City brings in $200,000 in parking tickets in a day
By George P. Hassett

The parking penalties handed out to Somerville drivers during the Dec. 9 snow emergency added up to more than half of the snow emergency fines imposed all of last year.
During the Dec. 9 snow emergency, Traffic and Parking officials handed out roughly 2,000 $100 tickets to Somerville citizens – resulting in $200,000 handed out in a single day. In the entire fiscal year 2005, $362,300 in snow emergency fines were handed out.

Thomas Champion, spokesperson for Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, said the single day totals are especially high because Dec. 9 was the first storm since increased fines went into effect in October.
Once a snow emergency is declared, parking is prohibited on the even side of the street. Those who park there are subject to fines of up to $100.
Champion said the increased fines are not a new way for the city to raise revenue.
“Parking fines are not being imposed to raise money. They are being imposed to raise compliance,” he said.
  Now that high-priced tickets have been handed out, citizens are more likely to abide by parking laws during a snow emergency, he said.
“The number of fines will now almost certainly decrease in the future. Higher fines means less towing. The goal is simply to keep the roads clear, not to generate revenue,” he said.
  The money raised Dec. 9 will go into the city‚Äôs general fund to finance various municipal operations.