People who park illegally in Denver will face increased fines starting in February. This comes after Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) asked the Denver County Court to review the fee schedule for parking code violations and consider increases to encourage compliance with rules that support safety and mobility in Denver. 

It has been 15 years since DOTI completed a comprehensive review of parking fines and found median citation amounts for violations were below peer cities (see attached slides). As Denver encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation such as walking, biking and taking transit to reduce vehicle congestion, it must also encourage good driver behavior to ensure pedestrian walkways and bike lanes are kept clear and that people with disabilities have accessible parking. 

Denver is increasing fines by $10 for most parking violations starting next Tuesday, with the exception of a few that directly tie to the City’s goals for safety and mobility for residents and visitors. For example: 

• Parking in/blocking a bike lane is going from $25 to $65 
• Parking in/blocking a sidewalk is going from $25 to $65 
• Parking in/blocking a crosswalk is going from $25 to $65 

The fine for parking illegally in an accessible parking space is going from $150 to $350, to deter people from illegally using parking areas dedicated to people with disabilities.   

Another notable increase deals with large vehicle parking, which is going from $25 to $250. The City has seen a rise in large vehicles, such as semitrucks and large business trucks, using residential neighborhoods to park. Not only does this take up valuable curbside space, but it also interferes with the quality, enjoyment, and safety of the people who live in those neighborhoods.  Denver anticipates an additional $6.4 million in 2022 will be collected under the new fine schedule and placed into a DOTI special revenue fund for mobility and safety improvements.