Youngstown parking ticket system being overhauled

Youngstown parking ticket system being overhauled

YOUNGSTOWN

A plan to overhaul the city’s parking-ticket system will lead to better collections without adding staff, said Clerk of Courts Sarah Brown-Clark.

“One of the major obstacles” in collecting parking fines is “people have not taken us seriously,” Brown-Clark told city council’s safety committee today.

That’s because the clerk’s office is limited in its authority to go after those who don’t pay parking-ticket fines, she said.

With the creation of a parking violations bureau, tickets would be handled in a way that could be enforced through the municipal court system, Brown-Clark and city Law Director Anthony Farris said.

“We can file civil procedures and garnish people’s wages,” Brown-Clark said.

City council will consider creating the bureau as well as making adjustments to the cost of tickets at its meeting next Wednesday.

“We have a huge number of outstanding parking fines,” Brown-Clark said. “Some are 10 years old and we have not had enforcement.”

She estimated there are about $100,000 in unpaid tickets, including one motorist who owes $6,800. There are several others with $4,000 in unpaid tickets.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com