The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘IT’S CLEARLY LABELED’
Enforcement of parking rule draws ire
“Unfortunately, this is private property and city government doesn’t have jurisdiction or any legal authority to force the end of towing practices.”
Mayor Dan Drew
MIDDLETOWN — A Facebook post by city police that reminds people to heed rules when parking in a private lot downtown — or face a tow and hefty charge — is drawing a strong reaction.
The lot is at Metro Square, a bi-level shopping area bordered by Dingwall Drive, Main Street, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and deKoven Drive, includes Metro Movies 12, Caffery’s Dance and Gymnastics School, Herd Restaurant, Metro Spirits and Wayback Burger.
In less than 24 hours, the social media post garnered 108 comments, 222 shares and 79 reactions of all types.
“There are four signs on one of the entrances that say, ‘Don’t park here, you’re going to get towed if you don’t (patronize) the business,’ ” said Middletown Police Lt. Heather Desmond. Police are leasing a few spaces there now, she said.
“It’s clearly labeled. They’re watching and they’re videotaping. So, they’re following, because if you are going up to Hop Knot or Wayback Burger and going into that business, they’re not going to tow you. But if you’re going up the stairs and across the street to First & Last, they’re going to tow you,” Desmond said.
Property Manager Brian Herschberger has D&L Auto Body & Towing of Berlin monitoring the lot for violators.
He declined to comment for this story.
The recent crackdown on those illegally parking in the Metro Square parking area is due to the closing and demolition of the Court Street parking arcade last month, Desmond said. It was knocked down during the first two weeks of May. The gravel lot, which will open shortly as a temporary measure, will help compensate for the 180 spots lost when the arcade was shut down.
The parking office has been adding additional spaces for vehicles along Main and Court streets, Melilli Plaza and other areas.
“Do not park in the parking lot at Metro Square unless you are doing business within the property,” Desmond wrote on Facebook Tuesday at 2 p.m. “This is a private parking lot not under the control of the city. Parking is for patrons of the adjoining businesses only. We cannot stress this enough. There is a tow truck on standby to tow the violating vehicles. They have spotters watching to see if someone leaves the property.”
Mayor Dan Drew responded to the dozens of replies that began to flood in soon after.
“Unfortunately, this is private property and city government doesn’t have jurisdiction or any legal authority to force the end of towing practices. The Middletown Police were correct to warn the public to head off any potential trouble. I understand the frustration completely, but we just don’t possess the legal authority to stop this practice,” he wrote.
The property owner is mostly carting away vehicles parked there by those headed to Superior Court, Desmond said.
“If you’re only going to a movie, then moving to another restaurant afterward, you should park somewhere else,” she added.
Rebecca Czlapinski and a friend recently parked in the lot and headed up the stairs to Hop Knot. A man came out and asked them what shop they were visiting. Czlapinski said she didn’t have an issue with the interaction.
“I’ve never been questioned about where I was going or what I was doing. I thought it was kind of weird,” she said.
Czlapinski said she is not clear about what businesses are considered part of Metro Square, specifically those on Main Street.
“Does the property owner own the entire building? People are saying they were in the movie theater and had gotten towed,” she said. “We went to a movie, we’re actual paying patrons, and we just happen to say, after the movies, ‘Let’s get lunch downtown.’ I’m not going to move my car, it’s beautiful out.
“It’s not like I’m going there and it’s a free parking lot. I’ve actually paid to go somewhere there and just happen to want to enjoy a little bit more of downtown,” Czlapinski said.
Sherri Condon has visited the plaza in the past up to three times a week to frequent the hair salon that used to be on the upper level at Main Street.
“A man would follow me, ‘Ma’am, ma’am, ma’am,’ ” and she’d tell him she was going to Cover Girl. “‘I need to find out where you’re going. How long are you going to be there?’ ” Condon said she was asked.
“I don’t know,” she told him.
“For me, it was harassment,” Condon said, contending the man would hang out to see what she was doing. “I’ve seen them follow people when they went to Dunkin’ Donuts when it was there” to make sure patrons weren’t going to Brew Bakers across the street.
She’s seen a movie, then gone to Hop Knot for a snack afterward, “but it was packed. People go across the street because Tuscany (Grill) is not that busy. And (a Metro Square spotter sees) you walking across the street. They immediately call the tow truck to come get your car.”
Stefanie Smith, who works in sales, parked in Metro Square to drop into those businesses and offer her services.
“I walked one street over to meet my co-worker, who is in town from Boston and has never been to Middletown. In the time I walked over to meet him, and came back, they had towed my car,” she said.