WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Ticket scofflaws face prospect of tow (Norwich-WTNH) _ Norwich residents who don't pay their parking tickets will soon be paying the price for their offenses. Under a new law anyone with five or more unpaid parking fines will have their car hauled away. Towing may sound a little drastic, but city officials say they're owed thousands of dollars by hundreds of scofflaws who are taking up valuable parking spaces downtown. News Channel 8's Peter Standring has the story. Right now Lou Beams simply issues parking tickets to violators. But soon he'll also be responsible for having certain cars towed. Lou Beams, Parking Enforcer: "I think I better get a suit of armor!" Peter: "Worried people will take it out on you?" "Oh yeah, I'm the low man on the pole. I'm on the street." In a few weeks that's going to be an interesting place to be. There's a new law about to take effect here that's aimed at repeat offenders who ignore their parking tickets. Here's how it'll work: Anyone who has at least five unpaid parking tickets and who owes at least $100 will go on a list to have their car towed. City officials are getting tough because they're owed more than $30,000 by dozens of scofflaws. On their heavy-hitter list is some individuals owing hundreds of dollars. Marie Richardson, Parking Commission: "I don't know what they're thinking, but it's not going to happen any more, we're gonna tow 'em!" If a car is towed the owner will have to pay to get it back but only after they've paid their overdue parking fines. Debra LaFrance, Uncasville: "I absolutely agree, yes, they should, yes, I'm sorry, you violate a law, you pay the fine and go on your merry way." But there's nothing 'merry' about parking downtown, and a lot of people are simply fed up. Jeff Boushee has gotten a few tickets in his day which he says is bad enough. Now he has to worry about losing his car. Jeff Boushee, Norwich: "Why take it out on us?" Peter: "Is it fair to tow people? "No of course not. Not at all. "So would you be angry if they tow your car?" "You bet your butt I will!" Angry or not the new policy could take effect as soon as July first. so be warned. Collectively the worst of the heavy-hitters in Norwich is the state of Connecticut. Officials say state vehicles have racked-up more than $5,000 in unpaid parking tickets. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Ticket scofflaws face prospect of tow
(Norwich-WTNH) _ Norwich residents who don't pay their parking tickets will soon be paying the price for their offenses. Under a new law anyone with five or more unpaid parking fines will have their car hauled away. Towing may sound a little drastic, but city officials say they're owed thousands of dollars by hundreds of scofflaws who are taking up valuable parking spaces downtown.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring has the story.

Right now Lou Beams simply issues parking tickets to violators. But soon he'll also be responsible for having certain cars towed.

Lou Beams, Parking Enforcer: "I think I better get a suit of armor!"
Peter: "Worried people will take it out on you?"
"Oh yeah, I'm the low man on the pole. I'm on the street."

In a few weeks that's going to be an interesting place to be. There's a new law about to take effect here that's aimed at repeat offenders who ignore their parking tickets. Here's how it'll work: Anyone who has at least five unpaid parking tickets and who owes at least $100 will go on a list to have their car towed.

City officials are getting tough because they're owed more than $30,000 by dozens of scofflaws. On their heavy-hitter list is some individuals owing hundreds of dollars.

Marie Richardson, Parking Commission: "I don't know what they're thinking, but it's not going to happen any more, we're gonna tow 'em!"

If a car is towed the owner will have to pay to get it back but only after they've paid their overdue parking fines.

Debra LaFrance, Uncasville: "I absolutely agree, yes, they should, yes, I'm sorry, you violate a law, you pay the fine and go on your merry way."

But there's nothing 'merry' about parking downtown, and a lot of people are simply fed up. Jeff Boushee has gotten a few tickets in his day which he says is bad enough. Now he has to worry about losing his car.

Jeff Boushee, Norwich: "Why take it out on us?"
Peter: "Is it fair to tow people?
"No of course not. Not at all.
"So would you be angry if they tow your car?"
"You bet your butt I will!"

Angry or not the new policy could take effect as soon as July first. so be warned.

Collectively the worst of the heavy-hitters in Norwich is the state of Connecticut. Officials say state vehicles have racked-up more than $5,000 in unpaid parking tickets.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.