San Bruno B.A.R.T.

  BART administrators want to sock riders who park illegally at stations with stiffer fines - as much as 60 percent higher in some cases.

  Proposals call for boosting the fines for motorists who park illegally in red zones or areas reserved for permit holders to $40, an increase of $15. For other violations, such as failure to pay the daily parking fee, the current $25 fine would go up to $35.

  The fines for unauthorized parking in spaces designated for disabled drivers and for parking longer than the stations' 24-hour time limit on weekdays would remain the same, at $275 and $100, respectively.

  The BART Board of Directors is set to consider the proposed increases Thursday.

  Last year, BART police issued 66,000 parking citations. Permit and red zone violations were the most common, accounting for a combined 45 percent of the tickets.

  BART offers nearly 46,000 legal parking spaces at its stations, but sometimes those can't accommodate everyone who drives to the station. The lots at some stations, such as Rockridge and Lafayette, often fill up early, sending motorists scrambling to find a place to stow their cars before they catch their morning train.

  Agency officials are casting the proposed fine increases as a way to alter behavior. Making more money, they say, is not the goal.

  "Given the limited parking available, what we really need is to stop people from hogging our spots, which will in turn increase turnover and (create) more parking for everyone," BART spokesman Linton Johnson said. "There may be some additional revenues as a result, but that's not the driving reason for this."

  BART officials say the current fines do not deter violators. It is sometimes less costly to park illegally and chance a ticket than it is to drive and park in a lot in such pricey destinations as San Francisco's Financial District, officials said.

  BART last raised its parking fines in 1993.

  The regional rail agency collected a little more than $1 million in parking fines during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30.

  In addition to the initial fines, motorists face an additional penalty for late payments. Unpaid tickets also could result in the Department of Motor Vehicles placing a hold on the following year's auto registration until the bill is paid.
  Parking fines elsewhere

  BART officials want to raise the fine to $40 for people who illegally park in permit-only spaces or in red zones. Here's what some local cities charge for parking violations:

  -- Berkeley: $30 residential parking; $51 red zone

  -- Oakland: $30 residential parking; $70 red zone

  -- San Francisco: $50 residential parking; $75 red zone

  -- San Jose: $51 residential parking; $36 red zone

  -- Walnut Creek: $25 residential parking; $25 red zone

  Source: BART
  Contact the BART board:

  By e-mail: boardofdirectors@bart.gov

  By phone: (510) 464-6095

  By fax: (510) 464-6011

  In person: The board meets at 9 a.m. this Thursday, 344 20th St. in Oakland, third floor hearing room.

E-mail Rachel Gordon at rgordon@sfchronicle.com.