Milwaukee plans to increase parking citations by 2025

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Milwaukee hopes to hand out a lot more parking tickets next year, anticipating they’ll bring in an extra $2 million, but officials say it’s not about the revenue, it’s about leveling the playing field for everyone

“Only two hours of parking on this side, but they’re all parked here for their eight-plus hour shift,” one resident said in a video he posted outside his home last week.

Residents at Fillmore and 51st^St they are irritated What used to be a quiet street is no longer.

“We’ve been here 23 years and 22 of them have been great, and this last year has been, it’s been chaotic,” said Milwaukee resident Jacob Flores.

Flores says he’s seen employees of a nearby business leave their cars almost anywhere they can find or make a spot.

“So Thursday last week, they were a quarter of the way in the driveway, about to leave, and I couldn’t even get out,” Flores said.

Councilor Peter Burgelis, of the 11^th District, says stories like these explain why there are parking rules in the first place.

“Parking regulations are not just about making money for the city, it’s about having safe streets for pedestrians, for bikes and for cars,” said Ald. Burgelis.

Milwaukee has handed out roughly 500,000 parking citations annually in the past three years, but starting next year, that will increase as the Department of Public Works says they will be fully staffed with parking enforcement officers.

“Overnight parking is necessary. With fewer parking enforcement officers in recent years, you probably would have gotten away with it,” said Ald. Burgelis.

Multiple fines will also increase for the first time since 2009. DPW says this is to stay in line with similarly sized municipalities.

Most parking tickets will go up five or ten dollars. The biggest jump is for illegally parking in a handicap spot. Right now, that’s a $200 fine. Next year it’s $300.

“I think it’s important to realize that the city, for the 2025 budget, is looking at every possible opportunity to save money and make the right investments and generate the right revenue for the city,” said Ald. Burgelis.