With many partygoers expected to gather at the Galveston Seawall for Mardi Gras celebrations, the city is trying to alleviate potential headaches by discouraging people from leaving their cars parked longer than needed by enforcing increased citation fees.
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Celebrations are expected starting Friday, Feb. 21 through Tuesday, March 4 but the citations for overnight parking will be in effect beginning Monday, Feb. 17.
Ordinarily, citations for parking on the Seawall between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. are $50, however, because more people are expected to show up and try to get a parking spot, the city is worried about how to maintain and prepare for parade festivities.
“The City realizes that some festival goers opt to show up early to snag a spot and pay the fines, but this creates headaches for crews trying to maintain the Seawall and prep for the parades and festivities,” Galveston said in a news release on its website. “As such, there will be increased fines associated with parking overnight on the Seawall in the days leading up to Mardi Gras. To discourage this practice there will be a $250 citation.
“This $250 citation will be in effect from midnight on Monday, Feb. 17, until 5 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. These fines are only for illegal overnight parking, not during the day.”
Officials with the Galveston Police Department also want to remind residents and visitors during Mardi Gras of the following:
- Do not try to cover space with anything other than a properly registered vehicle. Trailers must have proper registration and may not be parked unattached to a vehicle
- Cones, chairs, ropes, chains and the like will be removed at the owners’ expense
- Please keep Seawall sidewalk pathways clear of any obstacles to allow free access to pedestrian traffic
Learn more about Galveston’s plans for Mardi Gras celebrations by clicking here.
