City says no parking in the yard

Dozens of Oklahoma City residents found tickets on their car windshields Saturday morning because the city is cracking down on vehicles parked in the yard.

Saturday, August 9th 2008, 10:41 pm

By: News 9


By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Dozens of Oklahoma City residents found tickets on their car windshields Saturday morning because the city is cracking down on vehicles parked in the yard.

"It's a destraction from the neighborhoods," said Charles Locke of OKC Neighborhood Services. "It tears up the front yard."

Oklahoma City code inspectors could be in your neighborhood. They're looking for cars parked in front and backyards.

"It's actually an ordinance that's been on the books for over 20 years," Locke said.

With over 10,000 violations a year, the city's neighborhood services division has special crews dedicated to enforcing the ordinance.

"It's just a targeted effort to improve the neighborhoods to make them a better place to live," said Locke.

Inspectors work during the week, but write most of their tickets on the weekend.

NEWS 9 followed one street crew Saturday morning and in about 30 minutes the crew wrote 12 citations.

The tickets didn't stop there. Every violation costs $10 per car. One family ended up paying $50.

While most people are asleep, the crews do their work. Many neighbors are not very happy when they wake up and see a ticket on their windshield.

"I tore it up...because it ain't right," said Gary Grees who was fined for parking in his yard.

But not everyone is unhappy.

"If you're going to have a law on the books, why not enforce it?" said John Slusser, a resident who is happy to see the city inspectors.

Slusser said the problem is not only unsightly but dangerous.

"Especially down here at the corner when you're trying to make a left hand turn there are cars that you can't see around the bend," Slusser said. "You have to be very cautious about going around the corners."

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