Crackdown law slaps drivers with $250 ticket for parking in eight no-go zones in major US city

A driving law in a major US city has imposed a fine of more than $200 on car owners who violate it.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, drivers could face a fine of up to $250 for a misdemeanor if they park within eight no-go zones.

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The Queen City has reportedly become increasingly crowded with events and activities in recent years — but the increasing influx of people has created few parking spaces without towing or tickets, according to local radio station WBAV.

Some residents claim that signage in the city is confusing and that parking spaces along streets are available for a certain fee per hour or that drivers can only park their motor vehicles there during the work week.

Of course, parking garages are an option for a significant fee, but there are at least eight places in Charlotte that drivers should avoid altogether, which in turn could help them figure out where to park instead.

The first would be to park in a metered area and not pay accordingly.

Drivers who do this will receive a ticket from the city ranging from $25 to $100.

But as The US Sun previously reported, officials in Charlotte are discussing new fines that would charge violators for every hour the car is not paid for and not moved.

According to Queen City News, parking enforcement officers claimed at a recent City Council meeting that some drivers simply accepted a standard $25 fine and left their car in the spot afterward.

Transportation Director Debbie Smith warned that the safety and environmental impacts of illegal parking were legitimate.

“These are violations that raise safety or environmental concerns,” she said at the meeting.

The second no-go zone in the Queen City is a little more obvious, as every city and state in the US has certain rules that prohibit parking too close to a fire hydrant.

For Charlotte drivers, parking in front of or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant would result in a ticket being issued in the above price range or having the car towed entirely.

Similar problems with blocking emergency services occur when parking illegally in a fire lane.

Even briefly parking in a fire lane with security activated before leaving Charlotte is a violation punishable by fines and possible towing.

The same goes for parking in front of the driveway to a fire station or even within 20 feet of it, as obstructing fire trucks on the way could negatively impact public safety.

Additionally, parking in front of a neighbor’s driveway or a public entrance at another building in Charlotte is a violation.

It’s a similar rule to many other states that could lead to more traffic tickets and fines.

Similar to driveways, parking on sidewalks or crosswalks is also illegal in Charlotte.

As a result, drivers hinder pedestrians from moving around the city.

The same rule applies to medians and bike/scooter paths.

After all, parking on all bridges in Charlotte is illegal, even if it would seem drastic and strange.

Parking violations have been a major problem for the Queen City as a whole.

City council members and members of the area’s quality of life team claimed it had become a significant safety risk.

Apparently public transportation is having trouble getting around the city due to improper parking.

Krissy Oechslin, a member of Charlotte’s Transit Service Advisory Committee, emphasized that violations are “paralyzing” the city’s transportation infrastructure.

“If we want to encourage people to use alternative forms of transportation, we must ensure that drivers do not cripple the proper functioning of our entire system,” she said.

The Quality of Life team requested that city ordinances increase fines for some traffic violations from $25 to a staggering minimum of $100.

The fine increases have yet to be approved as Charlotte City Council continues to propose ideas.