Parking in the Fire Lane has got to stop!

After moving to the Piedmont Triad area of NC from Ohio a few years back, my wife and I began to notice an unusual trend; people parking in the fire lane. I’m not taking about the occasional car. The fire lanes might as well have parking spaces marked on them because the curbs are some times FULLY loaded!

On one such occasion I got completely fed-up when there wasn’t even room for a lady to navigate her shopping cart (a “Buggy” in the South) between the parked cars. I entered the store and approached the customer service counter and asked to speak to the manager. When the manager arrived I handed him the little frequent shopper barcode key fob that they use to track our purchases, and said that until they do something about their fire lane my family and I would be shopping at their near-by competition. Not that we are the Rockefellers or anything, but a family of four can pack away some food, and after scanning my card and viewing our buying history I assume the manager took my threat seriously.

Within two weeks my wife reported that I needed to do a drive-by of Bi-Lo. Well golly! They installed freestanding orange plastic poles that said “No Parking, Fire Lane” all across the front of their store! And when I say across the front I’m not talking along the sidewalk; they were placed about two feet from the curb on the parking lot itself! I made my way back to the manager’s office that evening and re-introduced myself, and the manager greeted me with a huge smile and handed me back my key fob. He said the comments he was receiving from the previous silent majority were so encouraging that he wished he had done this sooner.

Unfortunately this chain has relocated out of our area so I can’t supply photographs, but the time has come for me to repeat my threats to our new local grocer.

Last night I was so shocked by the audacity of one violator that I froze in my tracks and snapped a couple pictures with my cell phone. This driver not only parked in the fire lane, but they obviously intended to stay for a while. Notice the window shade!

So that brings me to this blog. From now until I see a change in this careless, unsafe and rude habit I will be posting photos of the violators here. I also intend to print a simple notice that I will slide under the wiper that will thank the driver for contributing to the content of my blog, and will include the url so that they can see their arrogance on display on the world wide web.

Is there ever a reason to park in the fire lane? If you are driving an emergency vehicle and are responding to an emergency, then yes, park away. Otherwise the answer is no. And “The handicap parking spots were full, so what choice did I have?” isn’t a good excuse either. If you are unfortunate enough to have a handicap tag on you car and the designated spaces are taken, please park and wait. A space will open eventually and you’ll be able to take your time in the store knowing that should there be an emergency, help will be able to freely access the store and come to your rescue.

That’s it for now. Wanna get in on the action? Feel free to email your comments, anecdotes and pictures to firelaneparking@gmail.com

Absolutely unbelievable!

It looks like practice time at the old martial arts dojo. The mini van in the foreground is the van with the windshield blind from the previous post. Unfortunately the license plate is illegible, but stop by any Monday night at 6:00 and I’m sure you can snap a better one.

Parking in the fire lane while she "Hops" into the store.

I think we can see why this woman HAD to park in the fire lane at Harris Teeter off St Rt 68 and Skeet Club. Hey wait a second! That’s LIGHT beer! She could have parked in a normal space. Now, had it been a heavy beer…

This photo is from a photo blog. Though they aren’t actually parked in the fire lane, the sign sure makes this a funny picture worthy of inclusion on the blog.

You've got to watch this video!

This is a link to an article on police in Miami-Dade FL who were busted by a local news crew parking illegally. Not only were they parked in a fire lane and in front of a hydrant, but they were parked facing the wrong way on a one way road! You MUST click on the video. It’s eye opening and shameful.

Wanna play along?

We are going to print some business card size cards to place on the windshieds of those who "contribute" to our blog with their parking choice. If you'd like some of these card let us know and we'll find a way to get them to you.
FireLaneParking@gmail.com

Here's a great way to end Fire Lane Parking!

We salute the city of Mary Esther, FL for their stand on Fire Lane parking. Notice the fire hose which was threaded through the car, due to its proximity to the hydrant. Sweet.

Who says parking in Fire Lanes in against the law?

Seriously? Well...

According to the City of High Point NC Code of Ordinances, Title 10, Chapter 1, Article K, Sec 10-1-155:
Parking so as to interfere with police, fire and sanitary divisions.
(a) No vehicle shall be so parked in any private alleys, private roadways or driveways as to block, interrupt or interfere with the passage of any truck or vehicle of the sanitary, fire or police divisions of the city, servicing the people and such residential, business and industrial property abutting thereon.
(b) No vehicle shall be permitted to park in the public alley or area underneath the pedestrian plaza adjacent to the pedestrian parking garage where signs are erected giving notice thereof except authorized trucks unloading at designated loading docks. (Code 1958, § 19-91)
(c) Subsection (a) above has been enacted for the protection of the public health, safety and convenience. To afford maximum fire protection, and to alleviate dangerous traffic congestion, vehicles parked unlawfully in violation of subsection (a) are found and declared to be inherently and substantially determined to be in violation hereof and such vehicles may be towed and impounded as provided in section 10-1-54.

