The chief of police in Neptune Beach has revealed that the city is grappling with nearly $500,000 in unpaid parking fines accumulated between 2022 and 2024.
NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. — Motorists in Neptune Beach with outstanding parking violations might soon find themselves contacted by a debt collection agency.
The city has declared its intention to recover these unpaid fines by enlisting the services of a collections agency.
“Sending people to collections for unpaid tickets seems a bit excessive,” remarked Jordyn Cotroneo during her visit to Beaches Town Center on Sunday.
Cotroneo, who has been critical of the paid parking policy introduced at the town center six years ago, wasn’t shocked to learn about the city’s ongoing struggle with unpaid parking fines.
“I believe the reason people aren’t settling their tickets is because they disagree with the idea of having to pay them,” Cotroneo expressed.
When looking into a new paid parking system, Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key told city leaders the city only made about $5,000 in 2024 on parking violation tickets.
Meanwhile, between 2022 and 2024, the city had nearly half a million dollars in outstanding unpaid tickets.
“Maybe more people would pay their tickets if you didn’t charge so much to park,” Cotroneo said.
“I think if you’re not paying, you should be penalized,” Frank Valli said while paying at a kiosk.
The chief conveyed the old parking system didn’t provide much of a way to go after tickets, but the new one does — by bringing in a collections agency to make sure tickets are paid.
Starting April 15, tickets from before 2026 will be sent to collections.
“If you don’t pay the ticket, it’s kind of on you,” Cameron Bruce said while cycling through Beaches Town Center. “You should probably be expecting somebody to be coming for the money.”
“I’m worried for other people,” Nick Lesesne said after opting to valet. “It’s such an easy thing to forget and destroy your credit.”
Paid parking is set at $2.50 per hour from 11 a.m. to midnight, and tickets are $60.
Neptune Beach directed folks to check on the city’s website to see if they have any outstanding tickets.
“Good for them for doing it,” Bruce said. “I would say the overall asking for people to pay here is my overall plight.”
