Denver is gearing up to write more parking tickets
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Denver drivers could soon see more parking tickets as the city rebuilds its parking enforcement workforce and rolls out a new online citation review system.
Why it matters: Fines are no fun.
Driving the news: The city is positioned to increase citation activity with nine new officers — its highest daily staffing levels than at any time in 2025, Denver transportation department spokesperson Nancy Kuhn tells us.
By the numbers: Amid staffing shortages, parking citations so far this year are the lowest since at least 2022, city data shows.
- The city has issued about 138,700 parking citations through the first five months of the year — down 10% from the same period last year and 19% from 2024.
- Despite issuing fewer tickets, parking citation revenue has remained relatively steady, with $9.3 million through May this year versus $9.8 million in 2025.
Between the lines: The city is counting on enhanced parking and traffic enforcement strategies to help close a budget gap this year.
What's next: The city's transportation department expects to ramp up parking patrols in late summer or early fall when it launches an online citation review program, Kuhn tells Axios.
- The change will reduce the amount of time agents spend in court contesting tickets, allowing more time for field enforcement.
- The agency also says it's strategically deploying officers to areas with posted parking restrictions and high demand to improve business turnover and preserve parking access for residents.
The bottom line: If you've gotten comfortable parking illegally, your luck may be running out.