The system is broken - and we can fix it...

The city of Wilmington is in the process of becoming a truly awesome city - a place where entrepreneurs, artists, educators, and businesses create incredible things.

Since October of 2011, the citizens, business community, arts community, Wilmington City Officials, and others have been engaged in improving the parking and parking enforcement issues in the city of Wilmington.

Huge progress has been made and the direction we are going as a community is extremely positive!

This blog chronicles the efforts of all who helped make this happen...

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

More Progress!

This is a significant leap in the right direction!


Wilmington's New $10 Discount for Early Payment of Parking Tickets Begins Today

Posted on  06/13/2012 11:00 am
Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker is pleased to announce that the City’s new $10 discount for early payment of parking tickets is in effect beginning today. The discounted ticket ordinance was approved by Wilmington City Council on June 7 and was originally scheduled to go into effect on Monday, July 2; however, the Mayor said that the City’s finance department and parking enforcement office were able to make all of the necessary procedural changes well ahead of schedule, enabling an early launch of the discount benefit.
The original news release announcing the early payment discount is provided below:

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Wilmington Offers $10 Discount for Early Payment of Parking Tickets
Parking Tickets Paid Online or In Person within 48 Hours of Issuance Eligible for $10 Discount Beginning Monday, July 2
Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker tonight thanked Wilmington City Council for agreeing to amend the City Code to provide for a $10 discount on parking tickets that are paid within 48 hours of their issuance, not including weekend or city holiday hours. Prior to Council’s approval of tonight’s ordinance, City Code offered a $2.00 discount off parking tickets that were paid within 24 hours of issuance.
The Mayor offered his special thanks tonight to 4th District Council Member Hanifa Shabazz not only for her sponsorship of the new discount legislation, but also for her assistance with many of the City’s recent parking and ticketing reforms. Mayor Baker said the new discount legislation is one of 15 parking reforms introduced since earlier this year.
“The new parking ticket discount is just another way we are working to improve our procedures for managing parking enforcement in the City,” said Mayor Baker. “This improved discount for early payment is a win-win for both residents and the City alike. Vehicle owners who receive a ticket will now receive a greater financial incentive for settling their parking citations more expeditiously. The City benefits through improved compliance, which eliminates the costs and effort associated with collecting fees associated with parking violations.”
The new discount will take effect beginning Monday, July 2 (*note: discount actually put into effect on Wednesday, June 13, 2012*). To receive the discount, citizens must pay the ticket in person at the Revenue Department windows on the first floor of the Louis L. Redding City/County Building (800 N. French Street) on regular business days (between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.) or online at www.WilmingtonParkingTickets.com; the discount does not apply to mailed payments.
While parking fines in the City vary depending upon the violation, the vast majority of tickets issued by the City’s Parking Regulation Enforcement Officers are for $40, which includes expired meters and failing to move a vehicle during street cleaning operations.
Citizens who opt not to take advantage of the early payment discount must pay their fine within 21 days of issuance to avoid a late penalty ($20). Every citizen who receives a parking ticket has the option to appeal the citation by sending a letter to the Office of Civil Appeals within 21 days; however, appealing a ticket forfeits the right to receive the early payment discount.
For more information on parking enforcement in the City of Wilmington, including a list of parking tips, visit www.WilmingtonDE.gov/government/parkingtips.