Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident complaints prompt council explanation: Park Street curb/sidewalk parking under TxDOT jurisdiction; police given discretion
Summary
A resident raised enforcement concerns after repeated sidewalk/curb parking on Park Street; the city manager explained that part of Park Street is a state highway under TxDOT, limiting local regulation, and that police officers use discretion to reduce traffic risk when vehicles park on sidewalks.
A City of Commerce resident told the council July 15 that a vehicle repeatedly parking on the sidewalk on Park Street created a safety and enforcement concern; the council and city manager responded that the segment of Park Street is part of a state highway under TxDOT control and that police use discretion to reduce traffic risk.
Resident Rob Ford (1002 North Neal) described stopping officers and pointing out a vehicle parked on the sidewalk near City Park and said he had observed repeated violations despite prior citations. Ford cited the Texas Transportation Code provision prohibiting parking on sidewalks and urged enforcement: “If you let some little things get away, the next time that same person thinks they can get away with a little bit more,” he said.
City Manager Michael Lisenby answered during manager’s report that the Park Street segment is a State Highway controlled by TxDOT, and that local jurisdiction to impose no-parking restrictions is limited. Lisenby said officers exercise discretion to choose the option that poses the least immediate traffic risk: a vehicle partially on the sidewalk may be tolerated if it reduces the need for vehicles to move into oncoming traffic on a narrow highway. “If the officer decides that that parking configuration is lower risk than having them stick out into the state highway, I'm gonna let the officer have the discretion there,” he said.
Lisenby also described the city’s enforcement philosophy: start with education, issue an initial citation when appropriate, allow time for a municipal-court appearance and voluntary compliance, and follow with additional enforcement if behavior does not change. He noted that police and first responders travel the route and that certain configurations (e.g., vehicles pushing into traffic) can present higher immediate risk.
Clarifying details: the manager identified the approximate location as north of the car wash on the route from city hall toward City Park; he said the vehicle is typically a small silver SUV. Lisenby said the city could use more aggressive enforcement but believes discretion and education reduce overall traffic risk; he supports citations if officers determine that is appropriate.
No formal action was taken; this was a public comment and manager’s report exchange describing enforcement limits and practice.
