Glenbrooke News

 Because I am promoting traffic safety on a regular basis as the Public Information Officer for the AVOID campaign, my friends are quick to point out some of their concerns.

So one friend says, “What’s up with these people that park on the wrong side of the street?” To which another friend states, ” And isn’t it unlawful for them to park on the sidewalk?”

Parking on the wrong side of the street, 22502(a) of the California Vehicle Code was my favorite parking ticket.  Nothing used to get my attention more, not speeding vehicles, not reckless drivers, not fleeing felons, maybe that’s why they moved me to public affairs. Anyway, nothing more unforgivable than that lazy driver who elects to drive on the wrong side of the street and park so that they can step out onto the sidewalk and not have to walk around their car to get to where they are going.  Move to England!

OK, my blood pressure is back down.

The vehicle code states: Every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway where there are adjacent curbs shall be stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel with and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb, except that motorcycles shall be parked with at least one wheel or fender touching the right-hand curb.  Where no curbs or barriers bound any two-way roadway, right-hand parallel parking is required unless otherwise indicated.

22500(f) of the California Vehicle Code states: No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control device, in any of the following places: On any portion of a sidewalk, or with the body of the vehicle extending over any portion of a sidewalk.

I know you have found it annoying when you are out for a walk or a child is riding their hot wheel (do they still have hot wheels?) on the sidewalk and some bozo has parked his/her vehicle up on the sidewalk for who knows what reason and you have to walk out onto the street to get around it or that child decides to go out into the street to get around.

As with most vehicle code violations, there is a reason for them.  Regardless of the fact that you live at the end of a cul-de-sac and want to pull in head first because no one else would be bothered, you have just reduced the turnaround distance inside the court and created a potential hazard.  I’m certain those who are not in compliance with these laws have their reasons.  Please understand when you come out in the morning and find that citation on your windshield, the officer had his reasons also.

Parking on the wrong side of the roadway or on the sidewalk are in most cases, unlawful, unsafe and to most of us just plain wrong.  Now, please go out and enjoy the ride.

Editor's note:   This is also my pet peeve as parking on the sidewalks in Glenbrooke  erects barriers for scooters,  walkers and wheelchairs.  Monty's articles are reprinted here with permission from www.anewscafe.com

Monty Hight is a retired California Highway Patrol officer and Public Information Officer. He is the North State AVOID Campaign’s Public Information Officer. He lives in Redding. More information on AVOID can be found here.