Berkeley Parking Enforcement
Residents of Berkeley may have heard that local parking enforcement will be increased by an additional 15 license plate readers. The new readers will not only be used to enforce parking laws but can help detect stolen vehicles.
Parking Problems in Berkeley
There are 20 officers assigned to parking enforcement in Berkeley. The new readers will make their jobs easier. The goBerkeley campaign, initiated in 2013, has been declared a success by members of the city council by making adjustments to parking fees and placing time limits on parking. It is hoped that the new data can improve parking in areas such as Southside and Elmwood and expand to additional neighborhoods.
Even those in residential neighborhoods in the city report having problems finding parking. As of this date, 14 zones, spanning an area of four square miles, have parking permit programs in place. As new neighborhoods develop, permits are likely to be required in them also. The city itself has over 4,000 parking spaces marked with meters. However, Berkeley showed a population of 118,854 in 2014, and the city continues to grow. While the bicycle ride-sharing program can help take up some of the slack, the city still needs to work on making improvements in transportation and parking.
Traffic Congestion Can Lead to Accidents
While city planning may be possible in newer areas, in cities like Berkeley that were established years ago, the city planners need to find new ways to keep streets safe for motorists, bicyclists and walkers. With congestion, some motorists overstay the parking limit, double park and park in places illegally.
Yellow Curb Berkeley Parking Restrictions
Berkeley parking rules are set by both city ordinances and the state vehicle code. Some of the rules are:
- Vehicles may not park for more than 72 hours in one spot.
- Red curbs mark areas where no parking, standing or stopping is permitted. This is always in force.
- Green curbs are restricted to limited parking from 5 – 30 minutes.
- Blue curbs indicate disabled parking. However, the vehicle must display a disabled license plate or a valid placard. Fines for illegal parking begin at $250.
- Yellow curbs indicate that the area is for commercial loading and unloading from 7:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening. This is enforced during weekdays and on Saturday. To be able to use the yellow curb areas, the driver must represent a business with a commercial license, drive a commercial vehicle and have commercial plates. The vehicle must be actively being loaded and unloaded.
- White curbs are reserved as loading zones for passengers or those using a mailbox. The time a driver may stop at a white curb is three minutes. Parking in these areas is monitored 24/7.
- Neighborhood parking in permit areas is restricted to two hours unless the driver has a residential parking permit.
Injuries Caused by Accidents in the City
Accidents in the city, as well as on the highway, can cause serious injuries ranging from broken bones to fractured skull and spinal cord injury. When someone has been injured through negligence by another person, contacting a personal injury lawyer can be helpful. An experienced car accident lawyer can gather important documentation to support an injury claim, deal with insurance companies, and if necessary, take the claim to court so the injury victim can obtain just compensation.
Berkeley Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Berkeley car accident lawyer. Car accident injuries caused by someone else’s negligence should never happen but they do. If you or your loved one has been injured, contact me at (510) 631-0200. I am here to offer you friendly, free advice. My toll-free number is (800) 404-5400.
I have assisted Californians and those from Berkeley and the surrounding area as an injury lawyer since 1982 with their personal injury claims and wrongful death cases in obtaining fair compensation.
To learn what previous clients have had to say, please visit Yelp, Avvo, and Google.
As a California member of Million Dollar Advocates, I am a trial lawyer listed in this group who has secured verdicts or negotiated settlements of $1 million or higher for clients.
In this link to Verdicts and Settlements, you can look over some of my previous cases.
I am the founder and owner of autoaccident.com, which contains comprehensive facts about personal injuries.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/urban-parking-meter-city-street-571631/
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