FLORENCE Residents are being given a "fair warning" now that starting next month the township police will no longer overlook parking violations that block sidewalks or pose a safety hazard.
By:Vanessa S. Holt
Beginning in April, residents who block sidewalks with their vehicles or who improperly park boats or other large vehicles on the street could be ticketed. The ordinances outlawing these practices have been in place for years, said township officials, but they have not been strictly enforced.
"All we’re trying to do is have people park more appropriately," said Mayor Michael Muchowski.
The township will begin an information campaign this month by distributing leaflets to homes and advertising to let people know that enforcement will be stepped up on parking violations.
"There have been flagrant violations of people parking in driveways, across sidewalks, creating a potentially hazardous situation for pedestrians who have to walk into the street to get around them," said Police Chief Gordon Dawson.
"It’s become a difficult issue that’s accumulated over time," explained Mayor Muchowski. "It’s something we haven’t strictly enforced before."
The "fair warning" should give residents an opportunity to adjust their lifestyles and find better parking arrangements, said the mayor.
Buses, boats, trailers and construction vehicles parked on the street in residential areas also are a growing problem both aesthetically and in terms of safety, said Mayor Muchowski.
"It looks cluttered, but a lot of times it’s a safety hazard," he said. For example, trailer hitches that are not marked with reflectors are difficult to see at night, and large vehicles can obstruct other drivers’ views when trying to see around corners.
"We’re looking to clean up the ordinance and make it more clear and precise," said Mayor Muchowski. "It’s not about trying to create an undue hardship on someone, but it’s a job the municipality should be doing."
Along with an ongoing program to clean up abandoned cars in the township and a property maintenance program, township officials hope that enforcing the parking ordinances will improve the quality of life in the township.
"We haven’t been as stringent in enforcing them as we should be," said Mayor Muchowski. "We’ve allowed them to do it for 20 years, and whether it was a law or not, it was not enforced."
"Hopefully, the campaign will work and we won’t have to ticket any more than usual," said Chief Dawson.
