Township Tightens Residential Parking Rules

Travel trailers, motor homes and landscaping haulers are not uncommon sights on the streets of Macomb Township, but an update to the township’s ordinance on residential parking is expected to change this.    

During Wednesday’s Macomb Township Board of Trustees meeting, township building official Dan Fairless requested that the board authorize amending Macomb's Code of Ordinances to tighten the language used in the section on residential parking.

“We’re going to specify some of the language that addresses the parking of trailers in the county road,” Fairless said. “Utility trailers and recreational trailers that aren’t attended, or there is no one there working, it is just left there and it is not attached to a vehicle. We think it is a dangerous situation if an emergency vehicle has to get through the road and there is a trailer blocking their right of way.”

The “specific language” Fairless requested should leave little question as to what the township defines as commercial and recreational vehicles, and additionally, where such vehicles are permitted to park in the township.

The code’s present language, which can be found in Chapter 18, Article V, Sec. 18-690, makes only vague reference to recreational vehicles, such as boat trailers, motor homes, tent trailers, pickup truck campers and travel trailers, among others.

The amended code will specifically define these vehicles and include them in the list of vehicles the township does not permit residents to park on public streets for any length of time, typically 24 hours.

In terms of commercial vehicles, the code will specify that these vehicles may not be parked on any public street for any longer than it takes to unload, deliver or pick up the materials used by the service.

A violation of the code is a misdemeanor if convicted. This infraction is subject to a penalty of fines up to $500 or imprisonment in Macomb County Jail for up to 90 days, or both.