Street parking in certain areas of downtown Fort Pierce is now limited to two hours on weekdays, and will be enforced by the Fort Pierce Code Enforcement Division, Fort Pierce Police Department and Fort Pierce City Marina.
Visitors cannot park for more than two continuous hours in designated parking spots from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays to “help maximize available parking for business patrons, maintain traffic flow, and enhance public safety,” according to the the city of Fort Pierce.
The city has hired two part-time parking enforcement specialists who will use tablets with software containing “date- and time-stamped photographic documentation for enforcement purposes,” according to Fort Pierce Marketing and Communications Manager Kaitlyn Ballard.
In 2018, Ballard said rising demand for parking spaces led the city to form a Parking Committee to recommend improvements, including enforcing the two-hour parking designations in place since about 2008.
But with only one part-time person monitoring parking from 2018 to mid-2025, issuing citations was limited and inconsistent, she said.
Here’s what to know.
When is parking limited in downtown Fort Pierce?
Visitors cannot park for more than two continuous hours in designated parking spots along the downtown streets on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. starting June 1, according to the city of Fort Pierce.
How much are parking citations?
Violations can earn visitors citations starting at $50 and escalating with repeated offenses that can surpass $500 in penalties, with the possibility of a car being immobilized or towed.
Where are the two-hour limit parking spots in downtown Fort Pierce?
Limited-time parking zones are marked with signs and line the following streets:
What to do if you get a parking citation in downtown Fort Pierce
The first parking offense is $50 if paid within 30 days. If not paid within 30 days, the matter goes to a special magistrate, and could include a $10 in administrative fee, $18 in late fees and up to $500 in penalties imposed by the magistrate.
Special magistrate hearings are held in the Commission Chambers at Fort Pierce City Hall. If the citation is not paid after the first hearing, the matter may move up to the Circuit Court of St. Lucie County, according to Ballard.
Offenders can dispute the ticket by submitting a citation dispute form and attending the special magistrate hearing, according to the city’s website.
“A second offense is $100 if paid within 30 days and may also incur additional fees and penalties if unpaid or contested,” Ballard said.
Three or more offenses will require mandatory special magistrate hearings and penalties. Cars may be immobilized or towed if the owner owes $150 or more for “delinquent parking citations and related fees,” according to Ballard.
Handicapped parking violations start at $250 with mandatory hearings on second and following offenses.
The citation revenue is used to pay for enforcement activities, special magistrate proceedings and parking maintenance among other related improvements, according to Ballard. Handicapped parking violations are dedicated to accessibility improvements.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Downtown Fort Pierce guests face hefty citations for parking 2+ hours
Reporting by Ashley Ferrer and Adrian Jimenez Morales, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
