SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego’s Public Safety Committee has unanimously approved changes to the city’s on-street parking code in an effort to crack down on vehicles left in the same spot for too long.
The previous code required people to move their vehicle one-tenth of a mile after parking in the same spot for more than 72 hours. Now people will have to move at least half a mile to restart the three-day rule.
Some residents think it’s a good idea.
“I’m 100% in favour, honestly, because some people are taking advantage of it,” said one resident.
Councillor Jen Campbell said long-term parking offences were a big problem in her ward.
“It’s been a real problem with these illegally parked large vehicles blocking the roadway and then people get a citation and then they move like three feet or something and they get away with it under the old law,” Campbell said during Thursday’s committee meeting.
The new rules will focus on cars that haven’t moved in several days. The city will also use the updated policy to enforce parking laws aimed at illegally parked vehicles that block sidewalks, bike lanes and crosswalks, which the city says can put pedestrians, cyclists and others at risk.
“We see the unfair monopolisation of limited parking capacity and low parking turnover as contributing to congestion and inefficient traffic flow,” said a representative from Mayor Todd Gloria’s office.
The city says increasing the distance required to move will help the city better enforce regulations, improve parking turnover and reduce long-term parking, which the city has struggled to enforce in the past.
“This is one of the biggest concerns we get from residents in Ward 5,” said Councillor Marni von Wilpert.
So far this year, the city has received 37,231 complaints about the 72-hour rule. That’s almost 130 complaints a day.
“It’s also good to prevent people from leaving their cars there forever,” said South Park resident Taylor Tye.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to change our neighbourhood and I fully support it,” said resident Francine Maxwell.
However, some question what will happen if people have to go out of town for more than three days.
“Now I have to find someone to move my car,” added Tye.
Once officers have investigated a complaint, they’ll issue a warning to the owner to move the vehicle within 72 hours.
If they fail to do so, officers will have the vehicle towed.