Photo by Josh Bassett

District officials didn’t make as much money as planned in parking ticket revenue last year, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Despite the city raising parking fines to $30 in 2015 and increasing rates at meters in 2016, parking ticket revenue declined by nearly $20 million dollars last year, according to a AAA Mid-Atlantic release. The auto insurance company notes that 1.5 million citations generated $68.2 million in fees, which is the lowest number of tickets and revenue this decade.

John B. Townsend II, a manager at AAA Mid-Atlantic, says the declines could be due to tech advances in smart meters and apps as more than 40 percent of all parking transactions are completed through pay-by-phone options.

Townsend also says it appears that “more irate motorists” are shopping and dining closer to home to avoid parking woes in the District.

Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White introduced a bill last month that would exempt District residents from paying late fees for failing to pay parking and traffic tickets after a 30-day window. Marylanders, Virginians, and others would still be penalized for lateness, which means a doubled fee.

The District did bank more money for other fines in 2016 though. AAA reported last month that photo-enforced tickets were up nearly 70 percent last year, and there was also a slight increase in the number of tickets that police handed out for moving violations.