Denver is gearing up to write more parking tickets

Denver drivers could soon see more parking tickets as the city rebuilds its parking enforcement workforce and rolls out a new online citation review system.

Why it matters: Fines are no fun.

Driving the news: The city is positioned to increase citation activity with nine new officers — its highest daily staffing levels than at any time in 2025, Denver transportation department spokesperson Nancy Kuhn tells us.

By the numbers: Amid staffing shortages, parking citations so far this year are the lowest since at least 2022, city data shows.

The city has issued about 138,700 parking citations through the first five months of the year — down 10% from the same period last year and 19% from 2024.

Despite issuing fewer tickets, parking citation revenue has remained relatively steady, with $9.3 million through May this year versus $9.8 million in 2025.

Between the lines: The city is counting on enhanced parking and traffic enforcement strategies to help close a budget gap this year.

What's next: The city's transportation department expects to ramp up parking patrols in late summer or early fall when it launches an online citation review program, Kuhn tells Axios.

The change will reduce the amount of time agents spend in court contesting tickets, allowing more time for field enforcement.

The agency also says it's strategically deploying officers to areas with posted parking restrictions and high demand to improve business turnover and preserve parking access for residents.

The bottom line: If you've gotten comfortable parking illegally, your luck may be running out.