Oversized Vehicle, Detached Trailer Parking Laws Take Effect Feb. 1

Two new Manhattan Beach parking ordinances aimed at oversized vehicles and trailers will begin to cost violators $144 per ticket plus any applicable towing fee beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1. According to Chris Vargas, a sergeant in the Manhattan Beach Police Department, the city has spent the past two months educating the public about the new laws by warning violators instead of citing them. The new laws took effect on Dec. 1, 2011 after being approved by City Council on Nov. 1, 2011.

One law [PDF attached] prohibits any vehicle longer than 22 feet and wider than seven feet or higher than eight feet from parking within 25 feet of an intersection or adjacent to schools, city parks and city-operated community centers, according to a city press release.

Sgt. Vargas told Manhattan Beach Patch that the ordinance will initially only be enforced near Pacific Elementary School and on Valley Drive along Veterans Parkway and near Joslyn Community Center and Live Oak Park, and "will change as needed." He said signs have been installed at the affected locations.

The other new parking law [PDF attached] prohibits the parking of detached trailers and non-motorized vehicles on city streets. Trailers, semitrailers, camp trailers, tent trailers, an unmounted camper, trailer bus or trailer coach not attached to a vehicle capable of moving it will be cited. Signs addressing this new ordinance have been placed at entrance roads to the city, Vargas said.

Exceptions to the rules include certain types of mechanical breakdown [the owner has eight hours to repair or move the vehicle], commercial vehicles, tow trucks, public emergency vehicles, other city and service vehicles, government vehicles being used for business and when complying with a police officer, official traffic control device or to avoid immediate conflict with other traffic.

The new parking ordinances were passed in response to complaints about safety, the unattractiveness of oversized vehicles and trailers and the amount of parking space they use, according to the ordinances.