Firelanes

[tacticool]

If we see a car parked in a firelane, running with nobody in it would it be wrong to lock the doors so nobody steals the car?

I'm just trying to be helpful.

I like the way you think.

[Dave2]

What really makes me mad is a large portion of the cars have toddlers left unattended in them without an adult in sight......many times for upwards of 20min or more.

I think I'd call 911 and probably hang out until the cops arrived. Clearly the owner of the car has been kidnapped, killed, or is having a medical emergency, because I can't fathom a parent being that stupid. A kid who's old enough to "work the controls" if there's an emergency? Yeah, sure, if they really are well-behaved enough to sit still and not mess with anything while you go do your thing, then I guess no harm no foul. But a toddler? How is that not child endangerment?

[Dragonfighter]

The fire lane is exactly as stated above, it is designating the main driving lane as a fire lane. In other words, you can park your car between the building and the fire lane line, but must leave the area between the fire lane line and the next fire lane line or open street unobstructed.

That is exactly correct. The fire lane to be a legally enforceable fire lane requires two red stripes with the words "Fire Lane" stenciled in. The responsibility of maintaining the striping and lettering falls on the business and they can be cited for not doing so.

If a portion of your vehicle is overhanging a fire lane boundary you can be cited or towed. The thing that confuses people is standing, if the vehicle is running and a driver is behind the wheel, you can "stand" as long as you immediately move when emergency equipment arrives or are so ordered by LEO/Fire.

It is not uncommon to see PD ignore fire lane violations as it is truly the purview of fire, generally inspection/arson. In Dallas some fire officers have ticket books to right citations when they happen across a violation.

[Bulldog1911]

I was also under that impression, but apparently if you're at WalMart or a grocery store it means "park here and leave your car, with or without someone in it, running or not, hazards on or not, for as long as you like because you're only running in the store from anywhere between 2-20 minutes.

You must live in Grapevine.

not just grapevine ...

Stuns me that people can be so self absorbed that they think the parking lot is for everyone else.....

Yes, it's an epidemic. And an annoying one at that. I don't mind letting someone out at the door, but dont park there.

[i8godzilla]

Besides the balatant disregard for firelanes is the apparent nonenforcement of them.

That is also true. I have seen our police drive right on by car(s) parked in the fire lane without giving them so much as a glance.

There is also a problem of police cars ALWAYS parked in the fire lane. I have seen the local police in a nearby city park in front of the stores many times just to run in a pick-up a personal item. Strange the fire trucks (when 'shopping') always park in the back of the lot versus the fire lane.

[tallmike]

Besides the balatant disregard for firelanes is the apparent nonenforcement of them.

That is also true. I have seen our police drive right on by car(s) parked in the fire lane without giving them so much as a glance.

There is also a problem of police cars ALWAYS parked in the fire lane. I have seen the local police in a nearby city park in front of the stores many times just to run in a pick-up a personal item. Strange the fire trucks (when 'shopping') always park in the back of the lot versus the fire lane.

That's because our chiefs make sure we save the fire lane for times when we are responding to an emergency.

Whenever I see a car parked or stopped in the fire lane in front of a store I call the police non-emergency line and ask them to send an officer out. The ticket for that infraction is HUGE, so the cops don't usually write them for it but I imagine that once he tells you the cost of the ticket you probably won't park there again. Its very frustrating to arrive on scene for an emergency and have to wait while folks clear the fire lane so we can get in there.

[Dave2]

Stuns me that people can be so self absorbed that they think the parking lot is for everyone else.....

I'm kinda like that... I used to drive up the ramp and onto the sidewalk and park right next to the front door at church.

Ok, so I only did that when I was unloading stuff from my trunk, and I'd move it afterwards. Except that one time... I can't remember what my reasoning was, but I actually managed to get everyone to agree that I could leave it there.

However, there was not a fire lane involved... that part's important.

[Target1911]

Does anyone know if thre is a STATE MINIMUM fine for firelane? I know there is one for handicap....it is either $600 or $650 but the judge cant even cut you a deal and lower the fine below that minimum.

[knotquiteawake]

Weeeellllll. I tow for firelane violations in apartments. It's amazing how many people will leave their cars in firelane blocking other cars in the parking spots. Another one I don't understand is the lazy people that park in the firelane blocking several EMPTY spots. What's so hard about just turning the wheel and parking in a spot?

Please please please come over to my apartment complex! This moron parks here almost every day! My garage is right across from it and it makes it a pain in the butt to get in and out of my garage. Apartment management don't seem to care all that much though so I'm not sure there is anything I can do other then feel a general sense of injustice every time I see them parked there.
We have the same amount of space before the fire lane in front of our garage but we park in a parking space like all the other non-special people.