How to avoid the aggravation of parking tickets

By Eric Chapman, Community Services District Supervisor

Getting a parking ticket is never fun, and it’s always frustrating. It can also cost you a ton of cash – as much as $520 for violations related to handicap parking.

Most parking tickets are issued for violations of local parking ordinances, which are civil offenses. In some cases, you can also be cited for breaking state laws, which are criminal violations under the Texas Transportation Code.

A parking ticket won’t affect your driving record unless you ignore it, throw it away or put it in your glove compartment and forget about it. Failing to deal with a ticket promptly can have serious consequences — including expensive fines – and can result in your vehicle being booted, towed, and impounded. In some cases, you can even lose your driving privileges.

Parking problems always exist in growing communities, especially college towns expanding as quickly as College Station. Most of the time, avoiding the headache of a parking violation is as simple as reading and obeying parking signs.

Our goal is to keep our residential streets safe and accessible for everyone – especially emergency vehicles – while making your parking experience as hassle-free as possible.

The photo montage below illustrates the most common parking mistakes we see in College Station.

Don’t park in areas designated as no parking.

Don’t park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. It’s also unlawful to park, stop or stand in a fire lane.

Don’t park within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Don’t park within 30 feet of a traffic control device such as a stop sign or yield sign.

Don’t park facing traffic.

Don’t park in a bike lane, even to simply use an automatic teller machine or while loading or unloading. Bike lanes must remain clear at all times.

Don’t park in spaces reserved for people with disabilities unless you have a valid handicap permit or license plate. Blocking handicap van access areas is not allowed even if you have a handicap placard.

Don’t park on a sidewalk.

Don’t park on a yard or unapproved commercial surface. Vehicles must be parked on asphalt or concrete.

Don’t overstay in timed parking areas.

Don’t park more than 18 inches from the curb. It’s also unlawful to park head-on to a curb in a cul-de-sac.

Don’t park at an expired meter. The LED screen displays rates, times you have to pay, free times, and when parking is not allowed.

Don’t park in spaces reserved for small or compact cars if you have a large vehicle.

Don’t occupy more than one parking space. Your vehicle must be parked within the striped markings.

For additional information or to check on local parking ordinances, call 979-764-6313.

About the Blogger

Eric Chapman is in his ninth year with the city’s Community Service’s Department and has been a district supervisor since 2013.  He worked for Tarrant County from 2005-08 and was a federal correctional officer in Warkworth, Ontario, from 1997-2005. He graduated with honors from Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario, in 1996.

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