6.7 C
New York

Coon Rapids To Revisit Overnight Truck Parking Ban

Published:

Recently, a photo of a letter that was taped to a driver’s window in Coon Rapids, Minnesota went viral in the trucking world.

The letter states:

Parking Ban Outrage ATTN TRUCKER:

FYI:

READ SIGNS POSTED NO OVERNIGHT PARKING IN THIS SHOPPING CENTER LOT.  FYI: THE COON RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL POSTED A ORDINANCE THIS SPRING TO CRACK DOWN ON ALL SEMI TRUCKS ETC PARKING IN ANY OF OUR SHOPPING DISTRCT’S.  THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL KNOW ISSUE EXPENSIVE TICKETS.  JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER FOR YOU.  FIND A NEW CITY PARK YOUR RIG.  WE DO NOT LIEK THESE EYE SORES IN OUR CITY.  FYI: I CALLED THE POLICE.

The “friendly reminder” spurred outrage in the trucking community and many took to the City of Coon Rapids facebook page to voice their concerns.

The Coon Rapids City Council..er… apologized for the rude way the citizen relayed the city’s ordinance, but they stood their ground and said that the ordinance would remain in effect.

Last week, the ABC Newspaper reported that that the Coon Rapids City Council will revisit the overnight parking ordinance, specifically the part of the ordinance that prohibits trucks in excess of 26,000 pounds, recreational vehicles and trailers from parking in commercial and office zoning districts from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. 

The publication reports that the ordinance was passed because several of the city’s residents “have observed first-hand, semi-trucks parking for an extended overnight periods and leaving tractors and trailers in the public areas of commercial parking lots, effectively turning public areas into mini-truck stops,” according to Community Development Director Marc Nevinski.

The council decided to revisit the parking ban, in part,  because of concerns raised by truck driver and blogger Jason Haggard.

During a recent open mic session, Haggard shared his concerns with the ban and the impact it has on drivers passing through the area.  Haggard explained the new HOS to the council.

Haggard requested the city ordinance be modified to allow drivers time for rest and pre-trip inspections.

Thanks to Haggard and other drivers voicing their concerns, Mayor Tim Howe suggested the city have a work session to discuss the ordinance.

“There are a lot of issues involved that need to be discussed further,”  Councilmember Paul Johnson agreed.

According to ABC Newspaper, “Council member Bruce Sanders said he had heard from a number of truck drivers in Coon Rapids who do not like the ordinance.”

“I want to discuss the ordinance to make sure we did the right thing,” he said.

 

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Get the hottest daily trucking news

This Week in Trucking

Videos