City of Columbus Offers Discount on Ticket Fines with Early Payment

Beginning Monday, May 4, 2026, the Columbus City Code parking violation will offer a discount to the ticket fine if payment is made within seven days. The changes also extend the time to pay a ticket before a late fee is assessed, from 10 days to 30 days.

The pay early/pay less incentive reflects a $20 discount when a citation is paid within the first week of the ticket being issued by the city’s Parking Enforcement or Division of Police officers.

The Division of Mobility and Parking Services has updated and streamlined the parking code and fine structure overall, now grouping these civil citations by safety and mobility, parking management, and general parking violations. The updated code also simplifies the process to appeal a parking ticket. The code changes were approved by City Council in December.

The division manages approximately 21,000 parking spaces. As demand for curb space keeps growing, parking compliance focuses on safety, turnover and fair access that supports local businesses and other users.

“These objectives guiding the city’s on-street parking program also encourage sustainable transportation by walking, biking or using transit to help reduce congestion and circling for a parking space,” said Justin Goodwin, Administrator of Mobility and Parking Services.

“It has been more than a decade since Columbus City Code governing parking infractions and fines has been reviewed thoroughly to ensure we provide clarity and fairness for residents and vehicle owners, while aligning with today’s curb lane demands.”

Once seven days pass to pay a discounted fine, the new tiered approach requires standard payment for parking offenses until the ticket goes unpaid for 30 days, when a $10 late fee is added. Previous late fees totaled $35.

In addition, the revised code issues a warning instead of a citation for failure to display a valid registration if the expiration is less than 30 days. After 30 days, the same vehicle plate may be cited with one ticket every 30 days, up to three times, before judgments are filed subjecting the vehicle to towing and blocked registration by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles until the ticket is paid in full.

The new fine for failure to register will be $30 in total with no late fee, a decrease from the previous $50 penalty and accumulating late charges. The change aims to provide extra time and eliminate unintended economic hardships, for example, that may prevent the vehicle owner from driving to work.

The code revisions add citations for mobility and safety-focused violations. They include enforcement to prohibit stopping or parking in a marked bike lane, bus stop or dedicated bus only lane in anticipation of planned LinkUS bus rapid transit corridors. Loading activity in a bike lane was permitted in the old parking code.

Support the New Americans magazine to continue to serve our community with precise news that affect the new American, immigrant and refugee community. https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8LHFS78NRNJJY&source=url

Screenshot