(Washington, DC) District fines, which have remained constant for the last decade, have fallen behind those of neighboring jurisdictions and lost much of their deterrent effect. Therefore the District will raise fines for six parking violations, effective Saturday, March 1. The fines for four parking violations will increase from $20 to $30: No Parking Anytime, No Parking/Public Alley, Disobeying Official Sign (street cleaning, etc.), and Parking Beyond Posted Limit in a residential area. The fine for an expired meter will increase from $15 to $25.

The largest change will affect commercial vehicles, such as tour busses. The fine for parking a bus, commercial or sightseeing vehicle in front of a residence or other restricted space will increase from $20 to $500.

Over 20 agencies are authorized to write parking tickets on behalf of the District Government, including the US Capitol Police, the US Park Police, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police, DC Department of Public Works, Metropolitan Police Department, and the US Mint.

The increases were passed by Council last summer as part of the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2002 and published in the District of Columbia Register on August 23, 2002.