CITY lawmakers gave sidewalk blockers ample warning that a crackdown was coming – and within 45 days, 15,000 fines were issued.
The crackdown will continue until people get the message, says the director of a parking agency.
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Rich Lazer, executive director of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Parking Authority, has initiated a crackdown on drivers who intentionally block ADA sidewalks and ramps.
He said the issue went too far, endangering vulnerable populations.
“I think it got out of hand and now I hope this educates people to follow the rules and not park on the sidewalk or block ADA-accessible ramps,” Lazer told the NPR affiliate. WHY.
Blocking sidewalks is generally illegal, but in Philadelphia, fines for blocking a sidewalk downtown are $76.
Read more about sidewalk blockers
In other neighborhoods, the cost of a first offense is $51.
The crackdown was initially announced in May, with a locally broadcast PSA warning people about the situation a blocked sidewalk puts people in.
“We do a lot of this enforcement in Center City and the business areas, but we didn’t do it as much in the neighborhood and we got a lot of complaints about it,” he said WHY in May.
“And seeing how it affects people’s lives — seniors, people with disabilities, parents trying to get their kids to school — that led to additional oversight.”
One video shared people’s stories about navigating blocked sidewalks and ramps.
“I was born with spina bifida and I need to use crutches,” said Sheila Heiss on video.
“I use orthopedic braces and sometimes use a wheelchair to get around. If you park illegally on the sidewalk, it’s a big problem for me with mobility issues and it basically stops me from moving forward.”
Another resident, Lamoni Green, spoke about her experience with blocked sidewalks and access ramps.
“I was born with cerebral palsy. Wherever I go, I use a wheelchair or am carried,” they said.
“I don’t think it’s fair for people to park illegally because it makes my life more difficult.”
To make the effort more effective, Lazer hired 30 additional officers to focus on sidewalk blockers.
Lazer said he noticed that the illegal practice was more common in certain parts of the city, where parking is tight.
Sidewalk Blocking Laws
It is generally illegal to block the sidewalk when parking in a garage
In most states, it is illegal to block the sidewalk, even partially, when parking in a driveway. Many states have laws that place the responsibility on drivers to exercise due care for pedestrians.
For example, Oregon law States that unless complying with a traffic stop by a police officer, a construction detour, or a traffic sign, it is illegal to park on the sidewalk.
Currently, there are no states that allow blocking the sidewalk with a vehicle, for safety reasons for children, elderly people or people with disabilities who are forced to walk on a busy street.
“It’s in the denser areas — North Philly, Fishtown, South Philly — where it’s more restricted, I think that’s where we see the most violations, rather than other neighborhoods where maybe people have sidewalks or it’s not as dense,” he said .
“At the end of the day, what matters is quality of life.”
In the 45 days since the crackdown began, the agency has issued 15,000 tickets for obstructing sidewalks and driveways last year.
To protect everyone, children and parents with strollers included, he said strict enforcement will continue until residents catch on.
“We want people to comply, and I want violations to go down because I want to get to a point where people don’t do that anymore,” he said.
“It is not safe for children or anyone else.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
