There was a common lament heard among the citizens of Darby Township yesterday morning as they went about their post-winter storm tradition – say it ain’t ‘sno.
They weren't talking about the latest winter storm; they were venting about a move by the township to fine people anywhere from $300 to $1,000 for "saving" those precious dug-out spots with chairs and other household items.
It's a longtime tradition in this area, and streets are often littered with anything from traffic cones, plastic chairs to sofas as residents mark out their precious turf - a pristine, clean parking spot carved out of the snow.
Maybe not anymore.
That’s because township commissioners last night unanimously approved an ordinance that will make doing so a fairly expensive proposition – should police in fact decide to ticket anyone for saving their spot.
It has always been illegal to “save” parking spots on public streets in Pa., but until last night there’s never been much of an effort to put any teeth into the effort.
That could change in Darby Township. The ordinance passed by commissioners calls for a fine of $300 and up to $1,000 for what has become something of an art form – and certainly a tradition – in many neighborhoods, especially where off-street parking is rare.
Another ordinance also puts hefty fines in play for anyone who shovels snow and dumps it back out into the street.
It will be very interesting to see if police actually hit anybody with a ticket.
Police are tired of having to remove items that inevitably wind up out in the street, sometimes blocking traffic.
Commisioners point out no one owns the public streets.
Tell that to someone who has just broken his back shoveling out a parking spot.
We’ll keep a close eye on this one. We urge you to as well. Post a comment and let us know what you think of this controversial move in Darby Township.
They weren't talking about the latest winter storm; they were venting about a move by the township to fine people anywhere from $300 to $1,000 for "saving" those precious dug-out spots with chairs and other household items.
It's a longtime tradition in this area, and streets are often littered with anything from traffic cones, plastic chairs to sofas as residents mark out their precious turf - a pristine, clean parking spot carved out of the snow.
Maybe not anymore.
That’s because township commissioners last night unanimously approved an ordinance that will make doing so a fairly expensive proposition – should police in fact decide to ticket anyone for saving their spot.
It has always been illegal to “save” parking spots on public streets in Pa., but until last night there’s never been much of an effort to put any teeth into the effort.
That could change in Darby Township. The ordinance passed by commissioners calls for a fine of $300 and up to $1,000 for what has become something of an art form – and certainly a tradition – in many neighborhoods, especially where off-street parking is rare.
Another ordinance also puts hefty fines in play for anyone who shovels snow and dumps it back out into the street.
It will be very interesting to see if police actually hit anybody with a ticket.
Police are tired of having to remove items that inevitably wind up out in the street, sometimes blocking traffic.
Commisioners point out no one owns the public streets.
Tell that to someone who has just broken his back shoveling out a parking spot.
We’ll keep a close eye on this one. We urge you to as well. Post a comment and let us know what you think of this controversial move in Darby Township.
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