Batavia considers raising parking fines for first time in 26 years

Breaking Batavia's parking laws may soon cost drivers more.

The city council is considering raising the fines for the first time in 26 years.

The change was proposed by the police chief and approved by the council's government services committee Tuesday.

Currently, the fine is $5 for overnight parking on the street, and $10 for all other violations. The new proposed fine is $15 across the board. As usual, fines will increase if you don't pay them on time.

Batavia prohibits street parking from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. daily. Permits are issued for special circumstances, such as if your driveway is being blacktopped or you have overnight guests and don't have enough room on your driveway for their cars.

"Five dollars is almost laughable," Alderman Lisa Clark said.

The risk of a fine did not deter Batavia High School students from parking on streets near the school, she said. It is illegal to park on those streets during the school day.

She also discussed the matter with her children's teenage friends who stay overnight sometimes at her house and found that none of them was aware that overnight street parking is illegal.

There are signs posted on entrances to town specifying that rule, and it is on the police department page at the city Web site, cityofbatavia.net.

The city issued 1,528 parking tickets in 2008, most of them for overnight parking, Chief Gary Schira said. It collected $19,380 in fines.

Geneva charges $10 for a basic violation (other than overtime parking at the train station). North Aurora is the highest in the area, at $50. Elburn charges $20, and St. Charles and West Chicago charge $25.

The matter is tentatively scheduled to be voted on by the full council July 20.