Central Square parking regulations go into full effect on April 1
Published on March 12th, 2008
STONEHAM -- The town will officially launch a comprehensive parking placard and enforcement program next month in the Stoneham Square area.
According to Town Administrator David Ragucci, starting April 1, local police will begin strictly enforcing a blanket two-hour parking restriction along Main Street and other abutting roadways adjacent to the downtown area.
Earlier this month, Town Clerk John Hanright's office started selling parking placards to merchants and local residents, who will be able to utilize spaces in municipal lots for a $300 fee.
As part of the new program, intended to free-up spots in the downtown area for customers, local businesses, town employees, and Stoneham residents can purchase the placards in order to avoid potential fines for breaking the blanket two-hour parking restrictions.
Although town officials have backed-off of previous attempts to step-up enforcement activity - no comprehensive program existed at that time - Ragucci warned that similar reprieves won't be offered this go-round.
"Come April 1, we will be enforcing the regulations in our downtown area," the Town Administrator cautioned.
The permits, which will cost $300 per year or $100 quarterly, will be offered to local residents, business owners and their workers, and those employed by the Town of Stoneham.
A discounted $150 permit per year, or $50 quarterly, will also be offered for those seeking to use a spot at the Recreation Park municipal lot.
Each of the placards will be color-coded, allowing holders to park their vehicles in a specific municipal lot. Once the program becomes effective, police will begin ticketing cars illegally parked in municipal lots with designated permit parking from Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Based upon the parking regulations, no vehicles in excess of one ton, that exceed 20-feet in length, or carry livery plates, will be allowed to participate in the permit program. Busses and tractor-trailers will also be prohibited from obtaining a space in municipal lots.
In order to obtain a parking decal, which will reportedly be transferable to one additional vehicle that's registered in the permit holder's name, an applicant must have taken care of all existing parking tickets, paid their excise taxes, and have a car that's both registered and insured.
Those found to abuse the privilege, or two have racked up more than three violations, will lose the commercial parking decal rights and face fines of up to $100 for each misuse of the permit.
Cars without a decal that park in designated permit spots will be ticketed with a $25 fine.
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