Parking Citation for parking > 12 in from curb

[freirel12]

The county police department was in my subdivision on Monday morning (about 10:30 am) handing out parking tickets to every vehicle parked along the curb on our streets. My neighborhood is a closed neighborhood (i.e. no through traffic) with streets approximately 3 cars wide. Although parking on the street is not illegal in our county, the tickets were issued for parking greater than 12 inches from the curb. I personally think this is ridiculous considering that all of the cars were parked within a reasonable distance from the curb that was not obstructing traffic. I am on the homeowner's association board for our neighborhood and I've received lots of emails and phone calls from really upset residents. My question is (1) do police officers actually measure the distance from the tires to the curb when they issue a citation like this? and (2) if I call the issuing officer to discuss these citations will it help any of our homeowners' situation? I don't want to sound like a smart-*** but doesn't the police department have muggers and such to catch instead of ticketing residential homeowners with silly citations.

[Citicop]

I don't want to sound like a smart-*** but doesn't the police department have muggers and such to catch instead of ticketing residential homeowners with silly citations.

Yes, you absolutely DO want to sound like a smart *** with that kind of statement.

Your car can get through fine, sure. But can a Fire Truck? An Ambulance?

If the ticket is for parking more than 12 inches from the curb, you can bet they didn't just guess and they did measure it.

Feel free to call if you want to, but it won't do you any good. If you aren't one of the people who got a ticket, I (if I were the ticketing officer) wouldn't even discuss the situation with you.

They need to park less than one foot from the curb, period.

-Citicop.

[Joeyd6]

[quote=freirel12;1029722]My neighborhood is a closed neighborhood (i.e. no through traffic) with streets approximately 3 cars wide.
Perfect, you can fit 3 cars on your street width wide.

Although parking on the street is not illegal in our county, the tickets were issued for parking greater than 12 inches from the curb.

So if a street is 3 cars wide, and people park on each curb side, the street should now be 1 car wide. But when two cars park 12" from the curb, now one car can BARELY make it down the road. And if a car can barely fit, then a firetruck or ambulance will not.

I personally think this is ridiculous considering that all of the cars were parked within a reasonable distance from the curb that was not obstructing traffic.

That is your opinion, not a fact.

I am on the homeowner's association board for our neighborhood and I've received lots of emails and phone calls from really upset residents.

Well remind your folks you are a little group who organized, and not a government entity, and your way of life and rules do not supersede local and state law.

My question is (1) do police officers actually measure the distance from the tires to the curb when they issue a citation like this? and (2) if I call the issuing officer to discuss these citations will it help any of our homeowners' situation?

How will it help? Your going to say people are upset and the police are going to say the law is clear.

I don't want to sound like a smart-*** but doesn't the police department have muggers and such to catch instead of ticketing residential homeowners with silly citations.

Guess last night was slow and they decided it was time to attack your liberal neighborhood where obviously many believe they can park where they want despite the law saying otherwise.

[kels]

Here is the sad truth.

Most likely someone complained in your neighborhood
and you got your tax payers dollars worth.

Ongoing stupid complaints usually are best fixed with an over reaction.

[Samuel]

The county police department

The WHOLE department?

was in my subdivision on Monday morning (about 10:30 am) handing out parking tickets to every vehicle parked along the curb on our streets. My neighborhood is a closed neighborhood (i.e. no through traffic) with streets approximately 3 cars wide. Although parking on the street is not illegal in our county, the tickets were issued for parking greater than 12 inches from the curb.

ASSuming there is such an ordinance/statute/code (12" parking) and it applies in your "subdivision" - you're SOL.

I personally think this is ridiculous considering that all of the cars were parked within a reasonable distance from the curb that was not obstructing traffic.

If your "reasonable distance" is >12", you're still SOL. Just like saying a "reasonable speed" over the speed limit - it's still speeding.

I am on the homeowner's association board for our neighborhood and I've received lots of emails and phone calls from really upset residents.

