Milwaukee Parking meter
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Scofflaws, beware.
A new Milwaukee ordinance could lead to an uptick in towed vehicles belonging to those who habitually violate City parking laws.
The new law, detailed October 29 by 13th District Alderman Scott Spiker, will expand the ability of the City to tow cars of people with five or more parking tickets overdue by 60 or more days who haven’t set up a payment plan or court date. Under current law, only those offenders whose cars are parked illegally can be taken to the City Tow Lot on West Lincoln Avenue. Beginning November 1, that will be extended to any car parked within city limits, legally or illegally.
“Please park legally. And if you don’t, please pay your tickets or we’re gonna be towing your vehicle,” said Spiker at a press conference.
According to Spiker, there are 39,000 so-called “parking ticket scofflaws” who would be impacted by the change; in total, it’s estimated that more than $17 million in unpaid citations are connected to that list. By comparison, during October budget meetings the City reported collecting around $11.4 million in parking citation revenue during 2024, with expectations of reporting around $17 million in 2025.
While the new ordinance formally takes effect November 1, there will be a grace period focused on education of the change through the end of the year. Letters will be sent to offenders, and towing of cars would not begin until January 1, according to Spiker.
The move comes as the Department of Public Works is planning on writing 65,000 more tickets in 2026 compared to 2025. Spiker didn’t say whether or not the uptick in tickets could contribute to more potential habitual offenders.
“We have a limited number of parking checkers, and the administration has a plan that we’re gonna write 65,000 more tickets. I don’t know the details of how they’re gonna do that. That’s a good question for them,” said Spiker, who stood alone at the lectern while announcing the new ordinance.
The alderman added that of the roughly 39,000 offenders, 12 to 15% of them live outside of Milwaukee. While the City does not have the authority to tow cars outside of Milwaukee, Spiker hopes the threat of a tow will be enough to compel offenders to pay up.
“Next time you come to the [Fiserv] Forum, [if] we run your plate [and] we find out you haven’t been paying your tickets…you’re not gonna have a car when you come home” said Spiker.
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