Parking Fines

In Baltimore County City man gets life with no parole for home invasion, killing TOWSON - A Baltimore man was sentenced yesterday in Baltimore County Circuit Court to life without parole for his involvement in an Owings Mills home invasion and murder last year. Irvin Patrick Browne Jr., 19, formerly of the 1800 block of N. Dallas St., was the third man to be convicted for the Feb. 26, 2002, crime. Prosecutors say he and another man terrorized a group of Owings Mills college students and fatally shot Dimas Rodriguez, 20. Prosecutors say Browne was the shooter.

Union Bridge, a burg of 966 people -- the "prettiest little town in Maryland" according to one of our colleagues -- doesn't have a police department. It does, however, have the Denver Boot.The town recently paid $400 for the boot, the ominous clamping device commonly seen in the big cities with which police immobilize automobiles until their owners settle overdue parking fines.Hey, Union Bridge, what happened to "Keep it country"?The town fathers would like to, but they can't afford to keep getting burned on parking fine revenues, says Mayor Perry L. Jones Jr.With the state Motor Vehicle Administration having switched to 24-month registrations and staggering them throughout the year, Union Bridge officials rightly conclude that it will take the state longer to block the registration renewals of licensees with outstanding violations.

Desperate for revenue and persuaded that the city has been too lenient with past parking enforcement efforts, Baltimore's transportation chief has ordered a crackdown on meter cheaters, double-parkers, hydrant hogs and scofflaws.And Schmoke administration officials asked the City Council this week to approve a plan for overhauling the city's parking bureaucracy, the first step in a broader effort to dramatically increase meter revenues, parking fines and penalties.City parking planners said they eventually expect to hire more ticket-writers and other enforcement personnel, restrict street parking near garages and, perhaps, install hundreds of new meters downtown.

Adrienne Baker was at wit's end.In one hand was a letter stating that a fine on a Baltimore parking ticket had climbed to $153 because payment was overdue. In the other was an Aug. 30 notice from the state Motor Vehicle Administration declaring that she could forget about renewing her car registration until the city fine was paid.Bad enough the parking ticket was undeserved in the first place, Mrs. Baker says, but to cap it all off, no one would let her have a day in court to prove it.All the little bits of anger that had built up from eight years of battling crime, taxes and other complications of Charm City living coalesced in Mrs. Baker's mind at that moment.

THE PROBLEM -- Lack of information about parking fines and violations. THE BACKSTORY -- Alexander D. Mitchell IV doesn't dispute that he parked on Lancaster Street in Fells Point a few minutes longer than the two hours allowed. What he wants to know is whether the parking officer cited him for the correct offense. But trying to research his case to determine whether it's worth challenging, Mitchell ran into a roadblock: He couldn't find a complete list of parking violations and corresponding fines.

Direct the anger at parking scofflaws Many of us who live in the city are quite angry about those who park in our parking spaces with impunity ("Pricey tickets, bad reviews," April 20). We believe that these parking scofflaws should pay up in full, and the law is on our side. Parking laws exist to promote fairness. In residential areas, for example, motorists may occupy spaces for specific periods of time, which allows for equity, especially at times of peak demand. Parking is regulated because demand exceeds supply, and time restrictions help foster fairness.

PARKING VIOLATORS aren't cheering, but the new parking system for Ellicott City's historic district has generated a windfall since it took effect last July. Parking enforcers have dished out $85,514 in tickets, plus change, from new meters. Parking spaces are easier to find to the delight of shoppers and tourists, at least to those who don't overstay their welcome.Except for special occasions, there never has been a lack of parking spaces in the historic district. The area has 1,050 spaces, including 180 on Main Street.

Few things get the blood boiling like double parking. You roll down the street and there is some vehicle with its tail lights flashing, blocking your way. You slam on the brakes and mutter to yourself, "Why doesn't that bozo park around the corner?" That presumes there is space around the corner, which is often not the case in crowded city neighborhoods. Or it overlooks the fact that the driver is unloading the kids, the groceries or grandma in front of his or her home, instances in which maneuvering to get the shortest distance to the front door matters.

Annapolis Mayor Alfred A. Hopkins introduced yesterday a proposed budget for fiscal 1995 that calls for less spending than the current budget but contains higher property taxes, parking fines and permits and license fees.The $37.8 million proposal -- $134,200 less than the fiscal 1994 budget -- contains a 7-cent increase in the tax rate of $1.71 per $100 of assessed value, which would raise the average property tax bill in the city by $17.City Administrator Michael Mallinoff delivered the proposal to the City Council Finance Committee last night.

The $1.4 billion budget plan unveiled yesterday by County Executive Ken Ulman curbs spending compared with last year, but residents face increased parking fines and rises in water, trash and other fees to help pay for the proposal. The 5 percent increase in spending compared with last year is "the lowest in the last decade" with the exception of 2003, Ulman said before presenting his proposal -- the second of his administration -- to the County Council yesterday. That figure refers to general fund revenues that come from taxpayers.