Parking Crackdown Means Hefty Fines

ADELPHI, Md. - No one likes getting parking tickets, especially in their own neighborhood.

It's happening more and more in Prince George County where parking officials are stepping up enforcement. Some residents say they weren't given fair warning. Now, some who had no idea their decades-old parking habits were illegal are getting hefty fines.

"I just feel it's so unfair," says Linda Braxton.

She's lived in a quiet cul-de-sac in Adelphi for 22 years, and has never had problems with parking before. There are no parking signs on her street or in many of the others in her community. She says she was surprised when she started getting parking tickets.

Three of them were for $500 each on her husband’s commercial truck. It was parked on the street right outside their home.

Braxton also received two tickets for $50 each on her own car. Each ticket was given for violating parking laws Braxton and many of her neighbors never knew about.

"I've been in this community for 22 years," explained Braxton. "I would not park illegally, if I knew it is illegal."

Braxton believes warnings should have been issued first. Prince Georges County's Revenue Authorities say they were.

Angela Alsobrooks, Executive Director for the agency, says there are numerous parking codes on the books and that it's up to residents to know what applies to their neighborhood.

"The code is extensive," said Alsobrooks. "It would be pretty impossible for us to put up signs for every code violation."

Alsobrooks says last year, the county began 24 hours a day, 7 days a week enforcement of parking laws. The number of parking enforcement officers was increased from 3 to 18. All of it came after a 60-day notification process.

"We gave out pamphlets explaining which sections we were enforcing and we also have done a media blitz," says Alsobrooks.

The crackdown came partly because residents complained of cars that were eyesores parked on the street, the grass or blocking drive-ways.

Alsoborooks says the crackdown is about beautifying the community. She adds, "As a side effect, revenue is generated."

Linda Braxton believes it's more about the money than aesthetics. She claims she never got any information about parking laws or the crackdown.

Braxton says she wants to warn others before they too are left with hundreds of dollars in residential parking fees.

Prince Georges County officials say while they can't waive parking fees, they are willing to work with residents to find alternate legal parking spaces in their community.