After approval from Bellevue city council in March, standardized parking fines went into effect Sunday, May 1.

Before Sunday, fines ranged from $23 to $40. Council voted to bring all parking infractions to a standard $40. That amount is approximately in the middle compared to other local municipalities.

Some regulations have changed as well. Vehicles with expired tags (tags more than 45 days out-of-date) could be ticketed instead of impounded.

Between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on mail days, vehicles can be ticketed for parking within 10 feet of mailboxes. A heft $250 penalty will be levied against motorists misusing residential parking zone permits.

The approved parking regulations also give the city the option to adjust penalty amounts based on inflation every two years.

The first possible adjustment will be Jan. 1, 2018. Penalties were last adjusted in 2008.