After a 2 1/2 year hiatus, downtown parking enforcement re-started on Monday.
The city of Henderson quit enforcing parking during the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t begin enforcing after its end. With a spring Henderson City Commission approval of revised parking regulations, the city set the date for re-starting parking enforcement on July 1.
City officials said it’s necessary to begin enforcing parking again because the downtown area is more crowded than it’s been in recent memory, and having open parking spots is necessary for the rise in shopping and restaurant options.
One city official who is glad the parking regulations are back in place is Nancy Stone, who had worked parking enforcement for 21 1/2 years before it was stopped.
“I loved doing it,” she said, adding she likes being outside.
She’s getting her old job back, but with a modified schedule. Stone moved into the occupational license department after parking enforcement was stopped. She’ll still stay in that department but go out two or three random days each week to take care of parking enforcement.
According to a Monday release from the city, only warning tickets without fines will be given to those found in violation of parking longer than three hours within the designated boundaries.
Stone said in her two days back out on parking enforcement she’s ticketed the “same cars in the same spots with the same license plates” that she used to encounter.
On Aug. 1, the city will attach the fines to tickets for parking longer than three hours in the enforcement area. The fine will be $10 if paid within the first 10 days and $20 is paid after ten days.
The boundary in which enforcement will occur includes:
- Water Street from First Street to Second Street
- Main Street from Washington Street to Fourth Street
- Elm Street from Center Street to Third Street
- First Street from Green Street to Water Street
- Second Street from Green Street to Water Street
- Third Street from Water Street to the alleyway in the 300 block
- The Depot parking lot
- The Imperial parking lot
- The Water Street tennis courts parking lot
All other violators were scheduled to begin receiving tickets with fines on Monday, said the release.
Enforcement will occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, said the city.
According to the city, other violations and fines include:
- Vehicles found to be parked in a disabled/handicapped parking without a permit will have 10 days to pay their fine of $50. If the fine is paid after 10 days, the amount will be $100.
- Vehicles parked in loading zones within the set boundaries will have 10 days to pay their fine of $25. If the fine is paid after 10 days, the amount will be $50.
- Vehicles parked where they are blocking the use of a fire hydrant will have 10 days to pay their fine of $25. If the fine is paid after 10 days, the amount will be $50.
- Vehicles found to be parking in designated “no parking” areas, including yellow curbs, will have 10 days to pay their fine of $25. If the fine is paid after 10 days, the amount will be $50.
- Vehicles parked across parking lines within the boundaries of downtown parking enforcement will have 10 days to pay their fine of $5. If the fine is paid after 10 days, the amount will be $10.
- Trucks of one ton or more capacity who violate the truck parking violation will have 10 days to pay their fine of $25. If the fine is paid after 10 days, the amount will be $50.
- Any boat/watercraft trailer that fails to obtain an annual parking permit and is found parked within the parking enforcement boundaries will have 10 days to pay their fine of $30. If the fine is paid after 10 days, the amount will be $100.
Furthermore, residents who live within the established boundaries of parking enforcement—and who have available off-street parking as part of their residence—can apply for a parking permit that would allow longer than the three-hour limit, said the city. To do that, call 270-831-1200.
Parking fines can be paid at the Henderson Municipal Center at 222 First Street, left in the drop box at the Municipal Center or paid online at hendersonky.gov, said the release.
For more information, the updated parking ordinance can be viewed here or call (270) 831-1200.
