Parking Tickets

[Wing-nut2]

Today at 12:45, the Sumpter County Sheriff was giving out tickets in the parking lot across from R.J.Gators. It made me very happy to see some of these people who are too lazy to walk, get ticketed!

[N44125]

I'm confused....why can't you PARK in a PARKing lot?

[blueeagle65]

They were no doubt - not legally parked. The "I'm special and can park anywhere I want" disease. Get em all deputy! :police:

[getdul981]

I hope he finds the person that parks his/her Smart car perpendicular to the curb instead of parallel. My wife and I saw one parked that way in Spanish Springs on Sunday.

[casita37]

I've seen Smart Cars parked that way, and they don't extend out any farther than a golf cart, particularly a 4 seater. What is the objection?

[getdul981]

I personally don't think that the four seaters should park that way either.

[OldManTime]

hooory, glad to see them giving out tickets. If Sumter Co. has a parking ordinance, they are using it, if not they go by the state statute.

[Bogie Shooter]

hooory, glad to see them giving out tickets. If Sumter Co. has a parking ordinance, they are using it, if not they go by the state statute.

This is the reason, from the VCDD website. This started some time ago.

Parking in Unauthorized Areas
Community Watch and local law enforcement officials are teaming up in a new safety initiative to prevent golf carts and other vehicles from driving and parking on our sidewalks and other unauthorized areas. Not only is it in violation of District Rules, but driving and parking on the sidewalks is also extremely dangerous for our residents and guests enjoying a casual stroll through the community. Have you noticed the traffic cones that have been placed along our sidewalks at handicapped access points on the squares? The cones were placed there originally to discourage vehicles from parking on our sidewalks.

In the first phase of our new initiative Community Watch will remove the existing traffic cones. Community Watch will now place red and black “WARNING” signs on vehicles parked in unauthorized areas. The warnings reference District Rules and are designed to educate vehicle operators of their parking infractions.

Community Watch will partner with law enforcement in the second phase of the initiative to attempt to identify and notify owners of vehicles parked in violation of the District Rules. Owners will be given the opportunity to move their vehicles. As a last resort, drivers of vehicles repeatedly parked in violation of the District Rules may be prohibited access to any District property. We hope this action is not required, but the safety of our residents and guests must be assured.

Please be aware that there are also areas in The Villages in which there is only pedestrian and golf cart access. The Mulberry Dog Park is only accessible by pedestrians and golf carts. If you would like to drive your vehicle, please visit the Paradise Dog Park or the Brinson-Perry Dog Park.

Please assist us in making our sidewalks safe for our residents and guests

[Carl in Tampa]

hooory, glad to see them giving out tickets. If Sumter Co. has a parking ordinance, they are using it, if not they go by the state statute.

I am curious to know what violations they were ticketing for. If the parking lots are the private property of The Villages, the only parking violation that I would think the police could enforce would be unauthorized parking in a space reserved for the handicapped.

I am not aware of any other state or local regulation that applies to private property other than "official" regulation signs.

For example, I don't know of a law against double parking or blocking a driving lane on private property.

.

[justjim]

It appears that residents were given fair warning. Iam not handicapped but there seems to be a lack of spaces af Lake Sumter Landing.

Maybe some feel that their amenities fees allows them to park where they please. I know that some think they don't have to rake a sand trap or fix ball marks and they can play as slow as they care to because, after all, they pay their amenities fee. Sorry, this has nothing to do with the topic I guess.

[TennDrifter]

I've seen Smart Cars parked that way, and they don't extend out any farther than a golf cart, particularly a 4 seater. What is the objection?

Some people just can't stand to leave well enough alone and have to have something to gripe about. I've seen it all from people that don't like bumper stickers to people that fuss about waiting in line...... Geeez...Give us a break :pepper2:

[buggyone]

Were the ticketed cars parked in handicapped spots or other spaces marked for no parking?

[scarecrow1]

Just a couple of insights to this. The Villages are in direct violation of the Americans with disabilities act as they in fact do not have enough handicap parking for the number of parking around the squares. Especially Lake Sumpter Landing. Before you comment that there are lots of handicap parking behind the stores, the spots have to be within 100 feet of an entrance or a venue to which the squares are. There is a parking formula on the ADA web site. They are also in big time violation when they block off the parking for vendor night and don't supply temporary handicap parking. There should be handicap parking along Canal st. Again the answer (wrong one) is they have plenty behind the stores. That's why I only shopped down there once and do not go to vender nights. It's the same old stuff anyway.

[scarecrow1]

I forgot to ask. How do they write a ticket to a golf cart? No license plate to record. Go to court and say "it must have been someone's golf cart that looked like mine."

[BogeyBoy]

I am curious to know what violations they were ticketing for. If the parking lots are the private property of The Villages, the only parking violation that I would think the police could enforce would be unauthorized parking in a space reserved for the handicapped.

I am not aware of any other state or local regulation that applies to private property other than "official" regulation signs.

For example, I don't know of a law against double parking or blocking a driving lane on private property.

.

