Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 15, 1990                   TAG: 9006150860
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CITY MAY UP FINE FOR ILLEGAL PARKING ON BUSINESS LOTS

To discourage motorists from such practices, City Council is considering raising the fine from $5 to $25 - and $35 if the ticket isn't paid within 10 days.

City Attorney Wilburn Dibling will recommend Monday that council approve a vehicular trespass ordinance that would impose the higher fine.

Williamson Road merchants have experienced problems with after-hours parking despite warning signs, Dibling said. He said the $5 fine has not been an effective deterrent.

Police have been charging illegal parkers with trespassing, which carries a jail sentence of up to 12 months and a $1,000 fine. But the courts have been reluctant to convict first-time offenders in such cases unless they are guilty of other offenses, such as being drunk or refusing to vacate the premises.

Dibling said the proposed ordinance would apply to both private and public lots that have signs prohibiting parking during certain periods.

Also Monday, council will be asked to:

Appropriate $23,420 to pay the city's share of the costs for consultants and attorneys to try to negotiate a larger reduction in electric rates for local governments. Appalachian Power Co. has proposed a 4.7 percent reduction in rates for localities in the next three years, but a steering committee for the Virginia Municipal League and Virginia Association of Counties says that a larger reduction in rates should be made.

The committee says that the cost for consultants, attorneys and other expenses for negotiations with Apco will cost $115,000 for the localities that are served by thepower company. Each locality has been asked to contribute an amount that is based on its electricity usage. Roanoke spends $4.8 million for electricity.

Approve $285,000 for more than two dozen community and human service agencies in the next fiscal year. The agencies requested $701,327. Among the agencies that will receive the larger amount are: ARC Roanoke, Inc., $30,250; Bradley Free Clinic of the Roanoke Valley, $18,100; League of Older Americans, $25,000; Roanoke Area Ministries, $26,300; Salvation Army, $23,000; and Tinker Mountain Industries, $22,600.