Street signs around downtown Williamsport warn drivers of possible fines if they ignore the message whether to park along a kerb. The Williamsport Parking Authority have proposed parking ordinance fine increases. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Williamsport Parking Authority (WPA) has a proposal before City Council to change the parking ordinance to increase fines.

Niki Winner, WPA manager, and Jared Kinley, authority chairman, recently went before council with the requests for the change in the ordinance. Council accepted the proposals on first reading and will have a second reading at its next meeting.

This was a proposal for increasing ticket violation or fines, not the rates from feeding into the meters, according to a question by Council President Eric Beiter, who received the answer.

Councilman Jon Mackey was a no vote on the first reading.

The following were listed by Winner:

Blocking a fire hydrant or parking within 15 feet of the hydrant. That is currently $10 and the authority is

asking to increase it to $25. The same for a loading zone violation of $10 presently to $25 as requested.

No Parking Here to Corner, currently $10 to $25 proposed.

For Trucks Only Loading Zones, $10 to $25 proposed.

Resident Permits, currently $1 for students and renters. A proposed increase to $25. This permit will continue to be free to homeowners. The $1 does not cover the production costs for permit tags, Winner said.

Blocking a crosswalk, $10 to $25 proposed.

Parking in a reserved spot in a garage or off-street lots, $10 to $20 proposed.

On-Street meters, currently $10 and $5 if paid within 24 hours, with a proposal to make that $20 and $10 if paid as a discount within 24 hours.

Winner noted the authority has not increased its fines in 15 years. With operations cost, aging equipment and repairs necessary – the fine increase has been proposed.

“We also have not been receiving any federal grants,” Winner said. “We run entirely on the revenue that we take in.”

Current enforcement hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with one enforcement officer on, she said.