Philly sees 500% increase in sidewalk parking citations after increased PPA enforcement

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The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) announced that it has written nearly 19,000 citations for sidewalk violations in about two months, a 500% increase over the same period last year as officials look to crack down on people illegally parking their vehicles on the sidewalk.

According to the PPA, from mid-May through mid-July, the number of overall violations written by the parking authority increased 135% compared to the same time period in 2023. That includes the 19,000 citations for sidewalk violations, a roughly 500% increase over the 3,100 sidewalk citations handed out over the same time last year.

Earlier this year, the Philadelphia Parking Authority announced plans to crack down on parking violators city-wide.

The crackdown started with a series of public service announcements warning that the enforcement effort was forthcoming. PPA has also been booting and towing more cars as part of the effort to clean every city block, an effort sponsored by the Parker administration that is more than halfway complete.

The increased focus on everything from sidewalk and double parking to those blocking handicapped ramps began in May and is still going full force, said PPA head Rich Lazer.

“We’re not giving up. This is a normal enforcement now for us,” Lazer said. “This is something that we’re going to continue to focus on and as you can see, there is a slight drop in some of the numbers, but I really believe that is compliance.”

From mid-May through mid-July, the number of violations Lazer said their enforcement operation has been taking complaints from residents and writing tickets.

“We need to make sure that people can get through the city safely whether it’s pedestrians, bicyclists, we have folks in wheelchairs. We have seniors, parents with coaches,” he said. “We got to make sure the city is passable for folks to travel safely.”

The PPA wrote nearly 7,000 tickets for sidewalk parking alone last month, plus over 4,000 for blocking handicapped ramps and parking spaces the same month.

More than 2,100 violations were written for drivers blocking a crosswalk since the enforcement effort began in mid-May, according to records made public by the PPA.

PPA added 30 new parking enforcement officers, including more on bikes for mobility and to enforce bike lanes in Philadelphia. They are moving from neighborhood to neighborhood in addition to working in Center City and the business districts to enforce the mandate. Lazer said everyone from bicycle officers to those in vans and on foot patrol are making it a part of their daily ritual to enforce the regulations.

“They are making sure the path to school will be clear when students return to class,” he said. “It’s not safe for kids to be weaving in and out of cars parked on the sidewalk. So we want to make sure people know that you can’t park on the pavement, you can’t block the ramps and like that citywide.”

Lazer said they are accepting complaints via telephone and through Facebook and other social media.