Oklahoma City Proposes Fine Increase For Blocking Streetcars

Oklahoma City city leaders want to increase fines for parking in the way of the MAPS 3 Streetcar.

The fine would more than double if you are responsible for stalling the entire system.

"I looked at the line to make sure I wasn’t over it and I was in a legitimate spot," said Ethan Martin who parallel parked along the route Wednesday.

City transportation and parking officials said the streetcars are stalled on average of three times a day because somebody has parked too close to the tracks.

“We can have a blockage on the far northside, the people in Bricktown have to stop. We have to stop the whole system, or the cars get bunched up,” said Oklahoma City Director of Transportation and Parking Jason Ferbrache.

It’s not as though a streetcar conductor can fold in a wayward mirror and be on their way.

“We get a supervisor on scene then we begin looking for the owner of that vehicle that is blocking the streetcar route,” said Ferbrache, who added that can take up to 20 minutes.

If the driver still isn’t found, police are called, and the vehicle may be towed.

Ferbrache said towing is the last resort.

The city is now proposing a hike in fines from $50 to $130 for vehicles parked illegally along the streetcar route.

‘There are additional consequences for blocking the entire streetcar system,” said Ferbrache.

City Council will vote on the proposal in about 4 weeks.