That's why you get paid the big bucks, right?

My question is (1) do police officers actually measure the distance from the tires to the curb when they issue a citation like this?

If not, how are they going to determine 12"?

and (2) if I call the issuing officer to discuss these citations will it help any of our homeowners' situation?

Maybe, maybe not. BUT it might help clear up any/all of YOUR misunderstandings of the situation.

I don't want to sound like a smart-*** but doesn't the police department have muggers and such to catch instead of ticketing residential homeowners with silly citations.

1. how do you KNOW it was a sworn officer and not a meter maid?
2. you don't sound like a "smart-***" per se - maybe more like a little whiney B....
3. we DO have more important things to do than issue "silly citations" BUT that is also part of LE.

AND, how do YOU know that someone from your "subdivision" didn't call your local police department to complain about ongoing parking problems???

GO GET YOUR ANSWERS FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH.

[freirel12]

Appreciate your thoughtful response. Thank you for the information you provided. I think you hit it right on the head with regards to someone complaining in the past and getting the law involved.

[mcsap]

Why doesn't the HOA take over ALL responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of the streets and request that the town abandon them to you ? Then it would be a private road and those pesky police could go out and catch muggers and killers.

[pafindr]

I think if LEO's didn't have to deal with the whiners that break the "little" laws they could be dealing with the people that break the "big" laws.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

And how exactly does this thread relate to Traffic School and Accident Investigation??? :confused:

[txinvestigator1]

And how exactly does this thread relate to Traffic School and Accident Investigation??? :confused:

Silly, the HOA board member was taken to school in this thread. :eek:

[MyOwnNemesis]

Yes, you absolutely DO want to sound like a smart *** with that kind of statement.

Your car can get through fine, sure. But can a Fire Truck? An Ambulance?

If the ticket is for parking more than 12 inches from the curb, you can bet they didn't just guess and they did measure it.

Feel free to call if you want to, but it won't do you any good. If you aren't one of the people who got a ticket, I (if I were the ticketing officer) wouldn't even discuss the situation with you.

They need to park less than one foot from the curb, period.

-Citicop.

I hate to pull up and beat an old post but I just found this and it brought up a fond memory. I was in an under developed country (cannot say 3rd world anymore I am told) and sitting in a bar with some guys on my team enjoying the local flavor. A US Army Capt came in and asked if the owners of the vehicles in the street could get up and move out of the way. We were not parked out there and did not care so we sat and did nothing, as did the rest of the bar...a few minutes went by and this same Capt came in and said all the cars had to move - or else. No one moved. Ten minutes go by and we hear a HUGE engine rev and them a lot of commotion. Everyone cleared out of this bar, went street side in time to see the back end of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle merrily going down the street....pushing EVERY car out of the way. iPhone was not available yet but it would have made a hell of a YouTube.

Get closer to the curb slick, if you cannot see or do not have mirrors I seem to remember these really cool things called "curb feelers"........:D

[deputy x 2]

OMG they are over here too?

Mamm, we don't make the laws we just enforce them. That cite out in Calee is 18 inches and is used for vehicles parked facing the wrong way.

Somebody apparently complained. Did you know that you can be cited for parking in front of your driveway????

Calling the officer won't get you anything but more annoyed. The cite has probably already been turned in.

And making the last comment...................will get you absolutely NO WHERE!! We've heard that at least one time in our career. :rolleyes:

[PapaBear]

You could always move to California, we permit not more than 18 inches from the curb. Of course, if the roadway is narrow and your vehicle is a traffic hazard, we just take it off of the streets and it costs you a bundle to get it back. Far more than a parking ticket for unlawful parking.:D

[Brendon]

I bet you someone wasn't happy when they couldn't get their car through the streets over to their house so they complained and something was done about it. Tell the Residents to park properly and they'll never need to worry about it again.

[Cat_Doc]

Taking too much protein supplement will cause you to park illegally, and that is a fact.