro Parking Commission will be established, with members of the current Traffic Advisory Commission and two newly appointed city residents. The traffic commission includes the assistant city manager, city engineer, public works director and the police chief.
Parking tickets can be appealed to the Goldsboro Parking Commission. The ordinance changes went into effect following the council's Wednesday vote.
During the regular meeting Wednesday, the council:
* Approved site plans for a new Verizon Wireless store along U.S. 70 near N.C. 581 in the Shoppes of Goldsboro.
* Denied a rezoning request from neighborhood business to a general business conditional district at 1604 Wayne Memorial Drive.
* Denied a conditional-use permit for a bed and breakfast at 112 N. Leslie St.
* Approved a conditional-use permit for the addition of a one-room tattoo parlor, at 605 E. Ash St., with Sunday business hours restricted from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
* Established citywide Halloween trick-or-treat hours from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.