We have seen this "civil penalty" ala parking ticket revenue system.
I would like to see an increase in state wide referendums which prohibit this.
The city routinely bags meters at night now downtown. In the 1990s they had blocks restricted for "no parking at any time". They later admitted to the Chronicle that they generate more parking fines with meters on those streets.
It is an unhealthy local economy when the city must fund the "necessities" by exploiting the locals. Then again much of what Houston is funding is NOT essential.
And it extends beyond our city limit. We just got 10 FBI agents to help reduce our gang problem since the local cops won't. Some new gangbangers in town from NOLA but also have MS13 moving in.