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Council introduces ordinance tightening rules on RV and tow-truck parking, sets stepped fines
Summary
Council introduced and approved on first reading an ordinance limiting right-of-way parking for large vehicles, removing loopholes used to 'game' the 72-hour rule and establishing a stepped fine schedule; tow trucks may be parked in neighborhoods only while actively loading or unloading.
The Town Council introduced an ordinance amending Chapter 10 of the municipal code to tighten limits on parking of large vehicles (including recreational vehicles and tow trucks) in public right of way and to provide civil penalties for repeat violations.
Staff said prior language allowed a practical “shell game” in which owners moved a vehicle more than 1,000 feet to reset a 72-hour clock and then returned the vehicle to the same location. The proposed changes remove the “consecutive/1,000-foot” loophole by clarifying that parking a large vehicle in the public right of way for more than 72 hours is a violation and that moving it to another right-of-way location is not a lawful defense.
Council amended the draft ordinance on the floor and approved introduction on first reading with a progressive fine schedule intended to create a stronger financial deterrent: first offense $100, second offense $250, third or subsequent offenses $500 (the council discussed education-first enforcement and said staff will run an outreach campaign before full enforcement). The council also instructed staff to include a narrow allowance that tow trucks may occupy residential right-of-way only while actively loading or unloading (or otherwise actively providing service) to allow operators to perform official duties without permitting long-term street storage of commercial tow trucks.
Commander Galvan (Police) described the department’s education-first practice and said the new fines and the clarified definition would provide an enforcement tool for repeat violators.
Why it matters: code change targets persistent neighborhood storage and safety hazards caused by large vehicles blocking sidewalks, leaking fluids, or creating visibility issues; it gives police a civil-penalty tool short of towing in many cases. Council approved the ordinance introduction and amendments unanimously at first reading; staff will bring a final version for second reading and adoption.
What happens next: staff will prepare final ordinance language, an enforcement protocol and an educational outreach plan before the final reading.
