- April 26, 2024
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Volusia County is tripling its fines for parking violations, as the County Council voted 6-1 on Tuesday, Oct. 6. to increase both overtime and non-specific violations to $35.
In addition, parking violations will now have $10 surcharge to fund school crossing guard programs, bringing the total fine to $45 for stopping, standing or parking in a prohibited area. Before the increase, parking fines were $10 for overtime parking and $15 for other violations. These were last updated in 2006.
County staff reviewed parking fines after receiving direction from the council on Aug. 4.
Bethune Beach resident Bill Redmond spoke before the council at the meeting in favor of a fine increase. He and other neighbors have had ongoing issues with beachgoers parking illegally on their street, including in front of private driveways, blocking homeowners from exiting their own properties.
“The county has increased the number of ‘No Parking’ signs down through there, but it doesn’t seem to matter," Redmond said. "They’ll park there anyway because the statement is the fine is so small, they don’t care.”
Only Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post voted against the ordinance, saying that while she agreed the parking violations were an issue, he also wanted staff to explore allowing residents to park for free at the beach as a possible remedy to the problem. Vehicles are charged $20 daily to drive on the beach. Volusia residents can also pay $25 for an annual beach pass.
Due to lack of interest among the other council members, staff was not directed to explore that option.
Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys also made a motion to increase the fines to $50 during the meeting, but it died. Denys said she worried a $35 fine would not be enough to stop people from parking illegally on county streets and property.
The county's new parking fine, including the surcharge, is $20 more than what Ormond Beach fines for parking in a prohibited area, as fines within the city are established at $25.
