Parking fines could increase 5 fold
Sep 15, 2011
Source: Daily World
Author: Tina Marie Macias
Parking tickets fines could increase by 500 percent and “nuisance” horses could be better controlled if the Opelousas Board of Aldermen adopts two ordinances it discussed Tuesday.
The aldermen introduced an ordinance that would increase parking tickets paid within 24 hours of a citation from to . The public hearing on the ordinance will be held next month before a final vote is taken.
“It’s a substantial increase, but there’s been no increase since 1983,” city attorney Pride Doran said. “We’re in a budget crunch and (Police) Chief (Perry) Gallow and City Court are trying to do something to increase revenue.”
The proposed city budget for the fiscal year that begins Sept. 1 slashed most city budgets by 12 percent. Only the city’s fire and police departments, which make up almost 50 percent of the city’s budget, saw smaller 8 percent cuts.
The cuts in the police department will mostly come from the elimination of overtime, which will affect the department’s ability to patrol festivals and special events.
However, city court and the police department share parking ticket fines, and there have been only 124 parking violations since January, according to the police department.
The fee hike would apply to violations such as parking too close to a stop sign, on the wrong side of the road or at expired parking meters. It would make the lowest fine possible if the ticket is paid within 24 hours.”If you fail to pay your in 24 hours, then you’re subject to court costs and an additional fee,” Doran said.
Meanwhile,two residents, who live on or near Jackson Street, complained about loose horses grazing on private property, being tied to personal fences and leaving their waste on lawns.
Citizens recommended that an ordinance be created that either regulates how large a lot must be to hold a horse or removes horses from the city. Small lots are to blame for restless horses who escape and wander through neighborhoods, they said.
“The horses are very neglected. No water, no food, no shade,” one resident said. “I have problems with them being tied in my yard, tearing up my fence, messing in my yard.”
Another resident, Joe Citizens, said at least one horse constantly is roaming around his neighborhood. He worried about what would happen if a fast-moving car hit the large animal.
When Citizen recently called the police to report a loose horse, they responded, but then the horse walked up to the police cruiser and bobbed his head.
“I don’t know if they were saying hello, or what,” Citizen said. Nothing more was done, he said.
Alderman Reggie Tatum noted that an ordinance was drafted last year that would deal with vicious dogs and horses in the city, but no action was ever taken.
That ordinance might be reconsidered or the city could look at laws used by other cities.
“We don’t want to discourage people from wholesome fun, but when it does interfere with day-to-day operations, then it should be addressed,” Gallow said.
What’s next? A public hearing about the proposed ordinance to raise parking ticket fines from to will be held at the next Board of Aldermen meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at City Hall.