PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WDNews) – A new fine schedule for parking violations in Panama City will take effect Wednesday, Oct. 1.
In July, city commissioners approved the changes, shifting fines from a flat $46 fee to a range of $20 to $250 depending on the violation. Police officers have spent September issuing warnings to give drivers time to adjust before enforcement begins.
“Especially downtown Panama City and downtown St. Andrew’s, we have a lot of parallel parking spots, and we want to be able to, for the benefit of visitors and the businesses, people to be able to get close to those businesses and come and go when they park,” City Manager Jonathan Hayes said. “Really, it’s so important in the downtown area in order to maximize parking, to maximize safety.”
Parking remains free in the city, though time limits apply in certain areas. The rules apply to all vehicles, including golf carts.
