SLT’s VHR fines redefining town’s image
By Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle
The knock on the front door of the South Lake Tahoe vacation rental was a surprise.
It was the first family getaway together for Gus Pries and his extended family. With six adults, four children ranging from 3 months to 5 years old, suitcases, snow gear and groceries, the San Jose residents took three cars for their Presidents Day weekend trip.
A police officer said they were receiving a $1,000 ticket for having one too many cars on site, and the property’s owner would be fined an additional $1,000. The family members’ explanation that it was just temporary and they planned to move the third car fell on deaf ears, Pries said.
“It’s preposterous and unfair,” said Pries, a San Jose dentist. “I’ve never been treated so poorly as a tourist. It’s not like we were having a big party or the 3-year-olds were doing a beer bong.”
Hopefully, the image that will be promulgated will be that we will no longer tolerate ignorance of the law, any disturbance to our residents (no matter how minor the infraction is perceived by those who disturb our residents) or disruption of the peace by businesses who operate in residential areas.
Although this seems harsh, it is the direct result of the refusal to enforce the law that permeated our town for decades. This refusal allowed the problem to grow to the point that the residents demanded that the problem be fixed.
Clearly, the “leadership” allowed this problem to get out of control. Any blame lies squarely on them and on those who operate these businesses in violation of zoning laws. We just want our neighborhoods back.