BETHANY BEACH, Del.- The Bethany Beach Town Council voted Friday to increase the hourly parking meter rate and parking fines.
Starting next summer, hourly meter parking will be $2.50 instead of $2. Fines for parking will also increase: $15 fine would be rounded up to $20, $30 or $35 fine would be rounded up to $40.
Some worry the increase will drive away visitors but Jim Ortlip who said he has been visiting Bethany Beach for more than a decade, said it won't bother vacationers.
"The type of people who come to spend summers at Bethany Beach, money is not really an option to them. An additional 50 cents to have a parking space is not a deterrent. If it's good revenue for the city and it ultimately leads to improved infrastructure, I support it," said Ortlip.
Betsy Clark, who owns a clothing store in Bethany Beach, said the increase in fines and meter rates will hurt locals just as much as visitors.
"They will wait until it's free parking and I don't blame them. You know this is their town but they don't want to have to pay top dollar. It's very sad, it's a shame, we all want to enjoy this area and this small town. And we want other people to come and enjoy it too."
The town council said at the meeting on Friday the revenue generated with the new hourly meter rate will total to over $400,000.
Parking permits for visitors will not increase.
The new prices will be implemented at the beginning of next year's summer season.