The Standish Town Council has amended the Standish Town Code regarding fire lanes. The amendment allows the fire chief to ticket those parked in fire lanes.
Although parking in fire lanes has always violated a town code, the town previously had no power to enforce the code.
“The purpose of this,” said Town Manager Gordon Billington, “is to allow us to enforce the fire lane code.”
Fire lane parking violations have become a problem throughout Standish, but most notoriously at the Colonial Marketplace Shopping Center on Route 25.
Councilors and town officials are contacted almost daily by shop owners whose fire lanes are being blocked, and residents who complain of motorists parking in crosswalks.
“My wife has almost been hit by people pulling out from between those barricades in the fire lane,” said Councilor Philip Pomerleau. “I think this is way over due.”
Council Chair Terry Christy agreed.
“Those barricades speak for themselves,” said Christy. “No parking means no parking.”
Under the new amendment, vehicles parked in the fire lane will be ticketed. The first ticket serves as a warning. The second ticket will cost the violator $25.
“There is ample parking at that shopping center,” said Christy. “There is just no reason to park in the fire lanes.”
Councilor Louis Stack was the only member of the council to vote against the amendment.
“I didn’t vote for this before,” said Stack, “and I won’t vote for it now. It benefits those shops, and they should be policing it. Not the town of Standish.”
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