Town of Westport announces major parking changes to downtown area

Westport town officials said there are major parking changes coming to the downtown area.

“Listen, downtown parking is an issue. We want to make sure that people don’t abuse the system or the parking regulations,” said Lt. Eric Woods.

Different spots used to have different rules. Each spot now has a three-hour limit, and tickets ranging from $25 to $40 for violators.

The town voted last year to enforce a three-hour limit on downtown parking spots - and this month, approved a contract for the tracking technology police will use.

“A license plate reader attached to one of our patrol vehicles, which we’ll drive through parking lots and around the roads to note when a vehicle parks. It’ll alert the vehicle traffic agent when the vehicle has exceeded the three-hour minimum,” said Woods.

But what are these license plate readers tracking?

“We are not tracking any information, we are not storing any information, for anyone who is concerned about privacy. It’s really just for tracking the time that people are parked downtown,” said Woods.

The town had changed to unlimited parking during the COVID pandemic. By revising the limit to three hours across town, they’re hoping it makes more spots available for local businesses.

“We can get turnover down there for those who want to visit the stores, visit the restaurants, and it also gives people an opportunity to come down here and go to dinner and not have to worry about going out in the middle of dinner to move their car,” said Woods.

Police say there are future plans to expand the program to check for permits at the train station.

The town said the program is likely to start in the spring, but officials said they will inform residents when the program begins.