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Police Agencies Stepping Up Parking Enforcement in Fire and Emergency Zones
The police departments of Cold Spring, Brewster, Carmel, and Kent, the New York State Police (Brewster Barracks) and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department will be stepping up their enforcement of vehicle parking restrictions in fire and safety zones within their respective jurisdictions. The enforcement initiative is a response to what has become a prevalent problem of illegally parked vehicles blocking emergency access lanes.
Putnam County Sheriff Donald Smith, speaking on behalf of the leadership of the other participating departments, said that police officers, state troopers and deputy sheriffs patrolling the towns and villages in Putnam County will be on the lookout for cars parked in officially designated and posted fire access lanes or In other emergency and safety zones posted around stores, offices, commercial buildings and multiple dwelling buildings.
"From the unusually high frequency of complaints we have been receiving of late, the problem of cars blocking emergency zones seems to be a significant and widespread problem that poses a threat to the safety of persons and property," said the Sheriff.
The Sheriff said that his department had received communications from the Putnam County Commissioner of Emergency Services, Mr. Robert McMahon, who reported that fire and emergency services officials lately have observed many violations of the parking restrictions in fire lanes and safety zones. Commissioner McMahon expressed concern that a blocked access lane could prevent or slow the response of fire apparatus, ambulances or police to an emergency, with potentially tragic results.
The Sheriff conjectured that the increased in parking problems seen lately may be occasioned by the rise in Putnam County population. "As the County grows, so too does the number of cars on the road. With more cars around it is sometimes a challenge for motorists to find a legal parking space near a store or office, which might tempt some drivers to pull into a restricted space."
Under the newly announced initiative, the agencies' patrols are being directed to be on the lookout for and to ticket cars parked illegally in restricted zones. "The law enforcement agencies In Putnam County want to take all appropriate legal action to keep emergency zones clear and thereby curtail a dangerous condition," said Sheriff Smith. "Basically, we want to encourage drivers in Putnam County to park their cars in safe and proper spaces."
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