WASHINGTON — The District will begin reinforcing all parking restrictions starting June 1 after almost a year of suspending driving regulations and requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday at a news conference.
So what does that mean for residents?
In the coming weeks, individuals should make sure their vehicle registration is up to date, ID and driver's license information isn't expired and they must follow all parking and driving regulations to avoid getting a ticket, towed or penalized before June 1.
Here's what will be enforced starting June 1:
- All parking enforcement
- Towing of vehicles violating parking zones (plus associated fees)
- Street sweeping and SWEEP enforcement
- Vehicles must display valid DC registration and inspection stickers
- New tiered residential parking permit fees
- Parking, photo, and/ or minor moving violation tickets issued after June 1 will be subject to adjudication hearing timelines listed on the back of the ticket
Here's what will be enforced starting July 1:
- Booting of vehicles with two or more unsatisfied tickets that are 60 days old
- All DC driver license and ID Cardholders must display the valid credential
- Renewal applications accepted for occupational and professional licenses
- DC medical cannabis program or caregiver registration card must have a valid expiration date.
D.C. Department of Motor Vehicle will have appointments available for residents to get their registration or identification issues situated. Click here to book an appointment.
Residents can also apply for a four-month ticket amnesty program that will give them time to pay for tickets that occurred on their vehicle and registration. The program will run from June 1 to Sept 30, and includes tickets issued before Sept. 30, Bowser said. Through the program, penalties will be waived. Click here for more information.
D.C.'s Department of Public Works has already resumed parking enforcement for cars violating parking in school zones.
Marelle Milline, a parking enforcement officer in D.C. for five years, could be seen checking the tags of vehicles up and down the U Street and 14th Street area. Milline said despite the relaxed parking restrictions within the last 14 months, she and dozens of other officers with the department still issued citations for safety violations.
The overall number of tickets issued and revenue has gone down since the pandemic started in March 2020. According to the Office of Chief Financial Officer, revenue from parking meters was nearly $30 million in 2020, a drop from the year before when it was over $52 million.
When asked about the loss in revenue due to the pandemic, DPW Interim Director Christine Davis said her department doesn't "capture those numbers."
"It's not about revenue for the agency," Davis told WUSA9. "It's about ensuring there's appropriate turnover in parking and that residents have space to park in their neighborhoods."