Trustees Meet Tonight: Hearing On Proposed Three-Strikes Parking Law

Is a proposed parking law going too far, or is it just what Port Chester needs to send a message?

That's a question village trustees will weigh tonight, when they hear from the public on a law that would make it easier to tow cars belonging to traffic scofflaws.

Under current law, authorities can tow a car if the owner has accumulated three or more tickets and hasn't paid up. The proposed law would allow authorities to tow any car registered to a driver who has accumulated three parking tickets.

As some trustees noted, that means cars belonging to parents could be towed for tickets issued to their children. Other trustees say that's a small risk compared to the greater reward of catching big-time parking scofflaws, such as one driver who recently paid $8,000 in tickets.

Some residents also think it's a good idea to take a hard line.

"I support this measure and think Port Chester has to do everything it can to establish a no-nonsense culture of law and order in this village," one reader wrote in response to a Port Chester Patch story on the proposal.

Also on the agenda: The board will authorize an agreement to work with Westchester County on a traffic enforcement program; the board is expected to pass a resolution giving police the OK to use DEA funds to purchase a new bicycle for street patrols; and trustees will vote on a local law amendment dealing with speed limits in school zones.

Trustees will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the village courthouse, 350 N. Main St.

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