If you're driving to a Carnival parade or you plan on parking in the downtown area, check carefully for signage.
Parking enforcement officers will be writing tickets and tow truck operators will be towing cars to impound lots.
In addition to permanent "No Parking" signs posted along parade routes, the city has installed approximately 3,000 temporary signs,
From two hours before the scheduled start of each Mardi Gras parade up until two hours after a parade ends, any vehicle parked along any part of the parade route will be ticketed and towed.
Before, during and after the parades, the City will extend enforcement efforts into the neighborhoods adjacent to the published parade routes.
Parking officers will primarily enforce the following safety violations:
- Blocking a fire hydrant ($40 fine)
- Parking in a fire lane ($40 fine)
- Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant on either side ($40 fine)
- Parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection, or stop sign ($40 fine)
- Parking on a sidewalk ($40 fine)
- Parking on a traveled portion of the roadway ($40 fine)
- Parking within 3 feet of a driveway on either side ($40 fine)
- Parking on the neutral ground and subject to seizure ($75 fine)
- Parking adjacent to the neutral ground ($40 fine)
- Parking in freight/loading zone ($40 fine)
- Parking in a handicapped zone without proper permit displayed ($500 fine)
- Parking at an expired meter ($40 fine)
- Parking in a Residential Permit Parking zone without a permit displayed ($40 fine)
- Parking in the wrong direction (vehicles must park in the direction of travel on one way streets, and with the right wheel to the curb on two way streets) ($40 fine)
- Vehicles that have unpaid parking tickets will be booted and/or towed.
Questions about enforcement are being fielded on a 24-hour basis by the Public Works Department at (504) 658-8100.