New Parking Rules Aim to Clear Kalispell Main Street

The city’s parking board has pushed for tougher fines and smart technology to free up downtown spots. Instead of the old chalk marks, police plan to mount cameras on two patrol cars that read license plates, log where a car stops and when it leaves. The system will target the two‑hour limit that keeps shoppers from backing up on Main Street. The board also wants to double the usual ticket price, raise safety violations to fifty dollars and hike boot fees from thirty‑five to one hundred. Officers can issue several tickets in a day if a vehicle stays parked too long, though the cap is expected to be only two or three per day. The new fees and tech could send drivers looking for cheaper spots to the side streets or nearby permit lots.Business owners say parking is a real problem. A survey by Downtown Kalispell Forward shows that employees often fill the main block, pushing customers away. The plan is to move those workers off Main Street by making permit lots more attractive and possibly adding a mobile meter app for downtown parking. The city also wants to stop the “musical car” tactic, where drivers shuffle a few spots every few hours to dodge tickets. A block ordinance would require cars to move to a different block if they stay too long. Other Montana towns like Bozeman and Missoula already use similar systems. Kalispell hopes the new rules will improve foot traffic, support local businesses and keep the downtown area lively.