If they tow your car, this is where they take it. Or maybe they’ll tow it to Ocean Grove’s north end dirt lot. Internet photo.
By Paul Goldfinger. 2018.
This is a common problem in the Grove, especially when someone parks a vehicle in front of your house and doesn’t move it.
The township passed an ordinance last October called #17-40. Below is the main part, and if you read it, you will see that the procedure for handling the situation is a bit murky. So what is the reality of the situation? Click on the image to read it easier.
The correct terminology is an “abandoned vehicle.” If someone is parked on an OG street with an invalid registration, then it can be immediately towed away (“impounded.”) If it is “a junk vehicle” (eg all the tires are flat and the windows are busted) it can be towed immediately.
But if a car is just parked and not moved, technically it has to be stationery for 30 days to be towed. But it is difficult to document the 30 days. The police have to use their best judgement because the ordinance doesn’t spell it out. It reminds me of the current proposed ordinance regarding the new 3 hour parking rules on Main Avenue.
If you see a car that appears to be “abandoned” (ie not moving for days or weeks) then call the NTPD. You don’t have to wait for 30 days. They will come down and investigate. At the very least, they will initiate a paper trail. Sometimes the officer will try to call the owner to find out what’s what. He will “run the plates” and check the registration. Police can check a car’s registration using a special scanner. Out of date inspection stickers don’t count, because that is a “moving violation.” (That’s what they used to call a “date” in my frat house.)
If you have any questions, direct them to the NTPD. 732 988 8000.
JOHNNY CASH
There should be exemptions for residents. Some of us go to Florida or elsewhere for 3-6 months. Shouldn’t they be able to leave their car parked at the curb?
Marked streets: I guess you are referring to metered parking. The biggest obstacle to that is the OGCMA.
The streets will probably look better marked, with painted parking spaces – painted lines over the disgraceful looking streets. If people can overlook derelict or not cared for homes, then everyone can get used to overlooking some painted lines.
This happened today, May 19, 2018. A car was parked in front of my Mt. Hermon Way house for about a week. I didn’t recognize it; you get to know your neighbors’ vehicles.
Then today a young man appeared. He got into the car and drove it around the corner onto Delaware where he parked it. Then he got out and walked toward the bridge to Asbury Park.
This suggests that our A., Park parking problems not only include one-night-stands (ie parkers take a spot in the Grove and then go to AP, picking up their car late that night,) but also more long term storing of cars on our streets by Asburian Park parkers.
Why did he move his car? Strategy. Maybe someone told him that he should in order to avoid scrutiny.
Another guy warehouses his car on Delaware Avenue and has done so for many months. He sometimes moves it one or two spaces backward or forward. This must be his strategy to avoid leaving his car in one space all the time, maybe to avoid the 30 day rule.
Games people play.
How about meters in vulnerable areas of town, with free stickers for residents? Yes, that means marking the streets, but so what?
—-Paul @Blogfinger.net
Tom. The suggestion to call the NTPD even after only a few days comes from the NTPD. This helps them keep track and to know know if someone is staying too long. I asked that question twice to make sure.
Based on that, it seems like a week might be a good time to wait. The ordinance doesn’t spell that out.
I agree that warehoused cars on the street can be a problem, especially in a town with parking challenges like Ocean Grove. But, please don’t call the police if my car hasn’t moved for a few days or even 1 week. I might have the flu or be away on a business trip or vacation.
30 days seems like a reasonable threshhold for investigation even if it takes another 30 days to deal with a confirmed problem.
OGrover. If you see a car that stays in one place without moving, call the NTPD and ask them to investigate. They will check for credentials and they will talk to the owner to find out what they are up to. And they will followup to make sure the vehicle doesn’t exceed the 30 day limit.
Such abuse of public parking spaces can only be eliminated if the public complains about individual situations. The police are concerned for the citizens.
Then maybe some other solutions, as you suggest would be considered.
Alternate side regs and time limited along Ocean Ave. Not just the biz area. You’d be surprised how many cars are used as seasonal beach lockers on Ocean.