Pittsburgh may raise parking fines

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh City Council is expected to take a preliminary vote on raising parking fines, in hopes of raising more money to bolster the city’s pension fund.

The city expects to raise $5.6 million this year from parking fines, and proponents of the increases say hiking the fines could raise at least $4 million more, and perhaps double that income.

The city has about a third of the money it needs to pay almost $1 billion in pension obligations and is trying to raise about $15 million more a year to bolster that fund.

The city’s lowest parking related fine is $10, compared to $39 in Seattle and $35 in New York City.

The legislation council is considering today would raise the fine for most run-of-the-mill offenses from $15 to $25.