Sen. Carpenter: Going After Parking Ticket Scofflaws

Sen. Tim Carpenter

Madison – State Senator Tim Carpenter (D – Milwaukee) testified before a Senate Committee in favor of a bill he introduced to help financially strapped local governments by allowing them to tow or immobilize cars that have multiple overdue parking violations. Senate Bill 297 would allow cities or counties to immobilize (“boot”) or tow parked cars with three or more outstanding unpaid parking tickets, if each ticket is issued more than 28 days prior to towing or booting, and for which the car owner not contested nor made arrangement to pay the tickets.

“Our local governments are under great financial strain to provide the necessary services to our communities. Some habitual parking ticket scofflaws are able to take advantage of this situation as they know that it is time-consuming and expensive for local governments to pursue all the habitual parking ticket violators through court,” said Carpenter.

“For some municipalities, this is no minor matter. I am informed that the City of Milwaukee has an outstanding parking ticket debt of $63.6 million dollars. Milwaukee states that it’s debt from cars that have more than 3 parking tickets greater than 28 days overdue is $11.7 million. This bill would give cities greater tools to collect what is owed, overdue, and not contested in court,” said Carpenter.

Senator Carpenter introduced Senate Bill 297 with lead Assembly author Rep. Peggy Krusick and eleven other co-sponsors. Notice must be sent by mail to the cars’ registered owner for each parking violation before booting or towing would be allowed.

Posted @ 12:32 a.m.