"From the Florida Driver's Handbook:

Where Parking is not Allowed

On the roadway side of another parked vehicle (double parking).
On crosswalks.
On sidewalks.
In front of driveways.
By curbs painted yellow or where "No Parking" signs are posted.
Within intersections.
Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
Within 20 feet of an intersection.
Within 20 feet of the entrance to a fire, ambulance or rescue squad station.
Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
On the hard surface of a highway where parking spaces are not marked.
On any bridge or overpass or in any tunnel.
Within 30 feet of a rural mail box on a state highway between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Within 30 feet of any flashing signal, stop sign or traffic signal.
In such a way that you block or create a hazard for other vehicles."

They are probably writing the tickets based on the "create a hazard for other vehicles" section.

[BogeyBoy]

I forgot to ask. How do they write a ticket to a golf cart? No license plate to record. Go to court and say "it must have been someone's golf cart that looked like mine."

Maybe they are relying on the integrity of the person who owns the cart and thoughtlessly parked it there.

[Carl in Tampa]

:crap2:"From the Florida Driver's Handbook:

Where Parking is not Allowed

On the roadway side of another parked vehicle (double parking).
On crosswalks.
On sidewalks.
In front of driveways.
By curbs painted yellow or where "No Parking" signs are posted.
Within intersections.
Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
Within 20 feet of an intersection.
Within 20 feet of the entrance to a fire, ambulance or rescue squad station.
Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
On the hard surface of a highway where parking spaces are not marked.
On any bridge or overpass or in any tunnel.
Within 30 feet of a rural mail box on a state highway between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Within 30 feet of any flashing signal, stop sign or traffic signal.
In such a way that you block or create a hazard for other vehicles."

They are probably writing the tickets based on the "create a hazard for other vehicles" section.

I'm familiar with all those. Decades ago I used to write tickets. BUT, not on private property parking lots. Except for officially designated handicapped spots or other official signs, such as "No Parking" there are no parking regulations that I know of for private property.

In practice The Villages could ask the police to give you a "Trespass Warning" and in the future you could be banned from their private property parking lots. Perhaps that is what was happening. The penalty for future violations could be arrest. And, of course, the vehicle could be towed away.

.

[TheVillageChicken]

The Florida attorney general wrote an opinion years ago that stated that law enforcement can issue parking tickets on private property as long as the public has the right to travel by motor vehicle on that property

[BogeyBoy]

The Florida attorney general wrote an opinion years ago that stated that law enforcement can issue parking tickets on private property as long as the public has the right to travel by motor vehicle on that property

More info on what the Florida Attorney General wrote:

"This office has, in a number of prior opinions, stated that the provisions of Ch. 316, F.S., are enforceable on private property only when the public has a right to travel by motor vehicle on such property. This conclusion was based on the language of s. 316.640, F.S., which provides, in part, that municipalities shall enforce state traffic laws on all municipal streets and highways "wherever the public has the right to travel by motor vehicle."[1] It is the availability of the area or place for travel and the right of general and common use which makes certain private property subject to public control pursuant to Ch. 316, F.S.[2] Thus, this office has determined that municipalities have enforcement authority with respect to traffic violations and accidents occurring on "private property" where the public has the right to travel by motor vehicle such as shopping centers and parking lots.[3] However, no such law enforcement authority has been determined to exist with regard to private roads located within a private development or over roads or streets within a special taxing district where such thoroughfares are not available for public use."

[Carl in Tampa]

The Florida attorney general wrote an opinion years ago that stated that law enforcement can issue parking tickets on private property as long as the public has the right to travel by motor vehicle on that property

I dug out a reference to that in a later AG opinion. Bogeyboy has quoted it in greater depth, but basically it is: "This office has stated that the provisions in Chapter 316, Florida Statutes, are enforceable on private property only if the public may travel by motor vehicle on such property."

It still seems a little murky to me since the accompanying verbiage relates to "municipal" police, but there are about five other related opinions and I don't want to bother to read them all.

Bottom line............ do good and don't get ticketed.

[BogeyBoy]

Bottom line............ do good and don't get ticketed.


:agree:

[Wing-nut2]

They were not in parking places. They were parked behind other cars, along the curbs, (where there is no parking) and one was blocking half of the entrence to the parking lot. I couldn't believe that one. That lot has always been a parking problem.

[Indydealmaker]

Just a couple of insights to this. The Villages are in direct violation of the Americans with disabilities act as they in fact do not have enough handicap parking for the number of parking around the squares. Especially Lake Sumpter Landing. Before you comment that there are lots of handicap parking behind the stores, the spots have to be within 100 feet of an entrance or a venue to which the squares are. There is a parking formula on the ADA web site. They are also in big time violation when they block off the parking for vendor night and don't supply temporary handicap parking. There should be handicap parking along Canal st. Again the answer (wrong one) is they have plenty behind the stores. That's why I only shopped down there once and do not go to vender nights. It's the same old stuff anyway.

I think you are going to find that what you state is an oversimplification of the ADA regs. I would encourage you to contact The Villages manager, Janet Tutt, to let her know that in your opinion The Villages is in violation of the ADA. I am sure that she will be happy to provide you with the guidelines provided to The Villages by the engineers.

[gerryann]

They were not in parking places. They were parked behind other cars, along the curbs, (where there is no parking) and one was blocking half of the entrence to the parking lot. I couldn't believe that one. That lot has always been a parking problem.

Then I'd say, they all deserve parking tickets.:shrug:........