Latest news with #parking
CTV News
15 hours ago
- CTV News
Bylaw Services officers return to problematic neighbourhoods to enforce parking rules: City of Ottawa
Bylaw Services insists parking enforcement in Ottawa's suburbs is complaint driven, but officials say officers will return to problematic neighbourhoods to ticket repeat parking offenders. The City of Ottawa has received 2,800 complaints about parking issues in Barrhaven so far this year, up from 1,600 complaints in the first five and a half months of 2025. Two Bylaw Services officers are assigned to enforce parking rules in the Barrhaven area. Bylaw Services public information officer Jonathan Walden told Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron, officers are responding to a lot of calls in the suburbs about vehicles parked on city streets. 'We're definitely getting a lot more calls that are going to result in a lot more officers attending, potentially streets that people aren't used to seeing officers on and that will, unfortunately, result in parking tickets as well,' Walden said. Walden insists ByWard Services is not 'targeting a neighbourhood' with parking enforcement, but will return if they receive multiple complaints or an ongoing complaint about vehicles parked on streets for extended periods of time. 'Unfortunately, it can be just one neighbour calling in a complaint. If one neighbour sees a car that's been parked there for too long and they call us, an officer is going to attend,' Walden said. 'Unfortunately, we can't just ticket the one car potentially that they're calling about because that would be targeted enforcement. So, we have to proactively patrol the whole block and make sure that every vehicle is moved on that street.' The City of Ottawa's bylaw says vehicles may not be parked for more than three hours on unsigned streets between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and no more than six hours during the same period on weekends and statutory holidays. Bylaw Services told CTV News Ottawa last week that 20,010 tickets have been issued to drivers parked in excess of the permitted time on an unsigned street so far this year. In 2024, officers issued a total of 35,453 tickets for similar violations. 'It is not a cash grab. We are enforcing the traffic and parking bylaw,' Walden said. 'These are mostly driven by complaints, especially in rural areas. We're not proactively going out and chalking vehicles in Barrhaven just to get cash – we are responding to complaints.' With files from CTV News Ottawa's Natalie van Rooy
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Automotive
- Independent Singapore
Official says solutions are needed as parking problems in JB ‘will only get worse' because of SG workers
SINGAPORE: The lack of parking spaces in Johor Bahru because of people working in Singapore is bound to 'only get worse,' said State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, on Wednesday (Jun 18). He told Malaysia's Star Metro that there is a need for win-win solutions for all parties concerned, which is why the local government is considering ways to address the issue, as vehicle owners seek to save money and choose not to leave their cars in pay-parking areas. Residents of Johor Bahru have highlighted the problem wherein individuals who are employed in Singapore end up hogging the city's parking bays. Mr Mohd Jafni said that more and more people, particularly business owners, have complained about the issue. Another report in The Star quoted a restaurant owner who pointed out, however, that while most of the vehicles belonged to people who work in Singapore, others have been left in parking spaces for several weeks or even longer. He sometimes resorts to placing chairs or water bottles in parking spaces to ensure that his customers have somewhere to park. 'It is not fair for us and our customers, especially since there is a proper parking area at the terminal with more than enough bays. They prefer parking here to avoid paying at the bus terminal, without caring about how it will affect others,' he told The Star. Another pointed out that the number of parking spots for JB residents living in the area isn't enough to begin with, and now they find themselves competing for these spots with those who work in Singapore. Since the parking space near her home is not fenced, she's had to park outside it during the times when all the other spaces were taken. 'It is frustrating not being able to park your car at the place you live in, because outsiders are taking up the bays,' she said/ See also Malaysia PM proposes common Asia trading currency Mr Mohd Jafni added, 'This issue was also raised during the recent state assembly sitting, and it seems to have gotten worse over time. We need to study this matter thoroughly before implementing any measures, so that we can come up with a win-win solution for all.' He added that the issue needs to be addressed sooner rather than later, as it will only worsen as more vehicles enter Johor and more residents own vehicles. 'I appeal to those involved to be more thoughtful. They could just pay a little extra to park at the many available parking areas throughout the city. They are affecting other people's livelihoods simply because they refuse to pay for parking,' he said, adding that if the government were to impose a two-hour parking limit, car owners would end up needing to pay more than if they chose to leave their car in pay-parking areas./TISG Read also: Johor Bahru eateries say they're losing customers as Singapore-bound workers fill the limited parking from 5am to 8pm See also First-Time Solo Trip to JB? We Gotchu Fam
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is it illegal to park in front of someone else's house in Alabama? Here's what the law says
