Martinez’s total debt now includes approximately $165,000 encompassing parking fines, costs associated with a damaged fence, and repairs for cracks in her driveway. Following the Supreme Court’s decision not to review her case, the Institute for Justice stepped in, arguing that the penalties violate the U.S. Constitution’s Excessive Fines Clause. “Six-figure fines for parking on your own property are shocking,” stated IJ senior attorney ari Bargil. “The court’s refusal to hear Sandy’s case is a disservice to all Floridians.”
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that state and local governments must abide by the Excessive Fines Clause, designed to shield citizens from disproportionately large fines for minor offenses. However, the definition of “excessive” remains open to interpretation. The Institute for Justice points out that the lack of a clear definition creates ambiguity. A Florida man previously faced nearly $30,000 in fines for overgrown grass. In 2022, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled against him, finding the fine wasn’t excessive despite the lengthy grass, as he was fined $500 per day rather then a lump sum of $30,000. This precedent doesn’t bode well for Martinez, who faces a similar situation.other cases have seen fines for driveway parking deemed outdated rules.
