Frank Smith Says NB: New Britain Parking Authority accused of breaking rules - WFSB 3 Connecticut

Sunday, April 6, 2014

New Britain Parking Authority accused of breaking rules - WFSB 3 Connecticut

3 comments:

Anonymous said...: State law does not recognize these parking officers as having any authority to park anywhere that the public can not park. Because they are not "police officers" and are not responding to an emergency call, they have no additional rights under the law and should be held to the same standards as you and I. In order to have any special privileges under the law, they must be police officers and must be responding to an emergency call or pursuing fleeing law violators: Here are the pertinent state statutes on the subject:

Sec. 14-283. Rights and duties re emergency vehicles. Obstruction of emergency vehicle. (a) “Emergency vehicle”, as used in this section, means any... any state or local police vehicle operated by a police officer or inspector of the Department of Motor Vehicles answering an emergency call or in the pursuit of fleeing law violators or any Department of Correction vehicle operated by a Department of Correction officer while in the course of such officer’s employment and while responding to an emergency call.

(b) The operator of any emergency vehicle may (1) park or stand such vehicle, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter, (2) proceed past any red light or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down or stopping to the extent necessary for the safe operation of such vehicle, (3) exceed the posted speed limits or other speed limits imposed by or pursuant to section 14-218a or 14-219 as long as such operator does not endanger life or property by so doing, and (4) disregard statutes, ordinances or regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specific directions.

There is also an exemption for emergency vehicles under 14-251: Sec. 14-251. Parking vehicles. ...Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to emergency vehicles and to maintenance vehicles displaying flashing lights or to prohibit a vehicle from stopping, or being held stationary by any officer, in an emergency to avoid accident or to give a right-of-way to any vehicle or pedestrian as provided in this chapter, or from stopping on any highway within the limits of an incorporated city, town or borough where the parking of vehicles is regulated by local ordinances. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.

Unfortunately, under the stature, an "emergency vehicle" is defined as "any state or local police vehicle operated by a police officer or inspector of the Department of Motor Vehicles answering an emergency call or in the pursuit of fleeing law violators."

Since these parking officers are not police officers, and are not answering an emergency call or in the pursuit of fleeing law violators, it once again would appear that they are no better than you or I.; April 6, 2014 at 1:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Would be interesting to see where 1-NB parks too!; April 6, 2014 at 3:58 PM
Anonymous said...: doesn't the mayor's car have lights and a siren in it? I didn't see mayors on the list!; April 7, 2014 at 4:08 PM

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)