Council moves to amend parking rules on Jones Road after safety complaints

The council considered an ordinance amendment to prohibit parking on both sides of Jones Road from East Palisade Avenue to the Route 4 eastbound ramp after police responded to unsafe parking there.

Deputy Chief explained the safety rationale: "Jones Road is not wide enough. The the curves and the way the road is designed does not in any way allow for safe parking except for the bump outs that have been made." He said the traffic sergeant and chief prepared the ordinance amendment to prevent vehicles from parking on the roadway and pointed to nearby overflow parking options.

Council members asked staff to attend the public hearing to answer residents' questions and pressed staff to clarify enforcement procedures. On enforcement, the deputy chief said officers generally attempt notifications and warnings first but may issue summonses or tow vehicles when a safety nuisance exists: "If it's a safety issue, it's deemed a nuisance vehicle, we could tell them. We usually make a good faith effort to find the person... the officer has the ability to give a verbal warning, give a written warning, summons, and in certain cases, tow a vehicle."

Why it matters: The amendment targets a narrow stretch of roadway where parked cars create a safety hazard; the council signaled support for moving the ordinance to a public hearing and asked staff to be available to address resident concerns.