Ohio Lawmaker Fights Parking Ticket 'Gotcha' Games

Proposed bill would limit late fees and standardize grace periods for parking violations statewide.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:07pm

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Ohio State Rep. Darnell Brewer has introduced a bill that would change how cities can collect late fees on parking violations. The proposed legislation would limit late fees and administrative costs to no more than the cost of the original ticket, and would also standardize the grace period statewide to at least 30 days. Brewer's bill aims to address what he sees as cities using parking tickets as a revenue source rather than a way to manage parking turnover.

Why it matters

This proposed law comes in response to concerns that some cities are unfairly profiting off parking tickets by tacking on excessive late fees and short grace periods. The bill could force cities across Ohio, including Cleveland, to adjust their budgetary expectations and provide relief to drivers facing ballooning parking fines.

The details

Rep. Brewer's bill would limit late fees and administrative costs on parking tickets to no more than the cost of the original ticket. It would also standardize the grace period statewide, giving drivers at least 30 days to deal with a ticket instead of the current minimum of 15 days. Brewer was inspired to introduce the bill after personally experiencing a $25 parking ticket that ended up costing over $35 due to late fees and other charges.

  • Rep. Brewer introduced the bill in January 2026.

The players

Darnell Brewer

An Ohio state representative who introduced a bill to limit parking ticket fees and standardize grace periods.

Cleveland

A city in Ohio that is raising parking rates and expanding hours, which could be impacted by the proposed legislation.

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What they’re saying

“He gave an example of where he got a parking ticket. It was $25. There were late fees and added things tacked on that amounted to 35. So he was paying more than double the cost of the original ticket.”

— Courtney Astolfi (Today in Ohio)

“The shame of this is that we need a law like this, that cities are doing things that basically gouge people. We've talked earlier with regard to the traffic cameras that are showing up everywhere in secret places just to do gotchas at the bottom of hills like we see out on the east side. This is the same kind of thing.”

— Chris Quinn (Today in Ohio)

“Government's not supposed to do that. They have taxes to run government. They shouldn't be using gotcha speed cameras to do it. They shouldn't be using gotcha fees to tack on.”

— Chris Quinn (Today in Ohio)

What’s next

The proposed bill hasn't been assigned a number yet, but Rep. Brewer claims there is bipartisan interest. If passed, it could force cities across Ohio, including Cleveland, to adjust their budgetary expectations and provide relief to drivers facing ballooning parking fines.

The takeaway

This case highlights concerns that some cities may be using parking tickets as a revenue source rather than a tool to manage parking turnover, leading to excessive fees and short grace periods that unfairly burden drivers. The proposed legislation aims to address these 'gotcha' practices and provide more fairness and transparency around parking enforcement.