Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
On Monday evening the El Dorado City Commission voted to deregulate limited parking in downtown El Dorado. The regulation came to light after discussion that the parking limitation doesn’t really enhance downtown shopping and that it’s hard to enforce by the police department.
Two-hour limited parking is enforced downtown in the following areas:
-Pine Avenue in the 100 and 200 blocks west, and 100 block east
-Central Avenue in the 100 and 200 blocks east and west
-First Avenue in the 100 and 200 blocks east and the 100-block west
-Second Avenue in the 100-block east
-Gordy Street in the 100 blocks north and south
-Main Street in the 100-400 blocks north and south
-Vine Street in the 100-block south
The areas currently have regulation signs that limit parking to two hours although Police Chief Michael Holton said that it’s not enforced by his team.
“So, police departments across the country are having to invest in certain software or meters in order to be able to track two hour parking or any times parking. So, you’re spending money on software to track parking and try to enforce it,” said Chief Holton at the commission meeting on Monday.
“People are arguing that it’s a violation of their fourth amendment right against illegal search and seizure,” said Chief Holton in an interview with the Times-Gazette. “Citizens are arguing that law enforcement must make physical contact with a vehicle to chalk their tires. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is running into these challenges right now and it’s not something we (the El Dorado Police Department) want to take a chance on engaging with. In addition to that, it’s a staffing issue with trying to enforce it and we would need to add additional staff to enforce it with paid meters.”
Chief Holton also added that the police department rarely receives complaints on two-hour parking violations. He also confirmed that there have been zero two-hour parking violation tickets issued in the last three years due to the complication in tracking the parking.
The motion to deregulate the two-hour parking limitation was approved unanimously. All other limitations such as parking close to a corner, fire hydrant or lane, etc., will be enforced as normal.
12/9/2024 12:13pm, UPDATE: This article has been updated to include an additional quote from Police Chief Michael Holton and accurate information regarding the fourth amendment.