OK, and just what does section 10 -1-54 Have to say? Check this out:

Sec. 10-1-54 Impounding of vehicles.
(a) The following enumerated sections have been enacted for the protection of the public health, to afford maximum fire protection, and to alleviate dangerous traffic congestion:
(1) The section prohibiting the parking of a vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
(2) The section prohibiting the parking of a vehicle between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(3) The section prohibiting the parking of a vehicle in front of or in the entrance to a public or private alley.
(4) The section prohibiting the parking of a vehicle in commercial and passenger loading zones and established for the purpose of alleviating dangerous traffic congestion.
(5) The section prohibiting the parking of a vehicle in special traffic lanes during specified time periods and established for the purpose of alleviating dangerous traffic congestion.
(6) The apparent abandonment of vehicles on the streets within the fire limits of the city, or on property owned or operated by the city, for a period of 48 hours or within any other section of the city for a period of three (3) days.
(7) The parking of a vehicle within 25 feet of a street intersection in violation of the General Statutes of North Carolina.
(8) Section 10-1-156 prohibiting parking in certain places and under certain conditions.
(9) At any place where pavement markings or signs indicate that stopping, standing or parking is prohibited.
(10) The section prohibiting the parking or driving of vehicles upon medians.
(11) Law enforcement officers of the city or other city officials designated by the director of police services shall impound or cause to be impounded any vehicle or vehicles found parked on the streets, alleys, or rights-of-way or off-street parking facilities of the city in violation of those sections of this chapter heretofore set forth in this section.
(b) In order to carry out the intent of this chapter, the law enforcement officers or designated officials are hereby authorized, and it shall be the duty of said officers or officials to either tow and store such vehicles in a suitable place provided by the city or to make arrangements with wrecker companies who have entered into a contract with the city to tow any vehicle impounded by authority of this chapter to its place of business and to store such vehicle until the owner, or person entitled to the possession thereof claims such vehicle. All costs incident to towing and storage shall be paid by the owner or person entitled to the possession thereof. The costs of towing and storing such vehicle shall be as fixed from time to time by contract between the city and wrecker company. In the event the owner, or person in possession, of the vehicle should appear after the law enforcement officer has called for towing equipment and before such towing equipment has performed any labor incident to the removal of the vehicle a fee less than the full towing fee may be charged as fixed from time to time by contract between the city and the wrecker company. When any work has been performed incident to removal, the full towing fee may be charged. In the event the city should operate towing storage service, any fees collected by the city under the provisions of this section shall be used for the enforcement of this chapter and shall be paid into the general fund of the city. The charges provided for in this section are for services and shall be in addition to any penalty or costs provided for violation of city traffic ordinances. Notice shall be sent to owner - see section 10-1-198.
(c) Notification shall be sent to the owner of any vehicle towed and impounded as provided in section 10-1-198.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the city manager may, enter into an exclusive contract with one (1) or more persons engaged in the towing and storage of motor vehicles, to remove the vehicles described herein from the public streets and alleys and other public places under the control of the city on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon. The contract so made shall be in writing; shall specify the charges to be made for towing and storage and shall require the person entering into the contract for the towing and storage of such vehicles to perform the service in a manner satisfactory to the city manager and shall provide for the forfeiture of the contract in the event of a violation of any of the provisions of the contract of any other rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to it or of any subsection of this section which may be incorporated in and made a part of the contract. The contract shall further provide that the city shall not be obligated to the person undertaking the towing and storage of such vehicles for any damages or charges which may be incurred in the performance of the obligation assumed by him but that charge shall be collected solely from the owner of the vehicle involved.
(Code 1958, § 19-41)
Cross references: Impoundment of illegally parked vehicles, § 10-1-196 et seq.

Too much reading? We understand. What this says is; If you park in fire lane, your car can be impounded. Don't worry, your attorney will be able to explain it to you.

Nice new site like our Blog FireLaneParking.blogspot.com

Take a look at http://www.parkly.net/ if you like what you see here. The jerks are everywhere! http://firelaneparking.blogspot.com/

Parking in the Fire Lane at Dollar Tree in South High Point NC

This car had two child seats in the back, so in a small way I felt a little empathy for the driver. That was until they returned to their car moments later sans kids.

http://firelaneparking.blogspot.com

We have an answer from the High Point Police Dept

We asked the High Point Fire Department which law a Fire Lane "squatter" was violating, and this was the response which was returned from the High Point Police Department:

"There is a state statute that covers parking in fire lanes, G.S. 20-162(b). In a nutshell it says no person shall park a vehicle in a designated fire lane. Provided, however, persons loading or unloading supplies or merchandise may park temporarily in a fire lane as long as the vehicle is not left unattended."

See, we told you so.

More Fire Lane Parking at Harbor Freight

Do you think that folks would be allowed to get away with this if the store manager got a ticket for every car in front of their store?

Parking at Harbor Freight in Greensboro

Parking at Harbor Freight. Wayne observed that once one parks there the others are attracted like bugs to a light bulb!

Parking BEYOND the fire lane?

I don't even know how to classify this one. He is parked beyond the fire lane on the sidewalk at the High Point Lowes. Oh, it gets better. He also was sporting a handicap parking tag. It must belong to his wife because he was moving faster and more nimble than me!
(Confession: I’m not too nimble)