Police: Nearly 100 Warnings Issued Enforcing 'Space-Hopping' Law

Winchester Police wardens have issued nearly 100 warnings since the "space-hopping" parking by-law went into effect last month, according to Safety Officer, Sgt. Thomas Groux.

Space hoppers are individuals who move their vehicle from one parking spot to another to avoid being ticketed by a parking warden. The fine for violating the new law is $20, according to Groux.

About 90 warnings/informational flyers and a dozen tickets have been issued to violators of the space-hopping regulation, according to Groux. Three parking wardens, two part-time officers and one full-time, have been enforcing the new regulation, he added.

"We are more or less enforcing the spirit of this law," Groux explained. "Even though the law allows us to ticket anyone that is moving (space to space) within town. The primary focus is on those circumventing the system in terms of the time-limit parking on a particular street."

On March 11, the Winchester Board of Selectmen approved a regulation that states: "No person shall move a parked vehicle consecutively from one space to another space in the same location, with the intent of circumventing the posted time limits. Location shall mean any legal parking space in the Town Center Parking Area, shown on the map attached."

Groux said the space-hopping had been discussed internally within the police department and also Town Manager Richard Howard for several months prior to the Selectmen's vote to implement the new regulation.

"We looked at some other language that other towns have and (the regulation) is not necessarily enforced," Groux said. "We understand and are aware of the controversy regarding somebody legitimately coming back to the town on multiple trips. Those are not the people being targeted. Technically, could they get a ticket? They could, but our parking wardens know who the chronic violators are (like) the people that work in the downtown business district who actually have parking permits to park in designated areas but choose not to."

When it comes to the parking wardens, if one of them is unable to work the police department does not replace them with another officer, according to Groux. 

"If they are not working because they are sick, injured or whatever the reason may be, we don't replace the parking wardens," he said. "So, in that case there would be a whole sector of the downtown area that may be unenforced on tht particular day."

Since the enforcement began, Groux has seen positive changes with regard to the downtown parking situation.

"We do the best we can and I think we are doing a pretty good job, and what I think is going on is having an impact because there are more spaces being freed up in the downtown area. There is no doubt about it," Groux said. "The goal here was to free up some downtown spots for the merchants and that is happening. Just taking a drive through you can notice the change."

How Town Center Employees Can Get Free Pemits

"Town Center employees are encouraged to obtain free permits for use in the Aberjona, Waterfield, Jenks and Shore Road Lots," reads the town website, adding that Town Center employees must apply for a permit at the Winchester Engineering Department at Town Hall, 71 Mount Vernon St. Office hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, according to the site. Proof of employemtn in the Town Center is required, adds the site.