You come home from work and see a car parked right in front of your house. It's not yours, not a guest and it's probably been there all day. Can they do that? Are there laws in Alabama that prevent others from parking in front of your property? In Alabama, it's not illegal to park on a public street in front of someone else's house. Streets are considered public rights of way, meaning anyone can legally park there unless specific laws, signs or restrictions say otherwise. Under Alabama Code 32-5A-137, drivers are barred from parking in certain spots, like within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 20 feet of a crosswalk or directly in front of a driveway. However, no state law prohibits parking in front of a home on a public street. Local ordinances or homeowners' association rules might have stricter regulations, but unless they don't, that curb is fair game. In Alabama, parking is also prohibited in the following areas: On sidewalks or within intersections 30 feet from a traffic signal Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing On bridges, elevated structures or within highway tunnels On railroad tracks Any place where official signs prohibit stopping Alabama law sets specific rules for how and where you can park to keep traffic flowing and roads safe: On two-way streets: You must park your right wheels within 18 inches of the curb to avoid obstructing traffic. On one-way streets, you can park on either side, but you must stay within 18 inches of the curb and face the direction of traffic. Angle parking is only allowed if the road is wide enough and approved by the Department of Transportation. On busy highways: The state can ban parking entirely if it's considered a safety risk or disrupts traffic. Fines typically start at $50 but can climb to $250, depending on the violation and where it happened. Each city sets its own rules so penalties can vary. In some cases, your car could even be towed at your expense. Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@ This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Can you park in front of someone else's house in Alabama? Here's the law
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
I paid £83.50 for just an HOUR of parking after firm fined me for a 'stupid reason'
A mental health support worker paid £83.50 for just an hour of parking - after a firm fined him for not buying a ticket, even though their machine was out of order. Lenny Samms, 63, of Eastbourne, told MailOnline he received an £85 charge in early January for the totally accidental breach in October last year. He parked at Iceland - but with the payment machine not working, he could not buy a ticket: 'I thought, "There's other cars here, I'll just get on with my day".' Mr Samms was only away from his car for an hour, which normally costs £1.50 - so with an £85 charge, he essentially paid £83.50 more than he should have had to. That comes in at a pricey £1.40 per minute - nearly the normal hourly rate, thanks to the fine issued by Horizon Parking. He explained the machine was out of order when he received the charge - but with no proof, he ended up just paying it: 'I didn't want to go to court and try to explain it. 'I didn't take a photograph of the machine saying out of order when I should have.' But he said: 'I felt sort of isolated, I'm sure that other people have gone through it but I had no support or a witness or anyone else I knew that had gone through it. Lenny Samms (pictured), 63, of Eastbourne, told MailOnline he received an £85 charge in early January for the totally accidental breach in October last year He parked at Iceland (pictured) - but with the payment machine not working, he could not buy a ticket: 'I thought, "There's other cars here, I'll just get on with my day"' Mr Samms was only away from his car for an hour, which normally costs £1.50 - so with an £85 charge, he essentially paid £83.50 more than he should have had to 'That's why I was thinking, "Should I reach out to anyone on Facebook who had gone through a similar thing?" 'Because it's a local town, Eastbourne is not that big and I wondered if anyone had gone through it but then you feel quite isolated really. And it's annoying really.' He continued: 'When you're getting a parking charge like this, it can be quite intimidating, threatening you with court procedures and all this. 'I just wish I had the proof but I know next time to get proof, you need evidence. 'It was a hard lesson to learn, really, then I probably wouldn't have had to pay it.' But Mr Samms never thought he would have to go on to prove the machine was not working - with CCTV cameras in the car park to already show that was the case. The 63-year-old continued: 'I just naively thought that the machine and the camera sort of liaise together. I didn't expect a ticket to come through the post.' And it was only after paying the charge and discussing it with an Iceland employee that he discovered there is a second payment machine in the car park. But Mr Samms never thought he would have to go on to prove the machine was not working - with CCTV cameras in the car park (pictured, a sign in the Iceland car park) to already show that was the case But it is not visible unless you are entering the supermarket - which he was not - and there is no notice in the car park informing customers it is there. Drivers facing trouble with unexpected charges from parking firms has become an increasingly well-documented issue in recent times. In fact, analysis by MailOnline has shown 'cowboy' parking firms are now doling out a record number of tickets. Government figures suggest private operators issued 12.8million fines in 2023/24 – one every two seconds. This is up nearly 90 per cent in just five years, despite the Government repeatedly vowing to stop predatory operators. With 2024/25 on track to be even worse, ministers are facing renewed calls to get tough on the ruthless firms causing misery for millions of motorists. Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, said it was 'scandalous' how motorists were being stung by broken technology and firms deploying sneaky signs to take 'advantage of law-abiding citizens'. He revealed he was working with parliamentarians to stop parking firms 'marking their own homework' by overhauling the current complaints process. Mr Samms said: 'When you're getting a parking charge like this, it can be quite intimidating, threatening you with court procedures and all this'. Pictured: The machine in the Iceland car park Mr Williams said: 'We want a truly independent single appeals service that only the Government backed private parking code of practice will deliver. 