A Missouri town has passed an ordinance that will severely restrict semi truck parking options following complaints from local business owners.
Starting on June 5, 2019, it will be illegal to park a semi truck on any public street in a residential zone in Ozark, Missouri.
Additionally, the newly passed ordinance forbids semi truck parking on any public street between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. The ordinance provides an exemption for trucks that are actively being loaded or unloaded.
After June 5, drivers who park illegally may be ticketed.
Ozark city leaders say that the passed the ordinance banning truck parking because of complaints from local businesses. “We were having complaints by property owners and business owners that there were semi-trucks parking overnight on city streets. Adjacent to the property, maybe blocking their property off from their customers and so forth,” Ozark City Administrator Steve Childers told KY3.
Ozark city officials also say that they believe that long term truck parking is damaging their roads.
Local woman Tracey Tracy explains the strain that the ordinance will place on truck drivers who live in Ozark:”You have to find a place to park and whatever time that may be, your spouse or whoever is going to have to get up in the middle of the night or early morning and come get you, bring you back, when you can just be right here.”
For more, take a look at the report below.