PARC Change Repeats Unenforced Policy From 2009

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer is cracking down on parking scofflaws to help overcome the city's budget shortfall, but his plan mirrors a 30-month-old policy that officials never enforced.Starting May 7, parking officers will scan every car parked downtown to check for delinquent tickets. An immobilizing boot will be placed on cars with three or more outstanding tickets, even if they are parked legally. The Metro Council recently approved the change to the city's parking ordinance to encourage tougher enforcement.But in October 2009, PARC adopted a similar policy. In September of that year, Mayor's spokesman Chris Poynter (working for former Mayor Jerry Abramson at the time) told WFPL: "If parking meter maids are going down the street and they notice cars that have at least two parking tickets, even if they are legally parked, they will now get the boot."In an interview this week, Poynter (who now works for current Mayor Greg Fischer) said officials did not follow through.“I remember the change, but I will say that PARC, since the beginning, has never booted cars that were legally parked, even if they owed tickets," he said.The change in 2009 and the change this year both serve the same purpose—to boost city revenue.“We'll be honest, we hope this is a revenue generator and that people do pay their parking tickets," says Poynter.Poynter adds that there are 19,000 scofflaws in Louisville with three or more outstanding tickets, representing millions of dollars in unpaid fees.