Armed with only a camera and a Don't Tread On Me cap, a friend and I headed to the Lake Worth beach on Easter Sunday to see what was happening. As we pulled into the resident decal parking area, we noticed the many cars with NO stickers attempting to park. Little did we know we would end up doing our civic duty--talking to the many people trying to get away with something or just plain not understanding--that they were attempting to park for free in the Resident Decal Parking area with NO decal even though signs are posted.
We must have talked to 120 people in the intermittent 2 hours we were engaged, reminding them that it was paid resident decal parking only; we diverted them to Lake Worth paid parking. Most drivers spotted my camera and just turned around--we didn't have to say a word. They knew. One couple suggested parking there and taking their chances on the fine. They decided to leave. It was their choice. One lady with a decal shouted out to an offender, "This is for resident decal parking ONLY."
We were called Mother F'ers by one young gal. We heard every excuse in the book from a woman saying she just moved here and was going to buy a decal on Monday to a guy from Palm Beach with an attitude who said that we were "going to lose business." I guess he didn't care about the fact that Lake Worth residents pay the maintenance on the beach and buy a resident sticker to be able to have the convenience of parking in a designated area with only 50 spaces. Overall, 99% of the people were grateful; some did not notice the sign until they entered the parking lot and thanked us for saving them from a possible parking ticket. Several residents with decals thanked us for saving them a spot.
Mark Sykes, head of the parking division, was working on Easter and showed up to fill the pay stations with tickets so that we didn't lose revenue over that busy day. The parking lots were full and people kept coming and going the entire time we were there. The Decal Resident parking area is being abused. Larger more visible signage needs to be installed and tickets given. Mark Sykes said that it was Florida Statutes that dictated handicap parking policy and he is looking into that to confirm that signage needs to be erected informing those with handicap tags to park in the metered/pay station parking lots only, not in the decal resident parking.
Mark is going to check the possibility of having some resident volunteers to inform those non-decal visitors where the pay stations are until such time the traffic division is completely manned and people "catch on" and fines can be written.
Thanks Lynn for bringing this to our attention. I say-ticket, ticket and ticket some more. Aren't we always being told "poor Lake Worth, we are broke". Well?
ReplyDeleteThe simplest and cheapest solution is just to rally the city to go back to the policy of "resident beach decals park in any space" The tickets writers will know if they have a valid decal not to write the tickets. Even if they buy bigger signs it wont matter, people dont read them anyway! There are signs posted EVERYWHERE "No backing into metered spaces" and all you see is cars backed in with tickets on them. When dont they make a sign at each pay station. No backing in!!!!! When you back a car into the spot, you actually block the small sidewalk and it's a hazard worse for handicap people in wheelchairs!
ReplyDeleteBawhawaha, you stayed there on Easter Sunday trying to "educate" people where to park, that's freaking awesome, you are a special kind of special. Comedy gold right here people, great stuff.
ReplyDeleteWe should put up an electronic gate like they have at gated communities and issue decals that make the gate go up. Much easier to handle electronically . . . renewals, expirations, etc.
ReplyDeleteNice work, Lynn. I saw the signs last time I was at the beach and thought they were really clear, and plenty big enough. I don't really buy that people didn't see them. I think they saw them, and decided they wanted to park there anyway.
ReplyDelete10:29--I was wondering how long it would take for you to get your body slam going. LOL
ReplyDeleteWell, they will attack you when you do something positive or when you help win an election which was super positive. Screw them and the horse they rode in on.
ReplyDeleteIt's being pro-active anonymous and helping to right a wrong. In time, the traffic division will be concentrating on that area and writing more tickets. I don't think $25 is high enough.
ReplyDeleteI was there about 3pm and the lot was filled. Sorry to know that some of these might have been violators. I didn't have the right kind of change so we ended up eating in the downtown.
ReplyDeleteI think they should:
ReplyDelete1. Put up Tow Away Zone signs
2. Line up the tow trucks
3. Tow the mf'ers away
Maybe when people see cars being towed they'll get the idea. Should be a nice bit of revenue in it for us. Give them a ticket AND tow them away.
You're welcome. More great ideas where that one came from, just ask.
LOVE THAT IDEA!
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling those people where to pay and they couldn't park there. Some people have a lot of nerve.
ReplyDeleteReally sad for you that you wouldn't have anything better to do on Easter Sunday but I guess you've made your empty bed now you have to LIE in it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for thinking about me, anonymous @ 5:02. I had a wonderful dinner with loads of family later in the afternoon. Hope your day was as nice and as productive as mine was.
ReplyDeleteI think its wonderful that our renvoated beach and casino is so popular. I do think people will figure it out but only if we ticket and ticket some more. I hate to be unfriendly about it as we want to encourage violators, so maybe our PBSO parking enforcement people (and that is who should be out ticketing) could give warnings first and tickets second.
ReplyDeleteI think it is nice that you alerted people although I think the current signage is plenty big enough but that people ignore it until they get tickets. I know I've gotten ticketed in Palm Beach parking in one hour spots when I was there for more b/c I didn't notice. Let me tell you ever since I got that ticket I'm well aware that certain spots near Testa are one hour only. I still go there but I know from my ticket experience where not to park.
Yes Lynn..I go there almost every day and I check out the cars for the costly parking decal the LW residents pay for and at least half have no decal..I think we should go back to all parking
ReplyDeleteplaces being available to residents...VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION!!!DUHHHH
I really wish it were that simple, anonymous @5:52 but PB County controls this for the next 30 years. It was negotiated away in order to get the $5 million bond money for the beach redevelopment. The parking for decal stickers was not part of the bond money.
ReplyDeleteBawhawaha is a little boy who sits in his mother's dark basement and plays video games on Easter Sunday with one finger up his nose. Someday, when he grows up into a real man, he will begin to understand what a contemptible creature he is.
ReplyDeleteIf Lake Worth was smart they would sell monthly parking passes to residents on the west side of Lake Worth. They would make more money then the hourly. Strange that a resident on the west side cannot get a seasonal pass but if you are from another country you can get a seasonal pass per city hall.
ReplyDeleteEven though this is a comment on an old blog, I posted it to explain.
ReplyDeleteIn order to be able to purchase a resident decal sticker you must own property in the City of Lake Worth or reside here for at least one year if you lease. Snowbirds live somewhere else but many own a residence here and therefore they can buy a Seasonal Resident sticker if they are a property owner within the city limits.