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Resident says code-enforcement officers repeatedly ticketed him for parking on his property; requests warning-first policy
Summary
Christopher Witter, a 30-year resident, told the council he has been ticketed repeatedly after placing stone on his yard to park a truck and asked the city to favor warnings over immediate tickets for first-time infractions.
Long Branch resident Christopher Witter addressed the council during public comment on Feb. 12 to complain about repeated tickets and enforcement actions after he placed stone on a portion of his property to park his truck.
Witter said he has parked a truck on that area for 13 years and recently received a ticket and a mandatory court appearance. He told the council officers later visited his home and he received repeated tickets, including a citation for working without a permit for placing stone. “These class 2 officers... are on a power trip,” Witter said, adding he intended to pursue a zoning approval and the court postponed the matter until March 26 to allow time for surveying and paperwork.
Witter asked the council to consider issuing warnings before tickets in cases where residents are trying to comply, saying enforcement should not depend solely on individual complaints. The council indicated a staff member would follow up with Witter after the meeting to discuss next steps and zoning procedures.
The city did not provide a detailed response to the legal grounds for each citation during the public comment period; Witter said he will pursue the zoning process and the court date set by the judge.
