SPRINGDALE (KFSM) - A new parking ordinance in Springdale has gone into effect immediately.
Property owners can now file a complaint against anyone who parks on the street along their property for long periods of time.
A dispute between neighbors over parked cars led to the change in parking laws on residential streets.
The city council passed the new law Tuesday (july 14) night, making it illegal for someone to park their car in front of a home they don't own for more than three hours in a 24 hour period.
“It gives property owners a tool to use incase people abuse that,” said Doug Sprouse, Mayor of Springdale.
Sprouse said the law will only be enforced if someone files a complaint.
“That only matters if you don`t have permission from the property owner. In other words, if you are parked in front of somebody else`s house, and they don`t care or complain, then it is not a violation,” Sprouse said.
The new law came after people who live on Westwood Ave. felt Michael Grindstaff was taking up too much room on the street.
Grindstaff owns a towing company.
Some neighbors said he parked towed vehicles on the street. But, Grindstaff said he owns all the cars parked on Westwood.
“I have eight children, half of them which drive. My wife and I also have a car,” Grindstaff said. “All of our vehicles have tags and insurance. There is a licensed driver for every one of them.”
Grindstaff said now he has to find alternative parking for the vehicles.
Neighbors, like Ival Parker, said this was never a problem when she first moved to Westwood Avenue.
“There wasn`t any issue until all this started,” Parker said. “But, this has been going on now for a year or two, I would guess.”
Parker said the new law is a good thing.
“The law, it is good. They don`t need to park down here in front of somebody’s house for a long time,” Parker said.
Sprouse said people who have complaints filed against them will first get a warning from police. After that, repeat offenders may be ticketed or towed.