Parking fines heavily increase in two RI beach communities ahead of heat filled weekend

PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) – Rhode Island beach communities have announced a coordinated effort to combat the illegal parking near state beaches ahead of this weekend’s predicted heat wave.

On Wednesday Gov. Gina Raimondo announced that parking capacities at Misquamicut and Scarborough state beaches will be reduced from 75% to 25%.

This change took effect on Thursday and was in response to the recent overcrowding at the two beaches.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) spokesman said despite parking restrictions meant to limit crowds and allow for adequate physical distancing on the sand, Rhode Island’s eight state beaches experienced a 79% increase in visitors in June 2020 (340,000 visitors) over June 2019 (190,000 visitors).

DEM added that this has caused many beach goers to park illegally in nearby neighborhoods in Narragansett, South Kingstown, Charlestown, and Westerly.

In response to this both South Kingstown and Westerly have increased illegal parking fines from $75 to $150. These town executive orders to increase the fines will take effect on Saturday.

For South Kingstown, the executive order to increase parking fines includes the entire length of Succotash Road, Jerusalem, the State Pier, and all roadways adjacent to those mentioned, according to DEM.

The entire beach area in Westerly has been posted as a tow zone.

In Narragansett, all “no parking zones” have been designated as “tow away zones.” The fines for parking in those zones remains at $75.

DEM says nearly half (47%) of visitors to state beaches aren’t from Rhode Island, according to an economic impact study conducted by the University of Rhode Island in 2016.

Misquamicut attracts more out-of-state visitors, 77%, most of whom are from Connecticut, than any state beach, according to the study.