'We also want a scrutiny board which will ensure private parking operators conform to the rules and will face consequences if they do not.' Mr Samms echoed this sentiment too: 'The parking companies are known to be quite greedy and misleading, aren't they? So, it's no surprise, it's all about money... 'When you work hard for your money and you've got a mortgage to pay and bills to pay and the cost of living is going up, the last thing you want is to have to find £85.' The support worker, who has lived in Eastbourne all his life, has said parking in the town has become noticeably more expensive in recent years. He said: 'I've seen Eastbourne changed, like most towns are getting bigger, whereas years ago, you used be able to park in town without paying.' Payment has only come in the last ten or 15 years he said: 'Before, you could just park freely, but now, in and around the town, the radius, where you can't park for free anymore, you've got to park way outside of town if you want to park for free.' He also often visits Brighton, only a 20-minute drive away - but finds it very expensive to park there too. He continued: 'I just wish I had the proof but I know next time to get proof, you need evidence'. Pictured: A sign in the Iceland car park Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Samms said: 'It was the Green Party that made Brighton expensive to park to encourage tourists to use public transport but in fact what it was doing was keeping people away from Brighton. 'The parking was so expensive, you could spend £30 for a few hours. So, you do your shopping and things and you have a £35 bill.' Private parking firms are on course to issue a record 14.5million tickets to drivers in Britain in a year – with just five companies responsible for nearly half of them. And the firm behind Mr Samms' charge, Horizon Parking, is one of them. The RAC found car park management firms' requests to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) reached 7.2million in the six months to the end of last September. That is up 12 per cent from the same period a year earlier and represents an average of 41,000 requests per day. The RAC added if the rate continued for the following six months, 14.5million tickets will have been issued over a year. The five parking companies which issued 45 per cent of tickets between April and September last year were ParkingEye (1,129,000), Euro Car Parks (892,000), Horizon Parking (440,000), Smart Parking (424,000) and APCOA Parking (367,000). Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Private companies chase vehicle owners for alleged infringements in private car parks, such as at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service areas. Each ticket can be up to £100, meaning the daily total cost to drivers may be near £4.1million at the current rate. But private parking firms have been accused of using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees. An investigation by the PA news agency earlier this year found drivers across England say they are being sent parking charge notices (PCNs) because of faulty machines, which one campaigner claiming the devices are 'set up to trap people'. A Bill to enable the introduction of a Government-backed code for private parking companies received royal assent under the Conservative government in March 2019. The code was withdrawn in June 2022 after a legal challenge by parking companies. Horizon Parking told MailOnline: 'We manage the car park on behalf of the landowner to ensure that their customers are able to park and utilise the facilities as required. This helps prevent abuse including ensuring disabled bays are kept free for those who need them. 'There is a clearly set out appeals process which motorists can follow if they feel that they should not have received a Charge. We are members of the British Parking Association and adhere to the Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice. 'Without further information such as Parking Charge reference or vehicle registration we are unable to investigate this matter or comment any further. 'If a motorist receives a Parking Charge in these circumstances it is possible to investigate any issues with the payment machines from the back-office system, however without a specific date it is not possible to do so. 'Please note that payment on arrival is required and payment at the machine would not be possible if a motorist had remained in the car park for longer than the permitted maximum stay of 1 hour which is why it may have appeared not to be working. There is also the option to pay via our Horizon Parking app or website at by entering the location code advertised in the car park.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
More yellow lines proposed for Rugby
More yellow lines could soon be on the way to streets in a Warwickshire town, with a shake-up of street parking set to be approved this County Council's cabinet member for transport, Nigel Golby, is being recommended by council officers to approve new double yellow lines on parts of Adam Street, Balcombe Road, Lime Tree Avenue and Oliver Street, all in Rugby.A resident-only parking zone on Worcester Street could be extended, although additional spaces could be made available on King Edward Road.A report by the council said there had been objections to some of the proposals from members of the public. The proposals for Adam Street received eight objections and one letter of support and Worcester Street had two objections alongside one letter of all of the proposals were drawn up following requests from residents in the affected areas, looking to improve road safety at junctions or outside schools, or improve congested parking areas. A consultation on the plans was launched in a member of the Reform UK administration elected in May, will make the final decision whether to approve the plans at a meeting on Friday. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
