While overtime parking fines in Central Beach doubled to what many consider an outrageous $40 as of the first of the month, no one has to worry too much for the moment about being ticketed.
That’s because Vero’s lone parking enforcement officer, who prowls oceanside streets in the city’s little white jeep looking for scofflaws, has taken a new job.“Our previous parking enforcement officer transferred (to other) roles within the city,” said Lt. Brian Kerensky, head of the police department’s selective enforcement team. “At the current time we do not have a parking enforcement officer.”
That situation will probably continue for at least a couple more weeks. As per normal practice, the opening for the position is being circulated among the city’s workforce and if no suitable candidate emerges, the vacancy will be advertised elsewhere.
The Ocean Drive and Sexton Plaza merchants who had been complaining most bitterly about the lack of parking for visitors and customers in the Central Beach area said the lack of a parking enforcement officer isn’t a big issue yet – but will be when our season is in full swing.
“We haven’t seen John, the parking ticket guy, for a while,” said one shop owner. “Right now, there’s plenty of parking. We didn’t really need him at this time anyway. But we’ll need someone when the season starts, and especially in January, February and March.”
The shop owners who have long complained about lack of available parking during the busy season blame two groups of people for occupying available oceanside parking spots beyond the three-hour limit – beachgoers and employees of restaurants, bars and hotels.
But many Central Beach merchants said that while a deterrent to illegal parking is needed, they do not favor the stiff new fine.
“Forty dollars – that’s pretty punitive. That hurts,” said one clothing shop manager. “That may get some people mad. And then they’ll write on social media that Vero Beach is a terribly mean place to come and tell people not to come here. There must be a better way for the city to provide parking.”
The city council on Sept. 22, by a 4-0 vote, approved doubling the fines for overstaying the limit from $20 to $40. The police department had requested the increase, the first since 2011. The new, higher fines bring the city in line with similar municipalities, Vero Beach Mayor John Cotugno said.
More serious parking violations will also cost more. Parking in a fire lane or a tow-away zone reserved for emergency vehicles or blocking access to a fire hydrant will now cost $60 instead of the previous $30. Fines for illegally parking in handicapped spaces were not increased – they remain at $200.
While the city collected $124,530 in parking fines in the year ending July 2026, police say the increase was not driven by a desire to raise more revenue for the city.
“It is believed that the increase in fines will continue to encourage motorists to abide by the regulations adopted by the City of Vero Beach,” Kerensky wrote in a memorandum supporting the request for the higher fines.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
