New Yorkers painting sidewalks in an effort to hang on to their favorite parking spots could soon face heftier fines.
The New York Times says the city Department of Transportation wants to raise the fine for so-called “street defacement” from $50 to $250.

The paper says the practice appears to be spreading around the city.

It says 311 complaints have doubled in the last five years for things like people painting the curb yellow and putting the words “No Parking” on the street.

The DOT tells the Times that since 2008, a little more than 300 summonses have been written for illegal painting.

(Source: NY1)