TOLEDO – On any given day, downtown Toledo buzzes with sports fans, office workers, and residents going about their lives. But behind the energy and excitement lies a quieter frustration… $55 fines for parking violations that begin with a 25-cent misstep. For those who live, work, or rely on state services downtown, the dreaded yellow ticket on the windshield has become an unfortunate part of life. Now, a new state law aims to curb some of these penalties.

A recent investigation into parking ticket practices in downtown Toledo has sparked discussions about potential racial and economic bias, and violations of the 8th amendment’s excessive fines clause. Some critics argue that the city’s parking enforcement disproportionately impacts low-income residents and communities of color, particularly those using state services or living in Section 8 housing near Downtown Toledo.

Recent legislation

House Bill 29, passed on April 9, 2025, eliminated driver’s license suspensions for unpaid fines and fees. It also effectively ended Ohio’s DETER program, which had allowed the BMV to block vehicle registrations over unpaid parking tickets. Parking violations, once falling into a gray area as civil infractions, can no longer result in state imposed license or registration holds. This major shift pushes the burden of enforcement back onto local measures like towing, impoundment or collections.

Ohio House Bill 29 effectively closed that murky loophole where civil infractions like parking tickets once fell between the cracks. Before this reform, because parking tickets were not handled in criminal court, they largely escaped the kind of judicial oversight that might weigh whether fines were excessive or consider someone’s ability to pay.

That gray area let local governments leverage state tools like registration holds to collect debts with little scrutiny. With the DETER program dismantled, that avenue is now off the table, which is a meaningful win for drivers who faced losing their ability to legally drive over relatively minor fines.

On the other hand, it also raises the question of whether cities like Toledo will rely more heavily on other penalties, such as towing or sending debts to collections, shifting the burden rather than truly reforming an inequitable system.

The use of towing to collect unpaid parking fines, while seemingly lawful, still raises concerns about whether these policies are being used to generate revenue at the expense of vulnerable residents.

A curious parallel emerges when we consider recent corruption scandals in Ohio’s energy sector. At first glance, these issues seem worlds apart. However, both share a common thread of systematic mismanagement and lack of accountability that disproportionately impacts low-income communities.

In both scenarios, public entities capitalize on the financial hardship of those who have little means to fight back. Whether it is inflated utility rates or excessive parking fines, these systems create an unfair burden on the same people: the economically disadvantaged. Meanwhile, the profits continue to flow into government coffers or private corporate pockets.

How much money has the city received from metered parking tickets?

According to Holly Kemler the Director of Communications for Toledo Port Authority, “Changes to the current metered parking structure went into effect January 2021 following approval by Toledo City Council in June 2019. The changes were to be implemented in 2020 but were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“The average meter violations revenue for the past three years (’21-’23) is $264,329. Please note, these dollars go back into the operations of the parking system for capital improvement projects at the parking garages and for on-street meters. In addition, ConnecToledo is granted up to $100,000 each year from net revenues, which funds are re-invested into downtown Toledo development. Any remaining excess net revenue is then split 50/50 with the City of Toledo and the Port Authority. Over the past three years, the Port Authority has received minimal revenue from parking operations.”

Do metered parking fines violate the 8th Amendment?

According to the 8th amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, excessive fines may not be imposed by federal, state or local governments on its citizens. 

What qualifies as an excessive fine is typically determined by a judge. However, when it comes to minor infractions, like metered parking tickets, these cases often bypass judicial review, creating a loophole. This gap can be exploited by local governments who impose punitive fines that might otherwise be deemed unconstitutional if evaluated in court.

Toledo is not alone in facing these concerns. Similar issues have arisen in jurisdictions around the country. One notable case involves Public Justice, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization, which intervened in City of Seattle v. Long.

“We filed an amicus brief with the Washington Supreme Court on behalf of Steven Long, a vehicularly housed man who was charged over $500 in towing and impound fees for a minor parking infraction. The lower court held that the fine imposed was not excessive, even though Steven was indigent and had only $50 to his name. Our brief argued that, under the Excessive Fines Clause, is necessary to consider a defendant’s individual circumstances, such as ability to pay when imposing a fine.

In August 2021, the State Supreme Court agreed with our brief and held in a unanimous decision that the Excessive Fines Clause requires consideration of a defendant’s ability to pay. The Long court was also the first court ever to hold that impoundment and towing fees can constitute a “fine” subject to the Clause’s protections.”

