Title
Sheriff’s Office and Department of Transportation recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 111-2021, increasing the fees on the Parking Penalty Fee Schedule to help deter unsafe parking in no-parking zones.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Within the last five years, there has been a rise in the recreational use of various county, state, and private land areas. Due to the lack of designated and available parking spaces, the increase in visitors has caused motorists to park illegally onto public roads and highways. Vehicles are parking in Board-sanctioned no-parking zones. The existing penalties for no-parking zone violations do not appear to be enough of a deterrent to stop vehicles from parking in these areas. Law enforcement has seen the public blatantly park in no-parking zones that are clearly marked. Various agencies including the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Transportation, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and the Supervisors have received complaints from the public regarding nuisance and safety concerns.
The Sheriff’s Office faces challenges during the winter season with visitors parking in no-parking zones near Camp Sacramento, Highway 50 at the Summit, and multiple other locations along Highway 50 between Meyers and the “Y” (Intersection of Highway 50, Lake Tahoe Blvd, and Highway 89). Vehicles are often parked on the side of the road obstructing traffic, blocking roadways, or impeding on residential property. In the summer months, violations are concentrated in the greater Camp Richardson area in South Lake Tahoe (SLT). Some recent examples of no-parking violations are people parking on Highway 89 at Emerald Bay, wintertime snow operations in SLT and Tahoma roadways (County Ordinance 10.12.180 and 10.12.184), Sawmill Rd., Lake Tahoe Blvd., Bayne Rd., Pedro Hill Rd., State Hwy 49 at the American River Confluence, and many others. These violations are becoming more frequent and take up l...
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