Parking Enforcement on the Square

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
September 22, 2007

Should illegal parkers be ticketed on the Square? Yes? No?

If not, why should anyone park legally on the Square? If there is to be no penalty, why doesn't everyone just park wherever he wishes?

A red Ford two-door (183 2595) was parked in the small striped no-parking zone in front of Read Between the Lynes Bookstore.

Just before that a Harley-Davidson motorcycle was backed into the same striped, no-parking zone for over an hour.

A yellow VW Beetle convertible (904 1449) was parked in the striped no-parking zone in front of Mardi Gras, while the driver ran into Starbuck's for coffee. "Just for a minute", don't you know?

And a red Dodge pick-up (38 726F) parked in the handicapped parking zone in front of Home State Bank. The driver looked around, as if checking to see if anyone was watching, then crossed the street to mail letters and back to enter the bank about 11:45AM. No handicapped license plate; no handicapped placard. The fine is $250.00 plus court costs for this violation.

Our police officers should patrol the Square on Farmer's Market days, because of the increased traffic and pedestrian flow. Illegal parking is a willful violation for which tickets should be issued. This is only way to stop it. Fair but firm enforcement. You're parked there when the cop comes by? You get a ticket.