To decrease the number of truckers parking their big rigs illegally in Olathe, the city council recently voted to increase fines substantially, from $30 to $500 per violation. The new fines will be in effect by today.
The huge jump surprised members of the council, but Chris Grunewald, the deputy city attorney, said the high penalty was designed to send a message to truck drivers that illegal parking will not be tolerated. Grunewald added the lower fine was not successful in discouraging the practice, noting that Olathe police officers had cited 70 trucks for illegal parking in the three-month period of April, May, and June this year.
The semis are usually parked near highway ramps, along roads, and in particular, near the Aldi distribution center. Steven Menke, Olathe's police chief, says although he sympathizes with the truckers, his main concern is for safety. He sees the large trucks parked near high-speed on- and off-ramps as being a recipe for disaster, since they may block other drivers' vision.
While he understands the concern of the police, councilman John Bacon says he hopes fines will be limited to those who abuse the parking regulations, and not someone who just pulled over to make a phone call.
Officials in this situation can use poster printing to create informational Signs, and in fact Grunewald says the city will soon post Signs near on- and off-ramps listing the amounts of the new fines.
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