If you think that parking fine the official just gave you is higher than usual, you're right.

Hamilton parking officials implemented the city's higher parking fines on July 7.

The increased fines were approved by politicians earlier this year during their budget negotiations.

If you over stay your welcome at a parking area, you will be fined $24, an increase from the previous $18 set fine. Other increases include $33 from $30 for parking in a prohibited signed area; $100 instead of $75 for parking in a fire route and $100 instead of $75 for being stopped in a fire route.

Politicians, though, after much debate, narrowly kept the early payment option for violators. Hamilton and Mississauga are the only two municipalities that allow for an early payment. But councillors increased the cost under the early payment option.

For instance, for exceeding a paid parking time, the violator can pay $19 instead of the full $24 fine. Previously, the early payment would have been $12 of an $18 fine.

And if you have to pay a $100 fine, you can instead pay $80 under the early payment policy.

Parking officials pointed out earlier this year that about 35 per cent of people who get a ticket use the early payment option.

They suspect that with the fines higher, people will use the early payment option more often.

Under the Provincial Offenses Act, set fines for parking offenses approved by the province must be paid within 15 days. After 15 days, the municipality begins the conviction process. Hamilton's early payment option is about 33 per cent lower than the set fine.

There are about 80 different parking violations the city enforces.