Howard County has sharply increased fines for parking commercial vehicles along residential highways, raising the penalty from $33 to $250 for a first offense.
Parking any commercial vehicle for more than six hours on any state- or county-run road that runs through a residential area will now cost $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $750 for any subsequent violation.
“This is a tiered approach. It’s about balance, deterring current practices while underscoring public safety,” said Howard County Council Vice Chair Opel Jones in a June news release.
The law covers a broad range of vehicles, from large tractors, trailers and buses to smaller service vehicles that carry freight, merchandise, supplies, equipment or debris.
County officials said commercial vehicles parked alongside highways often obstruct visibility, limit access and create safety hazards — an issue exacerbated by the county’s position between Interstates 95 and 70.
Vehicles also prevent residents from finding parking near their homes, said Brad Butler, chair of the Owen Brown Community Association’s board of directors.
“A few businesses park multiple commercial trucks and trailers on residential streets, rather than using an appropriate commercial parking area to store their vehicles and equipment,” Butler said. “In some cases, this blocks access from services like school buses, garbage trucks, and emergency vehicles.”
The county’s clear definition of commercial vehicles will make enforcement easier than it has been in the past, Butler said, and he hopes the increased penalty will prevent repeat offenses.
While fines aim to address these neighborhood concerns, some tradespeople say the rules can create challenges for some residents.
Jared Crerie, a steamfitter from Columbia, said the fines could drive tradespeople out of the county. His work requires his vehicle to be kept at home for rapid response.
“I need to respond as quickly as possible, so it’s not an option to leave my truck somewhere else,” Crerie said. “You’re forcing people out if they have no other option, if you don’t have a driveway.”
Smaller commercial vehicles are prohibited from taking up residential parking spots in many communities, Crerie said.
Although Crerie has not had trouble at his residence, he recalled staying at his parents’ house in Ellicott City, where a neighbor across the street would call the police if his vehicle was parked outside.
“We should come up with some kind of compromise between neighbors rather than just people call the cops and get fines,” Crerie said. “Just have a conversation with me.”
Crerie suggested the county’s definition of what constitutes a commercial vehicle should focus on larger trucks and trailers, rather than smaller trade vehicles.
“I’ve seen where you have semitrucks parked in residential areas, and I get that’s a nuisance, but for regular trades like HVAC, plumbing, electrical, stuff like that, there’s just no way around it. You gotta take your vehicle home or you gotta move,” Crerie said.
“If you want things fixed, you gotta let people who do the trade live in your area,” he said.
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