OK - how about the 20 foot law?

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

Since parking laws are under discussion I would like to bring up the 20 ft law (= illegal to park within 20 feet of an intersection). I got a ticket last month on my street for this, in a spot where I and other residents have parked for years. The ticket said I was 8 feet from the intersection. I appealed it by mail and sent photos and got a notice yesterday that my appeal was denied. (fwiw - this is a one way street, off of a one way street and in my humble opinion, there was ample clearance for pedestrians and emergency vehicles).

Ok - so I will pay the $30. ticket- but the thing is, it seems like selective/arbitrary enforcement. Even more, there are numerous spots in this neighborhood where, if this 20 ft law were enforced routinely, would not be legal spots at all- yet folks park in those spots all the time.

Trivial I agree but it seems more about $$$ ("revenue enhancement") than anything else. Also, rather than leaving it to a judgment call by someone tryng to park or the parking enforcement person, there should be clear markings on the curb at the 20 ft mark.

Photo behind the cut. Am I guilty or not? ;-)


 

Comments

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Well, there you are. OP: were you less than 20 feet from the near curb line of the intersecting street? If so, pay your ticket.

I do think it would be useful if they marked the curbs, though.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's necessary. I doubt that tape measures are constantly deployed and I suspect Parking Enforcement really only hands this out to the most egregious offenders, like the OP.

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

hey wait - I am not "egregious" - I am at worst a boundary condition ;-)

distance = (cross walk = 10 ft + 5 ft sidewalk + curb slop and space between car)

thing is - the ticket cited "8 feet" - so? that is partly what threw me. 8 feet puts me in the crosswalk.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

You're practically in the crosswalk.

The point is, it's not twenty feet, it's nowhere close to twenty feet, why did you even put up this post?

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

because my neighbors and I have been parking in this exact spot for *years* without being ticketed so it seemed odd to me that the city is now tagging this spot- so I thought I would "ask the group."

[lena-a-mermaid.livejournal.com]

Guilty.

Just because the rule has not been enforced in the past does not make it wrong for the city to start enforcing it now.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Nope, you broke the law and your number came up. There's nothing odd about that at all. Welcome to America!

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

When I lived in New Jersey, my town marked all the places you couldn't park in by painting the curbs red. It was very helpful, actually.

However, I'd wager that this wouldn't be too high on the Somerville Division of Parking Enforcement Marching and Chowder Society (or whatever their actual name is) "to-do" list. Or budget.