Impacts of Fines and Fees on the City of Wilmington, DE

• Hoda Bazzi, Public Policy, University of Delaware

• Stephen Metraux, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware
• Erin Nescott, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware

In the city of Wilmington, DE, fines and fees related to parking and traffic violations have in recent years drawn scrutiny around whether they function more as a source of revenue for the city, as opposed to a tool for facilitating the orderly and safe flow of traffic. This study presents results from a survey of Wilmington residents on their experiences with parking, and sets these results into a broader local context. By analyzing the survey presented, the cities recent budgets, the demographic of the city, as well as policies in the city that deal with these issues, we have further analyzed how fines and fees in the city came to be, how they affect the residents in and outside of the city, where the revenue from these fines are going, and how they are being used.