Parking fine hikes get early support

Several councilors behind the idea

Councilor Rob Consalvo said he has an easy solution for residents unhappy with proposed hikes in parking fines: obey the city's parking rules.

"The bottom line is, if you don't want to be affected by the rise in fines, don't break the law," he said. "You have an easy way to exempt yourself from this."

Consalvo was among the Boston City Council members who expressed early support of Mayor Thomas M. Menino's plan to raise $13 million in new revenue by boosting some parking fines to as much as $100. The provision is included in the mayor's $2.41 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2009, which was presented to the City Council yesterday.

The higher fines would affect an array of parking violations. For example, the fine for parking in a ramp for disabled drivers, unchanged since 1986, would double to $100. The fine for parking in a crosswalk would rise from $40 to $85. Parking more than a foot from the curb would cost motorists $35, up from $20. The penalty for overtime parking at a meter will remain at $25.

But while there may be support on the City Council, drivers who were paying parking tickets at City Hall yesterday suggested the mayor look elsewhere.

"I believe in obeying the law, but I don't believe in bad fiscal management," said Al Wong, 61, of the North End.

Wong said he was at City Hall to contest a ticket he received for parking in a space reserved for vehicles with resident permits. He said he had a temporary permit.

"It's outrageous to use parking fines as a way to solve budget problems," Wong said. "They can get the money elsewhere."

Kevin Nguyen of West Revere said he was paying off old tickets racked up by someone he had allowed to use his car.

"Increasing?" Nguyen responded incredulously when told that many fines might be increased after he had just paid $350.

"People are losing their jobs and trying to raise a family," said Nguyen, a manager of a fast-food restaurant at the Prudential Center. "It's not a good time. Maybe when the economy gets better."

Several councilors said they were inclined to agree with the mayor on the increase. "Everything should be on the table for revenue," said Councilor at Large Stephen J. Murphy, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

In each of the past few years, revenue from all fines has generated between $67 million and $68 million for city coffers. Budget writers estimate that with the increased fines and stepped-up enforcement, the city will collect nearly $81 million in fines in fiscal 2009, which starts in July.

In addition to considering the mayor's proposal to increase fines, Murphy said he supports a companion proposal to upgrade parking meters and increase their number in the city.

"The streets are a leased space," Murphy said. "We should be able to generate revenue from people who are going to do business in the city. You don't want to kill people so they don't do business here in the city, but you do want to have a recognition of the fact that we should be getting a fair fee for parking."

Murphy said he also plans to push for more aggressive collections of boat excise taxes, which he said could generate an additional $1 million in revenue. He said he also wants tax-exempt property owners in the city, such as many colleges and hospitals, to contribute more in so-called payments in lieu of taxes.

Councilor at Large Michael Flaherty repeated yesterday his opposition to the parking fine increase as the council set the stage for nearly three months of hearings and debate on the budget.

"To say [fine increases] will close the gap in our budget is misleading," said Flaherty, who has been considering a run for mayor.

John C. Drake can be reached at jdrake@globe.com.