In another case, Timbs v. Indiana established that the 8th Amendment’s prohibition on excessive fines applies to states. In this case, Tyson Timbs, convicted of drug charges in Indiana, faced $1,200 in court costs and fees. However, officials attempted to confiscate his $35,000 Land Rover – permanently. The Indiana Supreme Court ruled unanimously that this fine was excessive, and the 8th Amendment applied to states.

Racial bias concerns

Columbia Law School professor Edward Morrison did a study called “Explaining Racial Disparities in Consumer Bankruptcy,” and used the 2011 Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel‘s policy to go after unpaid parking tickets and fines as the basis. What he found was that the policy correlated with large increases in Chapter 13 bankruptcies throughout the city, with the Black community being the hardest hit. 

Is there evidence that the same thing is happening in Toledo?

Since 2021, Chapter 13 bankruptcies in Toledo have surged, reflecting a concerning post-pandemic trend. In the Ohio Northern District Court, Chapter 13 filings rose from 170 in 2021 to 382 in 2024—an annual increase of 25 percent. 

Overall, bankruptcy filings have also spiked, with increases of 16 percent in 2023 and 13 percent in 2024, marking the largest year-over-year growth since the district began tracking data in 2015.

While the aftermath of COVID-19 restrictions may skew these figures, the upward trajectory raises significant concerns. The timing of the increase in bankruptcies coincides with the revised on-street parking policy, which was enacted on Jan. 4, 2021.

These policy updates came during the heart of Covid-19 lockdown, and economic stimulus checks. Many people were working from home, and if those individuals lived in Downtown Toledo, the parking situation became even more challenging.

What effect did that have? Economists say it is hard to tell. The pandemic resulted in a sharp decline in filings, largely due to courts processing less cases, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Once this relief expired, bankruptcy fillings began to increase but still remained lower than pre-pandemic numbers.

📌 What the data suggests

There’s a strong correlation between the April 2022 enforcement and the sharp increase in Chapter 13 filings, from 2021 to 2023:

• Chapter 13 bankruptcies more than doubled (170 → 362) during this window.
• While correlation is not causation, this jump coincides with the period following the stricter metered parking enforcement.
• Chapter 13 is often used to restructure debts like traffic/parking fines, which makes this trend particularly relevant.

For further reference:

Bankruptcy Filings During and After the COVID-19 Recession

Court Statistics | Northern District of Ohio | United States Bankruptcy Court

Parking meters near Section 8 housing

One point of contention is the placement of metered parking locations near Section 8 housing. A review of Toledo’s urban planning data reveals that a significant number of metered parking spaces are situated within a short radius of these low-income housing units. While many such complexes offer some garden style parking, residents who drive often rely on street parking, leaving them vulnerable to fines they can scarcely afford. This creates an added burden for households already grappling with economic challenges.

Access to state services downtown

Adding to the issue is the placement of metered parking in downtown Toledo, particularly near government buildings and state service centers. Residents visiting these offices for essential services, such as applying for benefits or attending court hearings, frequently face parking fines. The lack of accessible, free parking near these facilities disproportionately affects low-income individuals who cannot easily absorb the added expense.

Government services near metered parking

The cost of a quarter (punitive fine structure)

The fine structure further complicates the issue. Initial fines seem manageable but escalate steeply if left unpaid. For example, expired meter violations are initially fined at $10 for the first four offenses. If unpaid, these fines increase to $20 after 15 days and $35 after 30 days. For individuals with multiple offenses, the fines are even higher, reaching up to $55 after 30 days for those with 10 or more tickets.

The proportion of these violations must be considered. A 15-minute parking violation, at the original cost of 25 cents, can balloon up to $55. Some argue that such a system would be deemed exploitative if implemented by a private organization, yet it is legally sanctioned when operated by the local government. For citizens struggling financially who fall between the cracks of these policies, it can be difficult to overcome.

We asked Kemler of the Toledo Port Authority to clarify the options for relief that exist:

What types of payment programs are available for individuals who can’t pay? There are currently no payment programs available; however, parking fines are lower for the first through fourth offenses and increase for more habitual offenders.

Will essential government services be denied based on unpaid fines? Failure to pay after accumulating one single citation for parking in a handicap space, or three other citations, subjects you to Ohio’s D.E.T.E.R. program (administered by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles), at which time you may incur additional charges, a vehicle registration block by the State of Ohio, and/or towing and impoundment per City of Toledo ordinance.

