Police Corner

By PFC Joanna Robertson
PIO, Bethany Beach Police Dept.

Parking Suggestions

Meter Responsibility — The obvious answer is to insert enough quarters (15 minutes per quarter) to account for the time your vehicle occupies that particular space (and no, we do not give refunds if you leave early). However, some patrons have a problem with time and meter responsibility. Our parking enforcement officers continually walk the various streets and check meters for expiration, cars that are not parked correctly for various reasons, and those who park on a “permit street” without a visible tag. They do NOT wait for a meter to “wind down,” as there are just too many that have expired already and deserve a ticket. Nor can they tell if the meter expired “only one minute ago.” If the meter is expired, a ticket will be written.

The Parking Space — All spaces either have a meter, a handicap sign, or are on streets that require a Bethany Beach owner’s permit. On streets with meters, there are NO free spaces without meters, so:

• Park with the front of your vehicle aligned with the meter or the white line;

• Yellow line — probably means no parking (driveways, proximity to corners, etc.)

Handicap Parking — Specific spaces are noted with a sign, plus those vehicles with a legal handicap tag (hanging on the mirror) or license plate may park in any metered space without paying the meter. Many cars are ticketed because they do not display their handicap tag.

Bike Lane

Throughout town, a visible bike lane is denoted with a solid white line, plus a “bicycle symbol” is painted within the lines every so often. Vehicles must park without obstructing any part of the bike lane.

Against Traffic

Vehicles that are parked in the opposite direction to the flow of traffic are illegally parked and will be ticketed. The regulations state that a driver should not cross over the opposite lane of traffic (even if no traffic is visible).

Stop Signs

Parking within 30 feet of a stop sign is prohibited and results in a ticket.

Head-in Parking Only

A few beach lots, where circular flow of traffic occurs, have signs that state “Head-in Parking Only,” such as Garfield, Campbell, Central, Ocean View and Wellington.

Motor Running ... Car Unattended

Never, never, never leave a car unattended with a motor running. The fine is $50 (our highest) due to the possibilities of car theft, accidental shifting into gear and other unforeseen possibilities that “are not good.” Also, never leave small children or animals in a closed car whether the car is running or not.

A final thought: Town management and the police department want our residents and visitors to enjoy a safe and restful summer. Parking tickets can interrupt your peace and quiet so we urge everyone to pay attention to their parking responsibilities. To those who receive a ticket, follow the payment instructions. Failure to pay three tickets will result in a boot on the vehicle if a fourth ticket is issued. The fines add up and the boot fine is $45 (plus the aggravation). If anyone has a question or requires clarification, ask any parking enforcement officer or foot patrol officer, or feel free to call Bill Dowdell, parking supervisor at 539-1000.

Have a great summer!