GUSTINE — For the first time in nearly 30 years, the City of Gustine is considering raising its parking fines — a move city officials say is long overdue and necessary to keep pace with state law, rising administrative costs, and regional standards.
The Gustine City Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 18, to review proposed updates to its parking violation fine schedule. The hearing is required by law and intended to ensure transparency and allow residents to weigh in before any changes are adopted.
The proposed fine adjustments, prepared by Police Chief Ruben Chavez and Associate Attorney Aaron Chandler, aim to modernize the city’s enforcement practices and align Gustine’s penalties with those in neighboring communities like Livingston, where fines for similar violations range from $28 to over $1,100.
Currently, many of Gustine’s parking fines sit between $20 and $50, with disabled parking violations set at $250 as mandated by state law. The new schedule would keep the structure familiar but raise amounts slightly to reflect the seriousness of each offense and help cover the cost of processing citations.
“Fines haven’t changed in about three decades,” city staff noted in their report. “A modest increase will ensure fairness and simplicity while helping the city recoup costs.”
Each parking citation issued in Gustine includes a mandatory $12.50 in state and county assessments, which go toward courthouse construction, criminal justice facilities, and other public programs. On top of that, the city recently contracted with Data Ticket to handle citation processing — a move expected to save staff time but increase operational costs.
Services like delinquent collections, hearing scheduling, and payment plan processing now come with added fees, some of which are based on a percentage of revenue collected. The city also faces a $200 monthly minimum charge from the vendor, regardless of how many citations are issued.
Staff emphasized that the goal is not just to raise revenue, but to ensure fines act as a true deterrent and reflect the severity of violations. The city retains discretion to adjust penalties based on circumstances, including a violator’s ability to pay.
The council will also consider whether to waive a second reading of the ordinance, which would allow the changes to take effect more quickly. Any future revisions to the municipal code will be reviewed at a later meeting.
The agenda item has been publicly noticed to encourage community input. Residents can attend the meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall or submit comments beforehand.
While the exact fiscal impact is unknown, staff say the changes are expected to improve budget stability and help the city recover the full cost of managing parking enforcement.
If approved, Gustine’s updated fine schedule would bring the city closer to regional standards and ensure compliance with California Vehicle Code Section 40203.5, which encourages counties to standardize parking penalties.
