Enforcement Action to Begin for New Parking Restrictions and Prohibitions in Old Town

Florence Police Department
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Huff 997-3515
Florence Police Department
Date: May 2, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Enforcement Action to Begin for
New Parking Restrictions and Prohibitions
in Old Town

Recent changes have been made in regard to the parking restrictions and prohibitions in Old Town. The only area in Old Town with posted parking restrictions and prohibitions are on Bay Street from Nopal to the area just west of the Hwy 101 Bridge, on Laurel Street from 1st Street to Bay Street, Maple Street from 1st Street to Bay Street, and on Nopal Street from 1st Street to Bay Street. The new signs are now posted restricting time limits for parking to no more than 3 hours that will now be enforceable all year and is no longer seasonal. There are new signs posted prohibiting recreational vehicles, trailers, and vehicles over 7 feet in height parking anywhere in this small designated area of Old Town. Effective May 3, 2011 enforcement action will begin.

Old Town businesses are encouraged to inform their employees and customers of the regulations and the enforcement action taking place. Compliance with timed parking restrictions will help towards providing ample parking for the many visitors to Old Town throughout the year. The prohibition for RV’s, trailers, and oversized vehicles will enhance the visibility for the merchant’s storefronts.

The fine structure in place is currently under administrative review for potential revision. However vehicles in violation can expect to receive a parking citation with the current fines as follows:

1st Offense within a year: $15
2nd Offense within a year: $25
3rd Offense within a year: $35
4th Offense within a year: $50

The Florence Police Department also wants to remind motorists that current Oregon State Law states that a person is in violation if they park, stop, or leave standing a vehicle on any bicycle lane. There are some statutory exemptions to this prohibition such as loading or unloading passengers or property. Bicycle lanes are defined as that part of the highway, adjacent to the roadway, designated by official signs or markings for use by person riding bicycles. Some of the bicycle lanes have an 8 inch wide white lane line and occasion white stenciled images of a bicycle to mark the bicycle lane while others may have the 8 inch wide white lane line and signage prohibiting parking. Violation of the state statute of parking in a bicycle lane is a Class D violation with a fine of $142.

Should anyone have any questions, or has specific parking complaints, they are encouraged to contact the Code Enforcement Officer at (541)997-3515.