People fined for parking illegally near Jack Trice Stadium on home football days will pay a higher price for doing so this fall.
The Ames City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to raise parking tickets on game days and during special events. The increase:
- $40 to $75
- $35 to $70, if paid within seven days.
Why: “Parking adjacent to Jack Trice Stadium and the future CyTown area has continued to be a source of congestion during game days creating an environment where it is difficult for vehicles to traverse the streets,” according to the city manager’s recommendation on the matter.
“This is particularly problematic for emergency responders, especially when driving larger vehicles such as an ambulance or fire apparatus.
Past ticketing: Ames Police Chief Geoff Huff said in fiscal 2022-23, 879 game day tickets were written and increasing to 1,300 the following year. Over the past three years, 52 vehicles were issued three or more tickets, accounting for 193 citations.
Current Standing: “The current citation system no longer seems to be a strong deterrent as the cost of a ticket and the cost to park legally begin to converge,” the recommendation stated. “Staff believes a higher citation amount will be more effective at generating compliance.”
