It costs a little more to break Huntley’s parking rules

To those who have a penchant for breaking the parking rules in Huntley, listen up.

Starting May 22, Huntley police officers will start issuing $25 tickets in place of the $10 citations they had been giving out since 1997.

“Ten dollars is a very insignificant amount, it is not a deterrent,” outgoing Trustee Jayant Kadakia said.

Moreover, violators who doesn’t pay within 10 days will owe $50. They previously would have paid $20 after five days.

The village board approved the new increases Thursday evening by a unanimous vote.

Huntley had not raised its parking fees in 14 years, because there was no need to do so until recently, officials said. It was only after changing ticketing systems that police realized the fines had stayed the same for so long. As well, an in-house analysis also showed neighboring towns were charging a bit more than Huntley.

Parking tickets in Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Gilberts, McHenry and West Dundee cost $25. After 10 days, each town charges a $50 late fee, the analysis showed.

“The old scale is dated and doesn’t even begin to cover administrative costs,” Trustee Harry Leopold said.

Huntley police issued 1,200 parking tickets last year and hope the new fee structure generates $20,000 for the general fund.

As part of the same vote Thursday, the village also raised a $15 citation for obstructing access to public streets, to $50. Examples include throwing snow, leaves and other debris into the roadway, which forces workers to re-clear the street.