San Diego

June is “amnesty month” for parking ticket scofflaws, who owe the city $12.9 million in unpaid citations and penalties, the San Diego City Council decided Monday.

Beginning June 1, drivers with unpaid parking tickets will be allowed to pay their fines without being assessed penalties for overdue payments. An amnesty hot line, 533-4053, has been established to allow drivers to determine how much they owe.

About $3.5 million is owed by owners of the 9,518 vehicles that have received five or more citations in the last 18 months. Another $5.9 million is owed by drivers who have received three or more tickets.

Included in those totals is the city’s current record holder, David Thomas, who owes the city $3,642 in fines and penalties for the 87 parking tickets he has received, Police Chief Bob Burgreen said at a news conference. During amnesty month, Thomas could pay off the citations at a cost of $1,386, Burgreen said.

The grace period precedes the inauguration of the Police Department’s stepped-up parking enforcement campaign.

Beginning July 1, police will tow and impound any vehicle with five or more outstanding parking citations. The city’s 34 parking-enforcement officers will implement the program with the aid of hand-held computers containing information on all outstanding parking tickets.