GUSTINE — The Gustine City Council on Tuesday will consider adopting a new parking violation fine schedule, a move city officials say is necessary to keep up with state law, cover rising administrative costs and ensure penalties act as an effective deterrent.

The proposal, prepared by Police Chief Ruben Chavez and City Attorney Aaron Chandler, would update the city’s parking citation fines under California Vehicle Code section 40203.5. The council is being asked to waive the first reading and move the updated schedule forward for adoption.

City staff say the changes are needed because the current fines — which in many cases range from $20 to $50 — no longer reflect state requirements or the true cost of processing citations. Under state law, each parking citation carries $12.50 in mandatory county and state assessments, including contributions to courthouse construction, criminal justice facilities and court operations.

Gustine recently contracted with Data Ticket to handle citation processing, replacing a mix of in‑house work and services previously provided by Duncan Solutions. While the new system is expected to save staff time, it comes with higher processing costs, including fees for collections, hearing scheduling, correspondence, and administrative reviews. The vendor also charges a $200 monthly minimum if citation volume is low.

According to the staff report, the revenue from current fines does not cover those expenses, leaving the city “severely underfunded” in its parking enforcement program.

The proposed fine schedule — detailed in an exhibit attached to the agenda — is intended to align with state law, ensure consistency with other agencies in Merced County, and set penalties at levels that reflect the severity of violations and the violator’s ability to pay. State law also requires certain violations, such as misuse of disabled parking placards, to carry fines between $250 and $1,000.

City officials emphasized that the goal is not simply to raise revenue but to maintain best practices and ensure penalties discourage repeat violations. Staff also noted that payment plans may be available for those unable to pay fines in full.

The council will take public comment before voting on the resolution. If approved, the updated fine schedule would support the city’s strategic goal of improving financial and budget stability by helping recoup the full cost of enforcing parking and municipal code violations.