Parking tickets issued to people at community Thanksgiving dinner
People attending and volunteering at the annual community Thanksgiving Dinner at Grace Hall have one less thing to be thankful for – the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.
Ten parking tickets were issued Nov. 21 to people parking along the frontage street in front of the tennis courts at South Tahoe Middle School. Lots of signs are posted.
South Lake Tahoe spokeswoman Nancy Kerry told Lake Tahoe News the parking enforcement officer said all the tickets were for parking in the fire lane.
One volunteer told LTN people have been parking there for years. After all, this is the 23rd year the event has taken place.
But the city has said it is not tolerating parking violators.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
after all, the curb is painted red.
Yeah, gotta agree with Sara. Just ’cause they’ve been parking illegally for years doesn’t mean they should continue to do so. Drivers in this town are pretty sloppy.
Glad to see the police are doing their job.
Couldn’t just go figure out that the people parked there were at the event, go in, and give them a heads up.
Next time they tell us the community will be less safe if we lose a few officers or cut their pay, keep this in mind.
On a related note I think someone in Philadelphia fought a ticket for giving a cop the finger and won. Not sure if this applies everywhere, but it should. If I had the money for a lawyer I’d do it.
Hmm, they won’t tolerate outlaw parking but they will tolerate people blowing through stop signs and red lights. I was at 3rd and Lake Tahoe Blvd the other morning and a car came down and blew the red in front of a SLTPD officer, we had the green, The officer was busy on his cell phone and didn’t pull him over. SO I guess the parked cars are more dangerous.
Go SLTPD
A few warning notices would have gotten the same effect, but I suppose there wouldn’t be any revenue in it for the city. The cop could have also walked into Grace Hall and asked the hungry people there to repark their cars…but that would have been too Christian, and, you know, all that stuff about separation of church and state.
It’s the “Republican Party” TRYING TO GATHER SOME EXTRA CASH AFTER THE SUPER SUMMIT FAILED, THEY DIDN’T WANT TAX INCREASE FOR THE 1% OF BILLIONEERS SO THE REST OF THE 99% WILL PAY MORE FOR EVERTHING.(LESS FOR COLLEGE, LESS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY,LESS FOR VETERENS,ON,ON.)
Why for Christ sakes couldn’t the city had a special “Go Brown Bus”, pick up people, take PEOPLE to from this community event? The bus system runs empty anyway.
Gods house worship for it’s hungry, poor, cold,tired,sick, Doesn’t count in South lake TAHOE.
With any luck of Karma, maybe one the 5 members of the city will choke on their Turkey neck,stuffing or CAN’T REMOVE FROM WHERE THE SUN DOESN’T SHINE?.
What this town guide lines won’t do to be so Low!
Santa putting them on his stick list for a very bad year of success.
This what happens when you have 5 chiefs and no warriors with guts,fairness.
If “Jonny” been around, maybe he would walked in asked the pastor to announce what every make, model, to please move your car over to the schools parking lot,they were parked in a fire zone.
You know they would handled it different if it was a Big Shot fund raiser for a RETREAD.
And yet the city still allows parking to block traffic lanes on Harrison Ave.
I too think the officer should have made an announcement to attendees at Grace Hall before continuing with ticketing. It’s called “Community Service”, which seems to be lacking in many public service departments these days. “Community” is a key element of functional success, and it feels good!
our annual dinner where all the monday groups come together for a dish. what a night for the public service officer to come at us like a hammer and issue tickets for staff and less fortunate who come for this holiday meal. I think the SLT-PD can do beter.
Revenue is what it’s about. More revenue for the City.
I guess the sign that says “fire lane” in red means nothing to peole these days. As the paper says, lots of signs are posted, so why is the community mad? What will happen when the church is on fire and the fire truck can’t get there because cars are parked in the way? People will be mad at the SLTPD for not doing their job! People are never happy.
I can not comment as to were these 21 cars were parked as I was busy in the kitchen, however, Officer Bob Albertazzi of the SLT P.D. offered his help. He said to send in your ticket (without money) to him with Attn: Officer Bob Albertazzi noted. He said he will take care of it and also speak with the B & B coordinator next Monday, Nov. 28th regarding were to park near the tennis courts. This infomation will be posted at the front entrance of Grace Hall and announced to those in attendance that evening.
On another note, I’d like to thank all those who donated food to our Thanksgiving Meal. Overland Meats, Bonanza Produce, Raley’s, Safeway, Grass Roots, Tahoe Wildlife Center as well as community members. It was a great evening except for the tickets!
Sorry, 10 tickets were issued not 21.
Thank you to Officer Bob Albertazzi for his assistance. This speaks well for good will that SHOULD HAVE been present that day. As said above, an announcement by the officer to those inside Grace Hall would have notified all present that the Police Dept. means business, but it would also indicate the department has a heart.
Well i guess we can park in the fire lane and not get a ticket , if it’s O.K. for some it’s O.K.for everyone, the officer was just doing his job, get over it people and pay your tickets.
So that means it’s ok to park in all the fire lanes at any time then? Is that what’s being said here? Thank you SLT, that means front row parking for us.
