Parking in the City of Spartanburg?

By Charles Sowell  

AUGUST 26, 2010 6:24 a.m. (0)

Parking scofflaws in the city of Spartanburg could be facing stiffer fines and the prospects their car will be immobilized by a boot device attached to a wheel.

City Council is expected to take up the proposal next month.

The boot would be applied after the fifth unpaid ticket and after the registered owner of the vehicle was notified by certified mail.

City Manager Ed Memmott told council during a work session Monday night that the city has a backlog of 4,000 unpaid tickets dating back to 2005 and that changes are needed in how the city goes about the business of enforcing parking regulations in the downtown business district.

“We’re not doing this to make money, but change behaviors,” Memmott said. “Currently our staff doesn’t have the tools to deal adequately with the problem.”

The purpose of timed street-level parking slots downtown is to turn over available spaces and keep a constant flow of shopping traffic, he said. Under the current parking ordinance persons who violate the two hour law are fined $10. The fine does not escalate with the passage of time and there are no parking meters downtown.

There are about 2,700 spaces in downtown parking garages, but most of those are rented by adjacent businesses. On street parking is limited to 400 slots.

Under the proposal by city staff, fines would double if unpaid after 30 days and owners of cars that are booted would have to pay their fines, plus a $100 boot fee, to get their vehicle back.

Scofflaws would have to pay it all up front, Memmott said.

“There will be no payment plan.”

Memmott said the city will apply most of the boots early in the week so the vehicle owner will have a chance to pay their fines and get their car back. If the booted vehicle isn’t moved in a reasonable amount of time the city will have it towed and the owner will face the prospect of paying impound, towing fees and storage in addition to the boot fee and fines.

Council also heard plans for implementing traffic calming programs in neighborhoods that request speed humps.

Under the plan the city will determine eligibility and a processing period for each neighborhood that puts a request in. If the neighborhood meets the requirements then the city would pay to have the speed humps installed.

The city will start the process with $50,000 that will be doled out on a first come, first served basis.

The plan requires no action by council and will be administered by staff and an outside consultant.

During the regular meeting council passed two ordinances at second reading. The first is a zoning change for a property at 571 E. Main St. that would allow for split zoning on the lot and to use a building both as a residence and business.

The second was approval of changes to the noise ordinance exempting noise from marching bands playing or practicing during from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Council next meets Sept. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in chambers at City Hall.

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