Wallingford Connecticut - A great New England town, called home by 45,000 residents.
As published online at MyRecordJournal.com for print publication in the Record Journal on Sunday December 6, 2009
The Wallingford Ordinance Committee is tasked at their meetings to review the ordinances in place and to discuss new ones. The next meeting is Tuesday, December 8, 6:30 PM at Town Hall, Room 315.
I understand the need for local ordinances - not everyone will govern themselves near what most would consider baseline behavior of a citizen on their own; you need to have rules that set and explain what those baseline expectations are.
Some people will not break rules while others do whatever they please because they assume they won't get caught (or they simply do not care).
The recent parking enforcement issue at the Carini Bowl is one example. I'm not happy people got ticketed that day, but I am gratified that the rules are getting enforced as it vindicates those of us that follow them when the rule-breakers get pinched.
Many people that got ticketed, even after being told to move, said, "Well, I saw the sign - was told to move, but I just didn't think I'd get a ticket."
And that is actually the crux of the issue; generally the ordinances are not enforced. When we start everyone is up in arms because they are caught off guard that we're "suddenly" doing something we should be enforcing unilaterally and consistently.
Take the sidewalk obstruction ordinance that requires residents to clear sidewalks around their homes or businesses within 18 hours after a snowstorm . . . I see many sidewalks that NEVER get cleared by anyone - so all this talk about how the ordinance works is interesting, but do we use it in practice? I am not asking: have we ever used it? I am asking: do we enforce it regularly as the infractions are reported? When was the last $25 ticket issued for not clearing the sidewalk? When was the last time a resident had their walked cleared by Public Works and then billed for it?
So what's the answer to all this? That is a tough question.
The ordinance committee will tell you they create and review the ordinances but they are not in charge of enforcement. Those that are responsible for enforcement (often different groups; it is not always the police department) will often tell you why they are not successful - no real enforcement power (no ability to fine or take action), not enough manpower, etc.
My thoughts are we should put all the ordinances up on the town website.
If someone breaks a specific ordinance in a 12-month rolling period from the time of the infraction, they should get a written warning, a printed copy of the specific ordinance and it should be cataloged. If the infraction occurs a second time, they should be fined.
Fines should be dramatically increased - a huge deterrent. If I park illegally 50 times and pay just $15 once, I can justify the cost. Not that I want to throw away $15, but it can cost more to park in a New Haven garage. Fines have to grow to the cost of the times, and then some - they need to be a burdensome expense to stop causal infraction of the law by people who don't care in the first place.
If responsible enforcement divisions are understaffed, then contract out the position to enforce the ordinances; with heavier fines, we can justify the cost against that revenue. If there isn't enough work, then allow the departments to take the work back on and end the contract position.
We should be enforcing ordinances unilaterally and consistently. If the argument is that we do not need to have that kind of iron fist mentality, then I suggest that ordinance doesn't need to exist and we should take it off the books.
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