Chronic Parking Violators Could Earn A Spot on Williamsburg's "Scofflaw" List
City recently introduced escalating fines for repeat offenders; new technology could also make towing and booting easier
For several weeks, Williamsburg has been in the process of replacing physical decals and hangtags with a digital neighborhood parking program. The City states enforcement of the new program will begin September 1, 2025, including use of a camera-enabled tool to identify license plates.
Information received in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted by the Williamsburg Independent identifies many of the new system’s capabilities, including an enhanced ability to keep track of parking violators with unpaid fines. The parking “scofflaws”, as they’re dubbed by the system’s vendor, could make it easier for officers to employ additional enforcement tactics on the spot, such as towing and immobilization (often known as “booting”).
Escalating fines & fees
Earlier this month, the Williamsburg City Council approved changes to the cost of parking violations by implementing a system of escalating fines for repeated offenses. The schedule begins at $25 for a first violation and rises to $300 for five or more. After 14 days, fines that remain unpaid will double. The City will also add a $3.95 service charge to each ticket.
Towing & immobilization in Virginia code
State law allows local governments to tow or boot vehicles with three or more unpaid violations, provided the owner is notified and has at least 24 hours to resolve the debt. Williamsburg officials have not said if or how they might use the scofflaw list generated by the new parking system and a representative of the City did not respond to a request for comment regarding any plans to increase towing and immobilization.
How enforcement will work
Beginning September 1, parking enforcement officers will use license plate recognition (LPR) cameras and handheld devices to check whether vehicles are properly registered through the new Williamsburg Parking Portal. Residents and guests must now purchase digital permits and passes for $5, and existing paper permits will expire August 31. The City contends that the transition is designed to streamline enforcement and eliminate manual checks. Once a vehicle is scanned, the system immediately verifies its status. Officers are then alerted If the car lacks a valid permit or has unpaid tickets.
City’s fees for technology & services
The City’s annual budget for the coming fiscal year anticipates a significant increase in total collected parking violation fees. Information contained in the City’s FOIA response outlined some of the costs associated with the new program, which includes citation management, permitting and payment processing.
According to the contract with the vendor, named Passport, the City incurred a $4,000 one-time setup fee to start the program. They will also pay $12,000 per year for services related to permitting and $4,000 per year for photo enforcement. The vendor will also receive multiple transaction-based fees for merchant services and payment processing.
The writer used AI tools and these sources:
FOIA response - Williamsburg/Passport - Software License and Service Agreement
Recent reporting from Williamsburg Independent:
