Category: Traffic Offenses · Statute: Local Municipal Codes · Source: Florida Legislature
Understanding Parking Violations in Florida
In Florida, parking violations are non-criminal civil infractions rather than criminal offenses. These violations occur when a vehicle is stopped, stood, or parked in a manner that violates state traffic laws or local municipal ordinances. Common examples include parking in designated fire lanes, blocking fire hydrants, parking in "no parking" zones, exceeding time limits at meters, or obstructing public right-of-ways. Because these are civil infractions, they do not result in criminal arrest records or points on a driver's license, provided they are resolved in a timely manner.
A particularly serious civil parking violation under Florida law involves the unauthorized use of parking spaces designated for persons who have disabilities. Under Florida Statute Section 316.1955, it is unlawful for any vehicle to park in a designated accessible space without a valid, properly displayed disabled parking permit or license plate. Florida law enforces this strictly, mandating a minimum civil penalty of $250 for violations. Local counties and municipalities have the authority to increase this fine further, and law enforcement officers or parking enforcement specialists are authorized to have the violating vehicle towed at the owner's expense.
How Parking Violations Affect Bail and Pretrial Release
Because parking violations under Florida Statute Section 316.1955 and local ordinances are strictly non-criminal civil infractions, they do not carry the threat of jail time. Consequently, bail and pretrial release services are completely inapplicable to these citations. An individual cannot be arrested or booked into a county jail solely for a parking violation. However, ignoring multiple parking tickets can lead to a driver's license suspension or a registration hold, which can eventually lead to criminal charges if a person is caught driving on a suspended license.