New illegal parking fines approved effective May 1
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Ashburnham drivers will have to take a second look as they put their car into park if they want to avoid new higher fines from the police department.

Selectmen approved new fines for the 14 parking violations in their town's traffic laws on Monday, March 17, after receiving the recommendation from Police Chief Loring Barrett.

"It's being put into place as a deterrent," Barrett said. "It's being done for public safety."

Barrett said the fines, which have not been updated for over 25 years, did not appear to be a significant deterrent because of the low costs. The fines were set after reviewing fines in area communities as well as within the guidelines of the state laws.

"This is not something to bring in revenue," Barrett said.

As of May 1, the majority of parking violation fines will be $25.

This is a $10 increase in fines for violations such as parking in an intersection, blocking a driveway or private road, parking in a no-parking zone, and parking in a crosswalk or on a sidewalk.

An increase was set for violations of the all-night parking ban in the winter (Nov. 15 to April 1, from 12 to 5 a.m.) and interfering with snow removal. These fines went from $15 to $50.

And the fine for parking in a handicapped space increased from $25 to $50.

The largest increase approved by Barrett was the increase from $15 to $100 for parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.

Barrett asked the Selectmen to set a $25 fine for interfering with the free flow of traffic and parking more than 12 inches from the curb. These were each a parking violation, but had no fine attached to the violation.