The city of Auburn has now been officially enforcing its new parking rules for a week. And yet, it looks like the parking habits of many local citizens have not changed with it.
While the year-round alternate-side parking policy has been in place for months, the city announced that it would start to enforce the policy Aug. 4.
But city officials and residents both say drivers are still parking on both sides of the streets.
Some say it could be a lag in enforcement. Others say the residents still need some time to turn things around, and some think people just don't care.
But there are also people who are simply unaware. In an informal survey conducted by The Citizen, 30 percent of the people questioned were not aware of or did not understand the new policy.
Auburn resident Carlene Coe lives in a house with a driveway. She also works in Syracuse, so she does most of her driving and parking outside of town. She wasn't aware of the year-round policy.
“I didn't know,” Coe said. “I do think it is a good idea, though. On some streets, you can't get down them if there are cars on both sides.”
The new parking rules extend throughout the year what had been the city's wintertime policy. For 24 hours a day from April through November, cars may only be parked on one side of the street.
Starting at 6 p.m., one must park their vehicle on the side of the street with odd address numbers if it is an odd day of the month. On even days, you park on the even side.
City representatives and officials said when the new law was passed that it will create a safer, nicer-looking city and will help municipal crews work more efficiently.
Signs were installed on main roads into town explaining the new rules. There are also a handful of smaller signs on roads that vaguely explain the policy.
Other than that, every city street is under the ordinance unless otherwise stated.
Public Works Superintendent Jerry DelFavero has stated support for the new policy since its inception. When city workers are on streets with cars on both sides, there is less of a line of sight and it can be dangerous, he has said.
“That's the goal, not to collect revenue,” DelFavero said. “It is to make the street safer, easier to maneuver and to make it easier to work there.”
DelFavero said Friday that the same hazards are in place so far.
“Unfortunately, I don't see anyone making really big changes on moving their cars, yet,” he said.
However, DelFavero said he does not believe there is a lot of confusion over the policy. It is just going to take more time and effort to get everyone on the same page, he said.
DelFavero said the new law has been helpful, even with people failing to comply. For instance, if a crew is working on the street and a parked car is on the wrong side of the road, there was nothing that could be done. Today, the city workers can have the car moved or even towed because the owner is now breaking the law.
That very situation occurred last week, and they were able to get the car moved, DelFavero said.
“Now we have the ability to get to that side of the street,” he said.
The Auburn Police Department has consistently raised concerns over being able to properly enforce the new rules. Police calls increase in the summer and fall, and parking calls are not the top priority during this time, police officials said.
APD Chief Gary Giannotta said last week that the department did not write many tickets the first week for alternate-side violators. But he expects to step up enforcement this week, he said.
During the winter, when parking is a higher priority, the department writes thousands of tickets, Giannotta said.
But Auburn resident John E. Stevens complained last week about the city's lack of enforcement. Cars were parked on both sides of Fitch Avenue on a Wednesday afternoon. Stevens said it has not been any different since the city passed the new law, and he has not seen or heard of any violators getting tickets.
It's “crazy” for the city to pass a law without enforcing it, he said.
“If you are not going to enforce a law, why have it?” Stevens asked.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
But city officials and residents both say drivers are still parking on both sides of the streets.
Some say it could be a lag in enforcement. Others say the residents still need some time to turn things around, and some think people just don't care.
But there are also people who are simply unaware. In an informal survey conducted by The Citizen, 30 percent of the people questioned were not aware of or did not understand the new policy.
Auburn resident Carlene Coe lives in a house with a driveway. She also works in Syracuse, so she does most of her driving and parking outside of town. She wasn't aware of the year-round policy.
“I didn't know,” Coe said. “I do think it is a good idea, though. On some streets, you can't get down them if there are cars on both sides.”
The new parking rules extend throughout the year what had been the city's wintertime policy. For 24 hours a day from April through November, cars may only be parked on one side of the street.
Starting at 6 p.m., one must park their vehicle on the side of the street with odd address numbers if it is an odd day of the month. On even days, you park on the even side.
City representatives and officials said when the new law was passed that it will create a safer, nicer-looking city and will help municipal crews work more efficiently.
Signs were installed on main roads into town explaining the new rules. There are also a handful of smaller signs on roads that vaguely explain the policy.
Other than that, every city street is under the ordinance unless otherwise stated.
Public Works Superintendent Jerry DelFavero has stated support for the new policy since its inception. When city workers are on streets with cars on both sides, there is less of a line of sight and it can be dangerous, he has said.
“That's the goal, not to collect revenue,” DelFavero said. “It is to make the street safer, easier to maneuver and to make it easier to work there.”
DelFavero said Friday that the same hazards are in place so far.
“Unfortunately, I don't see anyone making really big changes on moving their cars, yet,” he said.
However, DelFavero said he does not believe there is a lot of confusion over the policy. It is just going to take more time and effort to get everyone on the same page, he said.
DelFavero said the new law has been helpful, even with people failing to comply. For instance, if a crew is working on the street and a parked car is on the wrong side of the road, there was nothing that could be done. Today, the city workers can have the car moved or even towed because the owner is now breaking the law.
That very situation occurred last week, and they were able to get the car moved, DelFavero said.
“Now we have the ability to get to that side of the street,” he said.
The Auburn Police Department has consistently raised concerns over being able to properly enforce the new rules. Police calls increase in the summer and fall, and parking calls are not the top priority during this time, police officials said.
APD Chief Gary Giannotta said last week that the department did not write many tickets the first week for alternate-side violators. But he expects to step up enforcement this week, he said.
During the winter, when parking is a higher priority, the department writes thousands of tickets, Giannotta said.
But Auburn resident John E. Stevens complained last week about the city's lack of enforcement. Cars were parked on both sides of Fitch Avenue on a Wednesday afternoon. Stevens said it has not been any different since the city passed the new law, and he has not seen or heard of any violators getting tickets.
It's “crazy” for the city to pass a law without enforcing it, he said.
“If you are not going to enforce a law, why have it?” Stevens asked.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 5 comment(s)
brew1234 wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:46 PM:
yetanotherpinhead wrote on Aug 11, 2008 12:36 PM:
There are a couple cars tho that either don't know, or don't care, and never move from one side. I watched a police car cruise slowly down the street late last nite, and the offending cars were not ticketed. The cop went right on by. "
brew1234 wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:59 AM:
interested wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:51 AM:
realist wrote on Aug 11, 2008 7:06 AM:
if they still dont state its year round.. or if signs arent posted on all roads.. there really is no way legit say the public has been correctly notified.
(they cant assume everyone reads the paper or watches the counsel meetings) "