Florida - law enforcement parking on street

Ben, I'm in Florida too, and I'll tell you a funny story...not that it will help you; sorry about that. I used to be VERY involved with the Fire Department. The guys at the station take out a fire truck, once per day to do their 24-hour shift grocery shopping. They always park in the "fire lane" while two guys go in to shop. A police officer--from the same city--told them they'll get a ticket for parking their vehicle there...even though they're the ONLY ones allowed to use the curbside "fire lane". The fire guys were still "on-duty" and the guys in the store doing the shopping often left the groceries to respond to a call.....but where do you draw the line?

In one part of your e-mail you state it is a "law enforcement" vehicle...which is it? A police vehicle or a private one?

Yup, that happens all the time, everywhere. The reason for it is actually simple: the fire lane is the closest place the fire truck can park and still be free to move FORWARD should they get a call to engage. Yes, they could park at the far edge of the lot, but then their inside partners have farther to run should a call come. And in general, the driver HATES to park where he has to back up, jockey, or work around others with his rig. That fire lane is nice and open and easy to get into and out of, and only a complete idiot would park in front of a fire truck in a fire lane and block them in.

And if your fire guys were like most, had that ticket been issued, the local precinct would have been in for a sudden spate of sprinkler inspections, riser checks, etc., and i am sure a half dozen citable offenses would have been made to the fire marshall about extension cords, coffee makers, etc. in the offices.

AnnaD2,

It's a deputy sheriff's official vehicle.

Thanks for the reply.

Ben

We had a metro police officer parking his take-home vehicle on the street overnight. It is a full-fledge police car with all the markings, lights, etc.

Our CC&Rs do not allow on-street parking in excess of four hours or overnight.

We sent him a notice of violation. We reminded him of the CC&R restricting parking on the street to no more than 4 hours in any 24 hour period and never overnight.

He ignored the initial notice.

We sent him a second one.

Then our president ran into him in the grocery and they talked about it.

The police officer said it was not a private street, it was a public one, taken care of by the county.

The president reminded him of the CC&Rs that apply to all residents and all of the CC&Rs are enforceable, even the parking ones.

He let him know that the next letter would be from the association attorney and that it might be better if he discussed it with him.

He has stopped parking on the street overnight.

We do not have to have police officers enforce our restrictions, especially when they sometime violate them.

Our documents give us the authority to enforce, since they are our restrictions and not city or county ordinances.

Ben,

The CCR restriction you posted above DOES give your board the same authority as Michele's board! In fact, your restriction goes one step further by not allowing parking on the driveway! I've never seen that b/4; but I'm never surprised at what sometimes turns up in an assn's gov. docs!!

In answer to your question, I'm not familiar with FL statutes so can't tell you if there is a law addressing public safety vehicles. In AZ we do have a state law which says public safety vehicles cannot be banned from parking on driveways or streets if the vehicle is required to be at the person's residence at designated times and as a condition of his employment. Frankly, I think having a police cruiser parked anywhere in the neighborhood would be a deterrent to crime.

i agree with Kirk. MFHOA had a similar clause, with slightly better wording, and it was clearly intended for STORAGE of vehicles, and the reduction of cars parked in lots, driveways, etc. while being repaired, rusting, storage of boats, trailers, campers, etc..

This clause doesn't really every say parking, it seems to be speaking of storage, and like others have said, as long as it gets moved every other day, it seems fine. HEaven forbid you park your car in the driveway over a 3 day weekend though...

If you allow other cars to sit on the street overnight then you should encourage the sheriff deputy to do so. It will have a deterrent effect. And you might even be able to get him to sit where people think he is patrolling the streets. Believe it or not, law enforcement can be your friend.