Fiscal Note
The proposed ordinance change increases the grace periods within which to pay for a parking ticket without incurring additional charges. Modifications to notices and website information can be completed with existing resources. Parking tickets contain language stating that they must be paid in 10 days. MPD will be ordering new tickets soon based on the current stock. No appropriation is required.
Title
Amending Section 12.154(5) of the Madison General Ordinances to increase the grace periods within which to pay for a parking ticket without incurring additional charges.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: This proposal amends Sec. 12.154(5), MGO, to increase the time periods within which a person can pay for a parking ticket before incurring additional charges. Specifically, this proposal increases the initial grace period from 10 days to 14 days. In turn, this proposal increases the grace period before imposition of the subsequent charge from 21 days to 25 days. The purpose of this change is to provide additional time to persons of limited financial means to make payment on their parking tickets.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
Subsection (5) entitled “Late Payment Charge for Unpaid Parking Violations” of Section 12.154 entitled “Bail in Violation Cases" of the Madison General Ordinances is amended to read as follows:
“(5) Late Payment Charge for Unpaid Parking Violations. In the event any notice of parking violation or nonmoving traffic violation ("parking ticket") is not paid within ten fourteen (1014) days from the date of the violation, an administrative charge of ten dollars ($10) shall be added to the total cost of the ticket. If said parking ticket remains unpaid after twenty-one twenty-five (2125) days from the date of the violation, a second administrative charge of ten dollars ($10) shall be added. Failure to pay after required notice(s) have been sent pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 345.28 shall result in an additional administrative charge of ten dollars ($10) to further cover the cost of using the traffic violation and registration program established by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation ("Department") under Wis. Stat. § 345.28, when the City notifies the Department in the form and manner prescribed by the Department that the parking ticket remains unpaid. The above charges represent the reasonable and necessary administrative costs associated with the collection of unpaid parking tickets and participation in the Department's traffic violation and registration program. The provisions of this paragraph shall in no way limit the City from utilizing any other methods of collecting and enforcing unpaid parking tickets under Wis. Stat. § 345.28, or as otherwise authorized by law.”