Really so you want the officer to go look for people befor giving a ticket, when did the law change? I don’t think he gets paid to do this. His job is to keep the streets safe and clear for everyone,\.
I am not mad. I am simply implying that the City needs money and parking tickets support that.
Honestly, the sense of entitlement here is laughable. Write a story about parking tickets and include a community event that evokes emotion and suddenly its the cops fault.
Reminds me of the recent story about tickets being issues on Harrison and the owner of a business who parked in a handicap space throws a fit because she got a ticket. Cry me a river.
When are we to enforce the laws? Are they good for others but not ourselves?
If you don’t want a ticket, don’t park in a marked area. It really is that simple.
Thank you Amber,it is that simple, and the officer was doing his job he was hired to do.
Lisa, I agree. :)
If you ignore the sign,
You ought to pay the fine.
It’s a good deed you do;
It raises revenue.
If they are going to let people off on these tickets, are they prepared to everyone a pass in town on their first one? or just when one is volunteering? What’s the criteria?
Yesterday evening a situation occurred where community members attending a Bread and Broth fundraiser received parking citations and questioned the City’s procedures.
The City’s Parking Enforcement Office investigated the situation and reports the following:
• On the evening of November 21, 2011, South Lake Tahoe Police Officers were dispatched to the area near St. Teresa’s Community Church in response to a report of a stolen bicycle.
• Those Police Officers were questioned by community members attending the Bread and Broth Thanksgiving event as to whether or not they were going to issue parking citations to which the officers responded they were not, which was misinterpreted by community members that no parking citations would be issued for parking illegally.
• On the same evening of November 21, 2011, a South Lake Tahoe Parking Enforcement Officer began issuing citations for vehicles illegally parked on the roadway to the west of Lyons Ave and adjacent to the tennis courts (near St. Teresa’s Church). A total of 10 citations were issued for parking in a FIRE LANE and a NO PARKING area.
Because of the misunderstanding, the City has decided to dismiss the parking citations issued referenced above. The tickets were not issued erroneously, but there was a clear misunderstanding and in an effort to better educate the community about the City’s parking enforcement program after years of virtually no parking enforcement, dismissing the tickets is the appropriate action.
The City takes this time to remind everyone to park in legally marked locations. In addition, we recognize misunderstandings do occur and appreciate the opportunity to review our procedures and practices.
Parking Enforcement Office and Senior Officer, Bob Albertazzi
can be reached at 530-542-6136.
Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Nancy Kerry
can be reached at 530-542-6043.
Link to City’s News Release which includes a map of the location where the tickets were issued.
http://www.cityofslt.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=121
Isn’t it always a misunderstand? Where is the line drawn? I guess if your a “special person” of this town you get what you want or it’s just a matter of yelling loud enough. In the end, people don’t take any responsibility for their actions. But hey, lesson learned, do wrong, yell about it, get off the hook. Park and drive how you want in the city of south lake Tahoe. Way to go city officials, nice job.
I think a lot of the anger is due to the fact that people have been parking in the same spots for years without any sign of police or tickets: by the tennis courts at the Middle School, in front of St. Theresa, haphazardly along Harrison Ave. It would have served the city well if the Community Service Officers said they were going to start enforcing rules that had been ignored for many years then started ticketing. A warning then a ticket would have been more appropriate. Now that Harrison is paved and has odd curbs it would be great if the city painted parking lines, people still do not know which way they are supposed to park, slanted, parallel or does it depend on how gets there first for their coffee or new cell phone to set the standard.
I believe the answer to that question is, do as you please. The city will excuse your ticket, as the pass example has shown. Because people do not seem to know simple parking rules or how to read clear signs that state ” no parking, fire lane, or disabled parking”. But when they get in an accident they will blame someone else for their mistake. Then they will blame the police because they were not there to tell them how to drive, there for it is the cops fault. The people of SLT need to become more responsible for their actions. Grow up people and look around you at the signs. In the mean time, park how you want. First come, first park, lead by example….. Right?
Tom–I did not pose a question I was requesting that the city lead by example. The SLTPD has ignored parking regulations for years in these locations, the appropriate and citizen friendly response would have been warnings then tickets. Yes the signs are there but for many years completely ignored so the “general rule” became to ignore the signs. Again an appropriate response would have been issue a warning then issue a ticket. On Harrison Avenue there needs to be lines and direction, it is a narrow two way street, no one knows which way they are supposed to park, and there needs to be clear parking for the businesses-or else the city will be losing more tax dollars from these vibrant businesses.
So I must assume that anyone disagreeing with the City ticketing these individuals has never driven outside South Lake Tahoe, or do you just ignore the the rules here? When you drive to other cities do you park on the wrong side of the street, or ignore parking meters, or park in fire lanes? If you get a ticket in any other city for this illegal activity do you really think you will accomplish anything by yelling at the police officer or going to the paper? If you don’t understand these basic, and thats what they are-basic, traffic laws your license should be revoked and you should be required to return to the DMV for instruction until you do. Thank you SLTPD for doing your job and keeping our streets safe.