Royal Palm Beach magistrate fines Aldi contractor $1,000 over Aug. 21 truck staging that blocked State Road 7

A special magistrate on Oct. 8 ordered a one‑time $1,000 fine against Florida South Division LLC after deputies and village staff presented evidence that semi‑tractor trailers staging to deliver to the company’s Aldi distribution operation were blocking public lanes on South State Road 7 on the night of Aug. 21, 2025.

The village presented photographs, a site plan and sworn testimony from Deputy Michael Garza of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, who said the trucks were queuing on southbound State Road 7 and on nearby eastbound routes such as Fox Trail and Okeechobee, sometimes forming lines he estimated “maybe 30 to 50” trucks deep. Garza testified that the trailers’ rear ends sometimes extended into adjacent travel lanes, creating what he described as a “safety issue.”

The magistrate, Doug MacKibben, described the matter as an “irreparable and irreversible” violation tied to modifications in how the facility has been operating and granted the village’s request to assess the one‑time fine for the Aug. 21 incident. MacKibben also warned the company that repeat irreparable violations could trigger higher penalties: “If it continues tonight, tomorrow night, etcetera, you can expect to be back here,” he told the company representative, noting fines can rise to $5,000 per incident.

Why it matters

The magistrate’s finding focuses on public‑right‑of‑way safety and the village’s approval conditions for the site plan. Deputies and business representatives told the hearing the staging stems from the facility’s operational changes during a recent expansion, and that trucks have been stopped by a private security contractor outside the fenced property when the facility was not admitting them on arrival.

What the testimony said

Deputy Michael Garza testified that the line of tractor‑trailers often starts near the Sunoco at the Regal cinema entrance, wraps around PNC/Target frontages and can extend north toward Okeechobee Boulevard. He said drivers come from many states and are directed by on‑site security to stage outside the facility when the gate or unloading schedule does not allow immediate entry.

The company’s representative, who identified himself as Zamora, director of warehouse operations, told the magistrate the facility had been undergoing a renovation and expansion that added 250 jobs and temporarily reduced on‑site truck staging capacity. He said the expansion work was completed in October 2025 and detailed steps the company has taken since May to reduce off‑site queuing: creating 14 temporary lanes during construction, adding 20 receiving doors, hiring an off‑loading vendor, increasing off‑site security to turn trucks more quickly, adding a second receiving shift and—effective Nov. 1—changing check‑in procedures so drivers park in assigned on‑site spaces and walk to check‑in rather than queueing in traffic.

Magistrate’s decision and next steps

For the single Aug. 21 incident cited, the magistrate found an irreparable violation and imposed a one‑time $1,000 fine. The magistrate emphasized that the finding applies to that specific date and that future incidents could prompt higher fines: “If you become a repeat irreparable, irreversible issue, the fines bump…to $5,000 per incident,” he said.

The magistrate explicitly distinguished the Aug. 21 event from other nights: the village presented the case only for that date, even though deputies said the queuing has been a nightly occurrence. The court record shows the village preserved evidence from other dates in the file but proceeded with the formal hearing on Aug. 21 only.

Clarifying details and limits of authority

- Date of cited incident: Aug. 21, 2025, per deputy testimony and photographs presented at the hearing. - Fine assessed: one‑time $1,000 for the Aug. 21 incident; magistrate warned of potential fines up to $5,000 per incident for repeat irreparable violations. - Deputy estimate of trucks staging: “maybe 30 to 50” trucks on a given night, per testimony. - The magistrate and village repeatedly noted the finding relates to trucks blocking a public right‑of‑way (Regal Way, Elliott Way and the southbound lanes of State Road 7) and not to truck activity beyond the village’s jurisdiction.

What the company says it will do

Company testimony listed operational changes completed or in progress: additional receiving doors, 57 on‑site truck parking/staging spots once employee parking was completed, a second receiving shift to move volume off peak, reworked check‑in procedures to allow drivers to park on property rather than wait in vehicles, and coordination with suppliers to ask drivers to arrive during assigned windows.

Evidence and legal references

The village introduced the notice of violation and hearing, verification of ownership, dated photographs and an approved site plan as exhibits. The village cited multiple local code sections tied to site plan conditions and traffic safety (listed in the record as 26‑29, 26‑31, 26‑32D6, 26‑75.1(c)(4), 26‑73(b)(3), 23‑49 and 21.7‑2).

What to watch next

Magistrate MacKibben told the company to ensure its planned operational changes are implemented immediately and warned that repeated incidents could prompt higher fines and additional enforcement action. The company stated its major operational change was effective Nov. 1; the village signaled it will return if trucks continue to queue on public roadways.

Ending note

The finding and $1,000 fine resolve the village’s case for the Aug. 21 event; village staff and deputies said they will monitor the corridor and may bring further cases if off‑site queuing continues.