Several Muncie residents told the Land and Traffic Committee that boats, trailers and trucks have been parked in front yards for long periods and that they were told the city could not enforce the ordinance. The building commissioner and Muncie police described how enforcement works, where authority rests, and how residents can document and report problems.

The complaint came from a resident who said the city’s parking ordinance "prohibits parking in the front yards" and that some neighbors had vehicles that "haven't been moved in a year and a half." Building Commissioner Richard Rawlings and police officials told the committee the rules still exist, but that different kinds of parking and vehicle problems fall to different offices and, in some cases, to state law.

The distinction matters because abandoned‑vehicle cases are handled under state code while front‑yard parking and other improper parking are enforced under the city’s ordinance. Chief Sloan of the Muncie Police Department told the committee the city "lost several ordinances" previously and has relied on the state statute for abandoned vehicles; he said items such as parking in a front yard remain under city code. Officer Darren Clark, who works in police code enforcement, said a call will prompt a visit and that officers will enforce when they find a violation.

Officials walked through the process for residents: report the problem, provide date‑stamped photos if possible, and the appropriate office will follow up. Commissioner Rawlings asked residents to email images to him at rrawlings@muncieindiana.gov; police code complaints may be sent to the department’s parking division at (765) 747‑4883 or routed through dispatch for after‑hours reports. Chief Sloan also suggested calling the police chief’s office at 747‑4822 if callers do not get a response.

Commissioner Rawlings and the police said enforcement includes issuing notices and tickets. Officer Clark said enforcement actions had been taken in the area: "On Jan. 9 there were three tickets written for parking in the front yard," and another ticket was written on Feb. 7 for parking violations in the neighborhoods cited. Rawlings and Clark explained that city practice is to tag a violation, give a 10‑day notice for corrective action, and, if the owner does not comply, the city can levy fines, pursue court action and in some cases perform mowing or cleanup and place charges on the owner’s property tax bill.

Officials briefed the committee on technical definitions that affect enforcement. The city ordinance defines a front yard by a line across the front wall of the house to the lot lines and to the street right‑of‑way; Officer Clark said parking rules are codified in the city parking code (referred to in the meeting as "chapter 77 of the ordinance"). For abandoned vehicles, police cited the state motor‑vehicle code language the department uses to determine whether a vehicle is abandoned and subject to state enforcement.

Officials also explained practical limitations: daytime patrols may not observe a vehicle that is parked only overnight, so they asked residents to supply date‑ and time‑stamped photographs. Rawlings said staff are working on website improvements that will make it easier to submit tips and that photos sent to his email will be accepted for follow‑up. Committee members and officials discussed the difficulty of addressing vehicles or trailers that are partially on gravel or show driveway rutting; Rawlings said staff would inspect the examples residents provided.

The committee received no new ordinance or policy from the meeting. Instead, officials clarified responsibilities for enforcement and reiterated the reporting steps residents should take. The meeting closed with committee direction to circulate contact information and for staff to pursue the specific addresses raised by speakers so inspectors can follow up.