CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) -
In the last few weeks, police have been cracking down on parking violations in neighborhoods all over the city. Not everyone is happy about the new initiative.
One woman who has received not one, but two, tickets since the crackdown began, said she believes there needs to be an exception in some cases, and has taken her concerns to the City Council.
Vanessa Chapa received those tickets within a 24-hour period. The first ticket was because her truck was blocking the sidewalk. So she did the right thing and moved it. The very next day, she received another ticket because that same truck was now 18-inches away from the curb.
"I'm not trying to create a huge problem and be a thorn in City Council's back," Chapa said. "We pay taxes. We do what we are supposed to do; but yet we are still being punished for that. Very unfair."
Chapa said the issue is where she lives. Her neighborhood is off Holly and Kostoryz. Her home is on a small cul-de-sac, and she said there simply isn't enough room to park her four vehicles the way police want her to park. If she parks in her own driveway, she blocks the sidewalk; and if she parks her vehicle in the street in front of her home, she blocks the mailbox. She believes there should be some leeway with the law.
Chapa took those issues to City Council on Tuesday.
"I invited each one to come and look at the street, to see what the situation is," Chapa said. "I'm sure we're not the only cul-de-sac with the problem, and like I said, I agree why this ordinance was created; but there has to be an exception to the rule. I feel streets like this need to have that exception."
Chapa said one Council member has come out to her home to see the problem. That was Councilwoman Priscilla Leal.
On Wednesday morning, Assistant City Manager Troy Riggs spoke on 3 News First Edition, saying that in some cases, the parking violations are not a black and white issue, and certain cases will have to be taken into consideration.
Chapa said she will try to dispute the tickets with the police department. In fact, she said she received a call from the Chief of Police saying they will have someone with the department who is willing to meet with Chapa at her home, to tell her where she can and cannot park her vehicles.
