Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Reserved parking - must be nice

A large portion of the back parking lot, behind the McHenry County Government Center, is marked off as Reserved Parking. According to an employee of the County administration office, the Sheriff's Department controls the parking there.

And according to an employee of the Sheriff's Department, that parking is for employees. That's why you see squad cars, other County vehicles, and vehicles of employees, such as judges, probation officers and others, parked there.

Thanks to a tipster late last week, an unidentified vehicle believed to belong to a non-employee is parked regularly in the Reserved parking. (Click on the image to enlarge it; then click on the "Back" button on your browser to come back here.) As the story goes, some attorneys have complained, unsuccessfully, to Sheriff Nygren about this violation of the Reserved Parking restrictions.

How do you know it's Reserved Parking? One clue is the sign. This sign is located right by the right front fender of this vehicle. Maybe the driver was in a hurry and just didn't notice it?

Who enforces violations of parking rules? Are tickets issued? Are vehicles towed? Who would you have to know in the courthouse to able to park in the Reserved Parking area and be sure your car would be there when you come back out?

I guess I won't push the system and park my "basic undercover car" there, even though it's red, too (and smaller).

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, quit complaining about my parking space buster!
I do use the handicapped spaces, but only when my driving is impared thru drugs and/or alcohol.
DOH!

Karen30036 said...

I never park in handicapped spaces. I'd hate to have my car towed and have the swat team take me in for that horrible crime.

Gus said...

Good idea, Karen. Parking in violation of a handicapped parking law will cost $250-500, depending on the town.

This vehicle is in Reserved Parking Area E (not a handicapped space), where a number of lawyers would like to park but don't.

Is it just that nothing really happens if you park in the restricted area? What does happen? A nastygram under the windshield wiper? Towing? Is the parking restriction enforceable at law? By what law?

All lawyers are invited to go ahead and park in the restricted area. Why not?

Remember, it's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.

FatParalegal said...

I'll guess the vehicle belongs to Mark Gummerson.