The Town Council voted unanimously this week to impose fines for illegal parking and to initiate steps to change the town’s vehicle and traffic ordinance to allow for these fines.
If a proposal to change the ordinance is passed by the council after a public hearing Dec. 12, fines will be imposed for such infractions as parking beyond the two-hour limit on Main Street and for violating the overnight parking ban.
The fines, proposed by Police Chief David Ruger, will follow a tiered structure, with $50 for parking that violates the revised vehicle and traffic ordinance; and $75 for a fine that is not paid within 10 days. After 30 days, the town will contact the state Registry of Motor Vehicles for further penalties that could include revocation of driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations.
If the council approves the new ordinance language at its regularly scheduled meeting following the public hearing, fines “can be enforced immediately,” according to Town Clerk Barbara Bennett.
The proposed revision was generated by a South Berwick Police Department review of the town’s vehicles and traffic ordinance, which makes no mention of parking fines. Ruger approached Town Manager Tim Pellerin about the parking violations issue and Pellerin brought it to the council.
“It has been this way for the past 26 years,” Ruger said. “We have nothing to bring to the courts if a motorist violates parking ordinances in town.”
He urged the council to take action on the proposed fines as soon as possible.
“Winter is coming, and we have to be able to impose fines if a car is parked on a town street during a snow emergency,” he said.
In other council news, councilors approved closure of Main Street to motor vehicle traffic during the town Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Also, Pellerin informed the council that the giant tree in front of Town Hall will be removed by the end of next year because it has gotten too tall and has split in half, making it vulnerable to falling. A remembrance ceremony for the tree will be held during Home for the Holidays in 2024, and a new tree will be planted in its place, he said.
