Libby nixes $50 overnight parking tickets downtown

Editor's note: This story was updated June 5, 2018, to reflect that the City Council approved the first reading of the ordinance on May 7. The original story erroneously stated that the City Council approved the ordinance outright that night.

Those who drink in downtown Libby and don't drive — opting to leave their cars parked overnight and find another way home — may soon no longer risk getting a $50 parking ticket.

The Libby City Council on May 7 approved a the first reading of an ordinance updating a portion of city code applying to designated parking restrictions.

Restrictions disallowing parking from 2:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. in three areas would be removed outright: both sides of Mineral Avenue from 7th Street to First Street; both sides of California Avenue from 7th Street to 2nd Street; and both sides of all streets from 7th Street through 2nd Street between Montana Avenue and Main Avenue.

The changes arose from verbal and written complaints the city received.

In a memo supporting the changes, ordinance committee chair Kristin Smith wrote that people choosing not to drive drunk “was a better choice to protect the health and safety of the public as well as that of the individual leaving the car” than “issuing a $50 parking ticket during the middle of the night when no one is around.”