Internet photo

In the July 18, 2019 issue of the Coaster, there is this “news” item on the front page:

“Officials are cracking down in Ocean Grove on those who try to save parking spaces by placing orange cones in front of their homes.   Although there is not an ordinance regulating cones, there is a policy in place prohibiting obstruction of parking spaces.”

Blogfinger has checked with a high ranking Neptune PD official who tells us that police are enforcing their rules on this in the same way that they always have—there is no “crackdown.”

Also the rule is enforced even if the violation is not in front of one’s house.

The rule says that no objects may be left at the curb other than a parked vehicle. If someone does try to save a parking space with a cone, a garbage pail, or anything else, a passing police officer will issue a ticket.

A garbage pail may be left at the curb only on the day of garbage pickup.   In a marginal case, the officer will decide.

As with Bridgegate, the Coaster has decided to act as if this is a unique news story, but in  both instances, Blogfinger has covered these matters on quite a few occasion  over the years.

In July 2017, we posted a piece on this very subject.   It gives quite a bit of information:

2017 Blogfinger article on saving spaces

Another BF 2017 piece on this topic looks at the ethics.

Within that top 2017 post, there is a 2013 link, and that post had 35 comments!   So saving spaces is a hot (intermittently) topic.

Recently I spoke to two neighbors about the common practice of arranging cars creatively so that a space could materialize when a friend, relative, spouse shows up.

In both cases, these Grovers think that is unethical.

But I have consistently believed that the Township should do something  (permit parking) to give the residents a leg up in the quest for parking spaces. In the absence of such legislation, then I see nothing wrong for residents to give themselves a slight edge in the parking wars.

Shouldn’t a resident have a better chance for a space than some out-of-towner who is coming to take pictures of our houses  or visiting the shlock-market on the Pathway while parking for free and adding to the congestion?

But, to be clear, I don’t usually do it, but if a neighbor offers to move his car to make room for mine, I will accept.

LADY ANTEBELLUM: