Special magistrate rules on four Flagler Beach wrong-direction parking appeals

Flagler Beach Special Magistrate Gregory Popp on April 23 heard four appeals of "wrong-direction" parking citations, upholding one citation, reducing another to a $50 fine with an educational requirement, and dismissing two others.

Popp opened the hearing by saying the four matters before him shared the same violation and stressing safety concerns: "Wrong direction is an unsafe practice. That's why you are cited." He explained that parking the wrong direction can involve multiple moving violations when a driver enters and departs a parking spot, and said he would require "a very substantial justification" to overturn a citation.

The first appellant, identified in the record as Miss Domit (case P1346FoxBravo), told the magistrate she had pulled a recreation-vehicle-style van into a space on South Nye Street on Feb. 28 because sandy shoulders near the beach made other spots unusable and because nearby driveways and gated properties limited options. Domit said she had not realized parking that way was unlawful and described similar unmarked roads where people routinely park in either direction. The magistrate rejected that defense and denied the appeal, saying the practice presents an elevated safety risk and that the city would issue an order upholding the $100 citation.

Appellant Philip Jaffe (case P013467FoxBravo) said he had parked briefly on Ocean Shore Boulevard while visiting family and acknowledged he used "poor judgment." The magistrate offered to reduce Jaffe's fine to $50 if Jaffe completed an educational outreach requirement: have conversations with licensed drivers (the magistrate said roughly 10 people) and submit a form documenting those conversations within 60 days. Jaffe accepted the condition.

Keith Swart (case P01399FoxBravo) acknowledged parking the wrong direction in front of a family property while visiting relatives. He agreed to perform a similar educational outreach effort notifying visitors that parking the wrong direction is unlawful in Florida. The magistrate said Swart would receive a written order with the outreach form and a 60-day deadline.

Patricia Gloeckler (recorded as Patricia Gloeckler/Gloeckler; case P01355FoxBravo) told the magistrate she had parked near a family center after an afternoon Mass and that mobility limitations and a recent fall motivated parking close to the building. The magistrate said he could not rebut her testimony about circumstances and offered a dismissal in exchange for a commitment to inform parishioners that pavers and similar areas are part of the public right of way; the citation was dismissed.

Edward (Edgar) Case (case P01350[0]XBravo), a radio host who identified himself as a Surf 97.3 personality and longtime volunteer who sweeps the pier area, said he had parked in a city employee space at the Pier when the area was crowded. Officers had discussed issuing uniform placards for permitted vehicles; the magistrate noted the station’s outreach value and, citing Case’s public service, dismissed his citation, saying, "Your ticket has gone away."

City staff asked the magistrate to uphold original $100 fines in some cases; the city told appellants it is updating citation forms and may later seek administrative costs. The magistrate repeatedly emphasized safety, explaining that a wrong-direction parking stop can expose a driver to four moving violations when entering and leaving a space, and urged appellants to use outreach to reduce future violations.

The hearing closed after the magistrate scheduled one future parking-citation appeal and one code-enforcement case for the next session. Orders for each appellant’s case will be mailed with the required forms and deadlines.