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Heads up Buffalo, Parking Tickets Are Going Up!

Posted at 3:11 PM, Jul 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-27 19:07:17-04

If you're coming to Buffalo and park illegally, get ready to pay more for that parking ticket. The Common Council has approved Mayor Byron Brown's request to increase parking violation fines by $5 to $10 within the next month. 

It's been 15 years since the City Of Buffalo has increased parking violation fees and with business booming in the Queen City, officials say it's time to get on par with cities like Rochester, Syracuse and Albany. Parking Commissioner Kevin Helfer says, this decision was a community-involved decision that took time. 

 What we're hearing from all the merchants and the owners is, keep that turnover going so that there are places to park for my customers," he said earlier today. 

And while some people agree that it's a reasonable raise in fee, others are worried about how the new increases will affect their businesses.

Kevin Brinkworth owns the" 727 Elmwood Avenue" Restaurant in the Elmwood Village and says the maximum meter limit doesn't match the average dining time for a majority for his customers.

"We should have some times, whether it is an house in the morning or an hour in the late evening where people can park for free to come and walk around the Elmwood Village to visit restaurants, visit shops and just create additional commerce," he expressed.

As for the new increases, $30 and $35 tickets will not be $40, $70 dollar tickets will now be $80 and late fee penalties will go up an additional $10 as well. 

Helfer says, the anticipated one-million dollars in additional revenue will go back into the City's development.