Saturday, June 13, 2009

Truckin' On Leland

A reader writes: "We've noticed this semi tractor/cab parking on Leland around Winthrop for the past four weekends. We asked a bicycle officer on Wednesday and he confirmed it was illegal to park this type of vehicle on a residential street (the truck isn't there during the week). He told us to call 311 to report it. 311 directed us to 911 and we spoke with an officer about sending a car to ticket it. It takes up two metered spaces and doesn't have a license plate... seems like a lot of violations...a ripe revenue opportunity for the city! No ticket yet, and the truck is still there, so maybe more calls will generate a response."

22 comments:

  1. Bummer. Two meters are being taken up. Call 911, this is an emergency.

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  2. Yeah...I agree that although it may be taking two meters...it also much likely reflects a working individual in the neighborhood. You don't have a nice rig like that and not at least be responsible enough to have insurance and a valid CDL. Which is a lot more than I can say about many vehicles and their owners here in the hood.

    Let it be for a bit...just my neighborly vote...

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  3. I was just thinking that rig would make a cool mobile home. Maybe it is.

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  4. I agree that the truck very likely belongs to a driver who lives in the hood and is only home on weekends. My dad drives a truck, so I know it sucks to only be home on weekends and it's really difficult to find a place to park anywhere in the city. Give 'em a break, man.

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  5. I say ticket him as he is breaking the law and treat him no different then the tickets we all get when we park illegally.......

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  6. And the bicycle officer couldn't ticket it becaause...?

    And the bicycle officer couldn't call somebody at the CPD to get someone out there to ticket the rig because . . .?

    Anybody else see a problem here? Once an officer is notified about illegal activity shouldn't it be up to the officer to follow through, not the citizens?

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  7. If it isn't a residential vehicle, it shouldn't be parked on the street. If it is illegal, it shouldn't be done, period.

    Sure, it isn't open market drug trafficking or the soliciting or other gang banging activities we often read about here or witness in our neighborhood, but this issue harkens back to the sock vendors at Broadway and Wilson and the same overarching question stands...why should we turn a blind eye to the lesser illegal activities in Uptown simply because there are bigger problems to deal/live with. I hope and expect the rule of law applies to each and every one of us, regardless of what neighborhood we live in.

    The calls for "give 'em a break" sound like 25 years and a baseball bat away from "this ain't your college campus, sweetie"

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  8. oh, and pablo, the rig wasn't around when we spoke to the bicycle cop...it only seems to appear each weekend....and UptownTrain, how long does one "let it be?" I say 4 weeks was enough.

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  9. I'm saying pick your battles wiseley people. I don't disagree that it may be illeagal, but prioritize the offenses you wish to have action called upon.

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  10. I agree with uptown train. Seriously, this is what is concerning in the neighborhood?

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  11. I would definitely agree.. he is more than likely a working man that is home on the weekends with his family.. but that does not mean he has the right to break the law. he is no one special as to everyone else that has to abide by the laws around here!

    I am SO SURPRISED that when he does park here that he is not ticketed.. all the other days.. it seems like there are a lot of meter maids around giving tickets.

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  12. OH.. and the truck is not taking up two meters. Walk by the truck.. and you will see for yourself. It is parked in one metered spot (closest to the street corner) and is in violation of three laws.

    1) Meter Expired (never pays for the meter)
    2) Partially parked in a No Parking section (back 1/4 of the rig)
    3) Commercial vehicle parked in a residential area/parking space

    Also the license plate is not on the truck because it appears that it is in the middle of a transfer of ownership. Hence the paperwork plastered on the passenger side windshield.

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  13. I used to have a live and let live attitude about trucks parking on the street ... until one parked right in front of our house three nights in a row and idled its motor for hours. Wee hours. Nothing like trying to sleep twenty feet from an running semi truck at 3am, night after night. It was like living in a rest stop off Interstate 55.

    There's a reason residential areas aren't zoned for tractor trailers.

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  14. First off, I have experienced many semi trailers that park illegally on residential streets. They take off their license plates and cover up their VIN numbers in the dash. Thus YOUCANNOT write a ticket since their are no vehicle identifiers visible. Also these truck drivers know the city does not have a tow truck capable of towing a semi trailer. If I write up a ticket on a semi I have to assign a vehicle identifier, a plate, vin etc.... What can be done is to find out when the veh. is parked and moved by the driver. If you know when the driver leaves with his rig call the 023 District and request the traffic car to sit on the rig and stop him when he starts up his vehicle. I have done this and its very effective, these drivers usually leave between 5am-630am...Happy hunting......

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  15. The local yuppies always have to find something to whine about, eh?

    This is almost as concerning as the guy that was having a tantrum over the planes flying above Uptown.

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  16. Well, Resident, I hardly qualify as a yuppie, but breaking laws? Wow, what a right-wing entitled imbecile I am to care about that! BTW, the truck is gone. Hopefully never to return.

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  17. fyi...........the truck was still there this morning (Sunday) at 10:20 A.M.

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  18. This social injustice surely has drawn the attention of Northside Action for Justice.

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  19. The local yuppies always have to find something to whine about, eh? " Resident

    Well, I guess the thought is that there are still a bunch of poor people living in the area and why would they care about having decent standards in Uptown? In my book, it sounds rather classist to assume poor people like a dumpy looking neighborhood.

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  20. The local yuppies always have to find something to whine about, eh? "

    Can I also whine about the fact that his Rig is tearing up the road? Go by the spot that he parks his truck.. and look for yourself!

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  21. I agree with Pablo, once a violation is brought to the authorities it's up to them. Get the bicycle officer's name and follow up with his superior. I have sympathy for the the working man but really who knows what he may be hauling. Hiding in plain sight,indeed.

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  22. It is up to the police to ticket. It's always good to get a name for any follow up calls." I brought this to the attention of..."

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