Parking behind red sauce
 

I live in The Villages. I pay to live in The Villages. However I cannot park my car in the parking lot behind behind Red Sauce because I work at a restaurant within walking distance to this parking lot. Recently a tow truck was about to tow my car because I had a shirt on from a restaurant that I work at. In that same lot, people in cars as well as golf carts are always parked illegal along the curbing borders, preventing an open area for emergancy vehicles to enter and exit this area in case of an emergency such as fire or some other serious event. I do not know who authorizes this tow company to haul these cars away, but maybe they should be more concerned about having access for a fire truck or other type of emergency vehicle. After all there are at least three restaurants there that are always fill of people and and if a fire or something serious breaks out, easy access could save a life.

I agree. The sheriff needs to make a pass through there and hand out some tickets.

I agree, there is an abundance of illegal parking in that lot. I don't think your vehicle was being towed due to the shirt you had on. You were probably illegally parked as well.

I'm just glad Sumter county is finally addressing the parking issue in the square. It's about time!!

You live in The Villages and pay to live in The Villages, but once you became employed by a restaurant I believe all that changes. They are trying to keep parking available for patrons, not Villagers that happen to work at a restaurant nearby. Sorry, but this is my opinion. If you were going to Red Sauce for dinner - then park there.

Is the lot posted "parking for patrons only"? If not, they have no business towing cars that are parked legally.

I agree with this.

So where are employees allowed to park? I am not an employee but do wonder where they should Park? .I mean they do have to park some where.

I think the businesses would like to have their employee's park further away from their place of employment, so that customers can have the better and closer parking spots. Thats just a good business practice. I'm sure when employees report for work, there is a abundance of parking spots, hours before the busy time starts. I hope they think like this???

That lot appears to be for public parking. Unless it is owned exclusively by Redsauce and marked according, no one has a legal right to tell you not to park there. Employers cannot dictate parking, even if it is good for their business, in areas they do not own. And law enforcement cannot make you move if you are a legal resident and it is a general purpose lot.

I guess it depends on how much hell you want to raise, but I'd start with the Sheriff's department. Lots of people have cars towed and do it illegally.

Good luck.

Sad thing is that you were probably turned in by someone. I'm sure someone "in the know" called and identified your vehicle. How else would they know? If you were parked legally, they would not have towed your car for any other reason.

Hopefully the parking issue will be alleviated when Brownwood is completely developed. Parking issues raise tempers. I agree with Old Dave's comment and I doubt any restaurant owner owns any parking lots as they belong to LSL. I suspect most restaurant employees find parking and also suspect that those who complain about parking are johnny come lately's and hence rushed to park to get to work on time

I opine you decide

Well. Who do you think owns that parking lot, the buildings , and everything else? You only get one guess. They can DO what ever they decide to do and HOW they decide to do it. Get use to it if you are going to live here.

However I agree the illegal parking needs correcting.

This part about employee parking sounds very strange............there must be more to the story. Right?

:agree: It is common practice to require employees to park "a distance" from the business so customers can park as close as possible. This practice is especially important when parking is a premium----as it is in and around the town square and especially in the area OP mentions in his post. Tickets--- whoa nobody should get a ticket unless he/she is parked in a no parking spot that is clearly marked NO PARKING.

There's more than enough parking available in the area for employees to park that's within a 5 minute or less walk to Red Sauce. Click here to take a look-see google Satellite view showing a 5 minute walking route sample.