'Short-term fix could have a detrimental impact,' say officials who worry parking fines will target struggling moms | 2YJY87S | 2024-04-23 12:08:01
DRIVERS in a US city are facing stricter parking rules that target people who need to sleep in their vehicles.
Eugene, Oregon has new regulations that crack down on car camping.
The city council spent more than an hour deciding on the new rules, local news affiliate The Register-Guard reported.
The debate ended in a 5 to 3 vote last week passing the enhanced parking ordinances.
Members Lyndsie Leech, Alan Zelenka and Jennifer Yeh voted against the changes
The council members who voted against the new regulations noted concerns regarding struggling families.
They explained that the new parking rules would hinder the livelihood of people who have nowhere else to sleep.
"I see these code pieces more as that short-term fix that could actually have a detrimental impact over the long-term on our city," Leech stated.
"My worry is that because a mom with a baby in a minivan can't figure out how our code works, that they could potentially have their vehicle impounded,
"I need codified protections for situations like that."
The rest of the council who voted for the new rules, expressed that the regulations would add accountability for drivers in the community.
They also feel as if the parking ordinances will encourage people living in cars and RVs to find more stable housing as well as bring peace of mind to residents in houses with camping in the area.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> The newly passed regulations include removing the city's $2 per hour maximum charge for on-street parking.
The City of Eugene is also raising the maximum fines for certain parking violations and setting a per-day time limit in two-hour zones.
The new time limit prohibits drivers from returning to the same two-hour zoned block multiple times within the same day.
Another change involves the city gaining the ability to impound vehicles that are parked in front of residences or hotels during the night.
<!--googleoff: all--> <blockquote class="article__quote"> </blockquote> <!--googleon: all--> Officials will be able to get a car towed if it's been parked in front of the residence or hotel three times in 90 days or if it's blocking a mailbox.
In addition to law enforcement officials, the updated parking rules also grant parking officers to impound automobilies for greywater dumping.
"RVs camped in people's neighborhoods and business districts downtown have become a considerable problem and a source of quite a lot of complaints," Councilor Mike Clark said.
"For us to set rules about how we live together and that you can't sleep on the streets in an RV, I think is a completely reasonable one and one that we need to uphold."
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