Published: July 19, 2008 09:25 pm      

SPD targeting parking offenses

Park carefully, citizens of Somerset. You’ll be watched more carefully in the future.

The Somerset Police Department is preparing to step up its enforcement of the city’s parking ordinances, including offenses such as parking on a sidewalk or against the flow of traffic.

“Our goal is not to write more tickets, but to improve the safety of our citizens and visitors,” said Lt. Allan Coomer in a statement by the police department.

The initiative comes as a result of discussion at a recent Somerset City Council meeting, in which complaints about illegal parking were raised.

The additional focus on parking on sidewalks and on the wrong side of the road will join offenses such as parking on yellow curbs, in handicapped spaces and over time allotted as key acts officers will target.

Coomer pointed out that drivers who pull their car up on a public walkway — even temporarily — can cause a variety of threats.

“Many drivers may not realize that it is illegal to park on a sidewalk,” said Coomer. “It may create a dangerous situation as part of the vehicle may still be in the street causing a traffic hazard. It also makes for difficult passage for our pedestrian traffic and potentially dangerous as the pedestrian may have to walk in the street to get past the vehicle.

“Last, parking on the sidewalk can damage the sidewalk,” he continued. “The city has been replacing and repairing sidewalks for several years now. Increased enforcement will hopefully keep the new sidewalks in good shape for many years to come.”

Coomer also observed that city ordinances prohibit anyone from parking their vehicle where they have to cross traffic to enter or leave the parking space.

“Crossing opposing traffic is a dangerous way to park,” he said. “Those doing so will be ticketed.”

While the ordinances prohibiting the above offenses have been in effect for years, enforcement has not been particularly strict. Because of that, safety officers will be issuing courtesy notices, or warning tickets, for the next couple of weeks to help educate the public about the laws. After this grace period, they will be issuing parking tickets to the violators.

Fines for parking violations range from $5 to $25 for each offense.

Anyone with questions is asked contact the Somerset Police Department.