If you have not already renewed your permits for 2009 please do so as soon as possible.

200 West Lombard Street

(Parking validated for the Howard Street Garage)
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Clean off those windshields!!!!!

Enforcement officers will soon be able to issue citations up to $500 when they find windshields displaying multiple permits.

This law is in effect, and when enforcement protocol for this new law is put into place, residents can then be cited for displaying any voided/expired permits along with their current permit, possibly resulting in a citation up to $500.

The fine associated with the specific law is a $500 Civil Citation:

§ 10-43. Using invalid permit.

No person may display in any vehicle:

(1) any counterfeit or facsimile of a residential area parking permit;

(2) any permit altered to change its expiration date or any condition of its use; or

(3) a residential parking permit that has expired or is otherwise void.

(Ord. 06-316,)

NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH!

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OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENT WILL NOT BE ENFORCED UNTIL THE 2010 RENEWAL PERIOD.

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CHECK THIS SITE FREQUENTLY FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

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Here's the law regarding the use of Off Street Parking
as found in Article 31:10-16d
Link to Source:
Article 31:10

(d) Off-street parking.

The Executive Director shall:
(1) consider the extent to which existing residential off-street parking spaces in the area are
underutilized; and
(2) require in the Plan, as a condition of the establishment or modification of a Residential
Parking Area and the issuance or renewal of parking permits, continued maintenance and
use of:
(i) all residential off-street parking spaces that are required by the Zoning Code; and
(ii) any additional, usable residential off-street parking spaces then-existing in the
area.
(City Code, 1976/83, art. 31, §156(c)(3)(1st par.).) (Ord. 79-999; Ord. 79-1193; Ord. 80-142;
Ord. 99-526.

City resident wonders if tow truck drivers are on the take

By Stephen Janis


Examiner Staff Writer 12/11/08

Brett Unger points to the areas where he's had to leave his car because of illegally parked cars in his Southwest Baltimore neighborhood Tuesday. To make matters worse, Unger saw a city tow truck driver unhitch his tow after appearing to take money. "I just thought, you've got to be kidding me," said Unger. Kristine Buls/Examiner Residents who live near M&T Bank Stadium in South Baltimore know finding a parking space near their home on game day is rough. Just ask Brett Unger.

Forced to park at least a half-mile away from his South Charles Street home during the Ravens-Redskins Beltway battle Sunday, the 32-year-old real estate investor said he was fed up with having to leave his car in unsafe areas.

"It's not like I have anything against people visiting the city," he said. "I just want to park near my home. Last game I had to park in a back alley a half a mile away, and my car got broken into."

So Unger called the city towing hot line repeatedly Sunday evening, reporting several vehicles parked illegally on his block, hoping to make room for his car. City law allows nonresidents one hour of parking on game day, but Unger said fans ignore the law.

"People just don't care, and the city doesn't enforce it," he said.

After making several calls starting at 6 p.m., Unger said a city tow truck finally showed at 10:30 p.m. The truck promptly hooked up a gray Honda Accord, and Unger thought the car would soon be towed away.

But what happened next shocked him.

"The owner came running out, talked to the driver and [the owner] got on his cell phone," Unger recalled. "A few minutes later, someone drove up in a red Accord, got out and handed the car's owner what looked like money. The owner handed it to the tow truck driver, and the tow truck driver unhooked the car.

"I was like, you have to be kidding, I couldn't believe it," he said.

Unger wrote the license plate number of the illegally parked car but was unable to get the plate number of the tow truck.

On Monday, Unger turned over the information to Councilman William Cole and the parking authority, asking both to investigate.

"If a city truck is involved in something like this, that is very disturbing," Cole said. "We have enough problems with parking in Federal Hill and South Baltimore, so we need to make sure tow drivers are doing their jobs."

Cole said he would investigate the incident. Parking officials did not return calls for comment.

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com

New Email Addresses for Area 30

When emailing for questions/concerns, please include your address. The address is very important as it pinpoints the block's status in AREA 30.

The following email addresses are provided for your convenience:

Area30ParkingHotline@gmail.com

(hot issues - complaints - requests)

You must include the address of the Area 30 parking issue

Area30SuggestionBox@gmail.com

(Suggestions)

FAQ:

What is the difference between the Parking Authority and Parking Enforcement?

The Parking Authority and Parking Enforcement are two entirely different entities.

The Parking Authority administers the RPP program and the Parking Garages and is a quasi-governmental entity. Parking Enforcement is an arm of the Department of Transportation and is responsible for all towing, tickets etc.