Are the fines capped at $55 per metered parking violation? Or do they go higher? For expired and overtime meter violations, initial fines are increased to $30 beginning with the 10th parking offense, which fine will increase to $55 if not paid within 30 days. The fine for a handicap violation is $100, which fine will increase to $150 if not paid within 15 days. If any ticket is placed in the Ohio D.E.T.E.R. program due to nonpayment, additional fees may be attached.

Do unpaid tickets get sent to a collection agency? Unpaid parking citations may be sent to an outside collection agency after 90 days.

What considerations were made for residents in these areas when deciding on meter placements? The City of Toledo owns the parking meters and determines the placement of each meter. The Port Authority, via ParkSmart, manages the operation of the on-street parking on the City’s behalf. Residents in downtown Toledo have several options for parking, including monthly covered parking at the Port Lawrence and Superior parking garages.

Is there free subsidized parking nearby? Several downtown businesses own and operate private parking lots, many of which offer free parking.

These implemented changes are consistent with recommendations from a study of the City’s parking system to increase turnover in the metered spaces for patrons visiting the restaurants, shops, and businesses throughout the day. The study’s representatives indicated they were unaware of any other similar sized city that had free parking during the lunch hours and concluded that the people utilizing the free parking were primarily employees of downtown Toledo, eliminating the turnover needed for customers to find accessible on-street parking.

Similarly, it was also recommended that on-street parking have a two-hour limit to further permit turnover and create availability for patrons visiting downtown businesses.

Please note, on-street parking is free before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is free all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Local impacts of parking practices

For struggling citizens using state services, attending court or simply picking up a child from downtown daycares, parking can be hazardous. We interviewed Chris, a downtown Toledo resident, and he explained the impact “I had to pay $600 for like five or six tickets to get a block removed when I tried to get my license plate.

“And they are impossible to contact. They have two separate offices. I had to go back and forth to sign forms and get stuff notarized for the DMV to get the hold lifted. It was a lot for trying to park where I live. And they are out front early looking. It is a real injustice.”

Rachel Garza, manager of the LaSalle apartments downtown and a Downtown Toledo resident, spoke to the Free Press about whether metered parking practices restrict mobility downtown, or are just part of the expansion of the city.

“I see it both ways definitely, because we are building so much, the growth and everything is amazing,” Garza said. “So you can have parking now, getting around the parking though… we are a built-up market. So we always have Walleye events. We always have Mud Hens events. Jeep Fest takes place down here, the Christmas parade that we do, that’s when it becomes an issue for tenants who are living down here.

“Street parking and the way the tickets lapse, that’s definitely a cause of concern. Why are tenants around certain properties getting ticketed when that’s the only parking they have? And could that be a different type of structure?

“I have had tenants that came to me like, ‘Should it be ticketed if it’s the only parking we have for an apartment complex, even if it is downtown?’ And then for our property, leasing wise, we’ve offered different parking spots depending on lease renewals or working with prices, sometimes depending on how long they’ve been here and how long the issue they’ve had with parking.”

A path forward

The debate over Toledo’s parking enforcement highlights broader issues of urban planning, economic justice and systemic inequality. Residents and advocates remain hopeful that meaningful changes will create a more equitable system for all Toledoans.

One issue uncovered in our investigation was the frequent breakdown of parking meters, leaving downtown visitors in a difficult spot, unable to pay but still at risk of receiving a ticket. I walked 0.7 miles down Huron Street, from Adams Street to the Farmers Market, and found two broken meters. To test the city’s response, I filed a repair request, and the meter was fixed within 24 hours. While these breakdowns seem to happen often, it’s clear the city is trying to address the issue quickly. 

However, for many residents and visitors, the uncertainty of broken meters can feel unfair, especially when there’s no way to pay and yet the risk of being ticketed remains. A more transparent policy addressing broken meters could go a long way to easing frustrations, particularly for those who frequent downtown for work or leisure.

Solutions include:

Implementing income-based fine structures: Adjusting fines according to an individual’s ability to pay.

Expanding free parking near essential services: Ensuring accessibility for all residents without additional financial burdens.

Transparency in enforcement practices: Publishing data on ticketing patterns to identify and address potential biases.

Amnesty programs for unpaid fines: Offering opportunities for residents to resolve outstanding tickets without facing overwhelming penalties.

As the debate over Toledo’s parking policies continues, the city faces mounting pressure to reform a system many view as inequitable. Advocates argue that fair and just parking enforcement policies are essential for fostering a city that prioritizes equity and inclusivity.

Without changes, Toledo risks deepening existing inequalities and alienating some of its most vulnerable residents.