Beach Patrol to canvas bogus signs

Barbara Diamond

Two beach patrol officers have been assigned to patrol specific

neighborhoods for bogus No Parking signs put in place to try to

reserve public parking for private use.

“We have been asked to assist the Community Development Department

in identifying the signs,” Police Chief James Spreine said.

Spreine said the signs do not violate the California Vehicle Code,

which police enforce.

The signs are a violation of the City Municipal Code, section

25.54.016l, according to Code Enforcement Officer Lewis Kirk.

“The section is headed ‘Prohibited Signs’ and says that any signs

not expressly permitted are prohibited, including no parking signs on

private property that purport to regulate public parking,” Kirk said.

“We are looking at violations of the zoning code.”

Simple official No Parking signs are usually posted on easily

visible poles.

“Enforceable No Parking signs are of a specific shape and size,

colored red and white and with specific verbiage,” Spreine said.

Some of the privately posted signs simply say No Parking. Others

look very much like official signs for tow-away zones, but without

listing either the code section or the police department telephone

number, which official signs are required to do.

Police will call for a tow truck to remove a vehicle parked on

private property, but not one parked in a public space.

The bogus signs can be seen all over town. However, the target

area for the beach patrol officers is Cress Street north to Park

Avenue and from Temple Terrace and Bluebird Canyon Drive to the

ocean.