Woman fined $247,354 for parking in private driveway after losing court

Imagine getting a six-figure fine for simply parking your car on your own property.

It sounds like a dystopian nightmare, but for Florida homeowner Zenaida “Sandy” Martinez, the scandalous scenario is a stark reality, and it’s sparking outrage around the world.

In a decision that has stunned property owners, the Florida Supreme Court recently denied Martinez’s appeal, effectively leaving in place a staggering bill of more than $100,000 in outstanding fees.

Her ‘crime’? Parking with two tires that partially cover the grass in her own driveway.

Martinez initially filed a complaint against the city of Lantana, Florida, in February 2021 after being awarded a total of $247,354 ($165,000) “for trivial code violations.”

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A whopping $149,912 (US$100,000) of that amount was primarily for the aforementioned “parking violation,” with another $89,947 (US$60,000) for two minor cosmetic violations.

To put this in perspective, the fines are “nearly four times more than Sandy earns in an entire year,” according to court documents.

The Institute for Justice (IJ), a public interest law firm representing Martinez, emphasized the sheer absurdity of the situation.

Martinez lives with her two adult children and her sister, all of whom have a car to get to work or school.

When all four vehicles are parked, “sometimes one would be on the lawn with two tires.”

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The reason was that cars were partly parked on the private lawn.

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For this seemingly innocent act, the city imposed a fine of US$375 ($250) per day for a staggering 407 consecutive days.

While Florida statutes allow cities to issue code violations of up to $375 ($250) per day for first-time violations, the IJ argued that Lantana’s $247,354 ($165,000) in fines flagrantly violate the Excessive Fines Clause of the Florida Constitution.

“Six-figure fines for on-site parking are shocking,” said Ari Bargil, senior attorney at IJ.

“The Excessive Fines Clause of the Florida Constitution is intended to stop exactly this type of abuse – to prevent people from being penalized for trivial violations.”

Despite the compelling argument, Martinez’s original case was dismissed, and her subsequent appeal to the Florida Supreme Court in May 2025 was answered on Monday, December 22, with a denial to hear the case.

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Six people live in the same household, four of whom drive a car. As everyone parked in the driveway, a two-wheeled car landed on the grass.

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“The court’s refusal to hear Sandy’s case and clarify the Constitution’s protections against runaway government fines is a disservice to all Floridians,” Bargil lamented.

Martinez herself expressed her deep disappointment and anger:

“It is outrageous that the Florida Supreme Court will not consider whether the Constitution protects Floridians from ruinous fines. Cities should not be allowed to destroy lives over trivial violations.”

While Florida’s homestead exception currently protects Martinez from foreclosure, the IJ warns that these astronomical fines “effectively rob Sandy of the equity she has built in her home and make it virtually impossible to sell and pay for another home.”

Fortunately, councils in Australia are less intensive when it comes to parking your car within your own property boundaries.

Although you can be fined for parking on a nature strip or grass verge, which is generally an offense under Australian Road Rules, councils tend to show leniency for residents who park safely in their own lane.

However, police or municipal officials can impose fines for obstructing public spaces, damaging infrastructure or creating hazards, with penalties varying by state and local area.

When it comes to parking a car within property boundaries, there are no rules as to where a vehicle can be parked.