Bristol Cracking Down On Large Vehicles, Trailers In Free Parking Lots

Bristol Borough has amended one of their ordinances to block certain types of vehicles from using public parking lots for extended periods of time.

Council voted this week to amend their parking ordinance after problems with large work trucks, RVs, and trailers being left in borough-owned parking lots and taking away valuable spots for residents and visitors.

The amendment will block specific types of large vehicles and trailers from being left in borough-owned parking lots, including the Mill Street Parking Lot. The vehicles will have to move every 48 hours and have to stay current on their inspection or the owners can face fines that range from $100 to $1,000.

Councilman Greg Pezza said borough-owned parking lots are being taken advantage of by businesses and people who want to park their large vehicles for free.

“We’re becoming a storage for their businesses,” Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe II said.

The amendments to the existing ordinance matches the rules for street parking, officials said.

DiGuiseppe said pickup trucks and vans used for work will be acceptable, but no more large vehicles and trailers will be allowed to just linger in free borough-owned parking lots.

Complaints of large vehicles blocking multiple public parking spaces have been reported at the Mill Street, Jefferson Avenue, and Garden Street parking lots, Chief of Police Steve Henry said.

Last month, the chief said officers have found people sleeping overnight and loitering in large vehicles at the Mill Street Parking Lot.

In other business, the Council approved the purchase of the home at 1015 Elm Street for $57,000. The home is the last on the street to be purchased by the borough. Over the past several years, Bristol Borough has been purchasing properties on Chestnut and Elm streets. No firm future plans for the streets have been outlined by officials.