Town of Huntington
Media Advisory From The Town of Huntington
Council Office · 100 Main St. · Huntington, NY 11743-6991
For Immediate Release
November 30, 2015
For information, contact:
Stephen Jimenez: Work: 631-351-3171
Cell: 631-745-0286
Cuthbertson Announces Effort to Increase Handicapped/Fire Zone Parking Enforcement
During Busy Holiday Shopping Season
Councilman Cuthbertson recently announced an elevated Code Enforcement Effort – corresponding to the busy holiday shopping season that is focusing on illegally parked vehicles in handicapped parking stalls or areas marked as fire zones. Councilman Cuthbertson was joined by the Town’s Department of Public Safety and volunteer members of the Town’s Handicapped Parking Enforcement Program to warn the public about the costly and possible harmful consequences that can result from parking in one these restricted areas.
“The holidays are a busy time of the year, and those who have a New York State Disability Parking permit are the only ones permitted to utilize the specially marked stalls,” stated Councilman Mark Cuthbertson. “However, with the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season, those without the proper State disability parking plaque will at times opt to occupy the special parking privilege reserved for those who need it the most, or park illegally in a marked fire zone area,” added Cuthbertson.
Fines for those who choose to park illegally in a marked fire zone or handicapped parking stall will result in a $230 summons for a first offence.
When it comes to handicapped parking, it is important to be mindful of the people who truly rely on those spaces. “They are not reserved for lazy people but rather for those who genuinely need to be close and benefit from a shorter walking distance. Without the convenience of disabled parking, many people would be forced to either stay at home or face the danger of having to cover a distance that is further than they are physically capable of doing,” said Cuthbertson.
Parking illegally in a marked fire zone will also have negative and in some cases, disastrous implications.
“These areas are sensitive parking areas and they are putting others at additional risk by obstructing an area reserved for first responders to stage, or park, at a useful distance from an emergency. Vehicles parked illegally in fire lanes also impede exit areas designed to ease evacuations, making it more difficult, if not impossible. Many of the emergency exits will open into the fire lane for rapid dispersal of patrons from within,” added Cuthbertson.
Those who have questions or would like to request a New York State Disability Parking permit application can contact the Town’s Handicapped Services Department at 351-3232.
Councilman Mark Cuthbertson is pictured with members of the Town of Huntington’s Public Safety and Handicapped Services Departments outside of the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station to announce the Town’s increased effort to enforce illegal handicapped and fire zone parking areas during the busy holiday shopping season.
Who: Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, together with the Town’s Department of Public Safety and volunteer members of the Town’s Handicapped Parking Enforcement Program.
What: Councilman Cuthbertson Announces Code Enforcement Effort during busy holiday shopping season. The holidays are a busy time of the year, and those who have a New York State Disability Parking permit are the only ones permitted to utilize the specially marked stalls. However, with the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season, those without the proper State disability parking plaque will at times opt to occupy the special parking privilege reserved for those who need it the most, or park illegally in a marked fire zone areas.
Where: Adjacent to Cheesecake Factory – Walt Whitman Shops, Huntington Station, NY
When: Tuesday, December 1st, 2015
Time: 10:00am
