Ocean Drive valet operator appeals $12,500 in fines at Thursday code hearing

A valet company at 1440 Ocean Drive is appealing five parking citations totaling $12,500 before Miami Beach’s special magistrate on Thursday, Nov. 5, according to the city’s hearing agenda.

Omni Valet Services II was cited for storing cars where city code doesn’t allow it and for illegal ramping, the agenda shows. City code allows valet cars to be stored only in private spaces, never on public property, at meters or in residential zones, and limits a valet ramp to two to four spaces. Four of the citations are listed as fifth offenses at $3,000 each; the fifth is a first offense at $500. The agenda’s citation text says a fifth offense can bring a 10-day ban on running the valet operation and lets the city manager revoke a habitual offender’s business tax receipt for up to a year.

Also on the 33-case docket: a $1,000 citation, under appeal, against the Chilli Beans store at 551 Lincoln Road for a DJ outside the shop without a special-event permit, and three cases over sediment from a construction site at 1901 Alton Road tracking into the street. A loud-music case against the Leonardo Bar at 2000 Collins Ave. was settled Oct. 1, with the fine cut from $250 to $200, the agenda says.

The hearing begins at 9 a.m. in the Commission Chamber at City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive; the valet cases are set for 2:30 p.m. The magistrate can uphold, reduce or dismiss the fines.