John Palminteri
ISLA VISTA, Calif. (KEYT) – A new parking compliance program is now in place in Isla Vista and it is going to be a costly issue for repeat offenders.
The Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) has a new parking compliance project manager and team to distribute tickets to vehicles, costing around $37.50 each. They will be higher for violations of the hanicaped parking laws.
Last month was a warning period and now the tickets with fines are going under the windshield wipers and enforced.
Offenses include blocking the sidewalk, parking in a red zone, parking in front of a fire hydrant, parking in the same spot more than 72 hours, and parking too close to an intersection.
The compliance team went through special training prior to the ticket program starting. That included instruction on the law and dealing with interaction with the public.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department also has jurisdiction over the area but parking enforcement can exceed its staffing levels on most days.
This program was developed by the IVCSD in coordiantion with the county.
A start up loan of $300,000. was approved by the Board of Supervisors and it will be paid back through the collection of fees. The fees partly go to the county and the ticket processing company. The bulk of the fines collected go to the district, and mainly to pay for the program costs annually.
Isla Vista Community Service District Public Works and Sustainability Director Jenna Norton said, “it is essential to insure accessibility for everyone including people walking, biking even those in their car so they can clearly see who is in the road.”
Some blocks were identified with over 50 violations. It was described as “alarming.”
The district has been very concerned about the cars parked over the sidewalk and how it diverts pedestrians, especially those who are in mobility assisted devices. “Some people don’t have the means to do that if they are using mobility device or say they are pushing a stroller and it is not fair it’s not safe,” said Norton.
Compliance manager Kaci Bardel says when she cites a vehicle, the paperwork goes under the windshield wiper. At one locations she said, “here we have a ticket and then we have an information card, we have the one that applies. “
The IVCSD says the enhanced parking program makes Isla Vista a safer community.
They are hoping someday to have full compliance but Norton says, “we’ve taken a really strong educational first approach and we hope some day to write zero tickets.”
Bardel said often, vehicles are parked not only in the red but in front of a fire hydrant. “I was shocked at the number of fire hydrants that were blocked. It was a lot higher than I would anticipate.”
A four year Isla Vista resident saw some benefits of the enforcement but not all aspects. Will Cronin said, “I think the $37.50 ticket for what the 72 hours or just over the sidewalk. I think that is overkill in my opinion. Fire hydrants I can see the safety issue but red zones, two cars can go right there, I don’t see an issue with it.”
The IVCSD says if a driver is nearby there may be more of a conversation than a ticket, or a verbal warning.
Norton says it is a legitimate safety and quality of life issue for the areas with intense housing of college students and also the year-round residents and their families. “It is something that we genuinely deserve because it will contribute to a better quality of life at the end of the day,” she said. “We’re in a position to take a unique approach for this unique community because we know and love it so well.”
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