Residents in unincorporated Arapahoe County will need to start 2025 off by adjusting to a brand new parking ordinance, set to take effect Jan. 1. The regulations aim to streamline the handling of parked vehicles that could potentially pose safety issues or hinder road maintenance.
The ordinance empowers Sheriff deputies and designated County staff to enforce parking rules by issuing costly fines and permits them to tow vehicles that are deemed abandoned or problematic. Fines for parking violations have been set at $150, according to Arapahoe County. Vehicles found obstructing roads, parked in no-parking zones, or leaking fluids are among those that can be removed under the new guidelines.
Addressing the longstanding issue in District 4, Commissioner Leslie Summey led efforts to address the problem of neglected vehicles. "This ordinance is the first step in solving an issue that impacts so many in my district," Summey said, as obtained by Arapahoe County. The law addresses the storage and maintenance of various types of vehicles, including oversized commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, and those without registration, a significant move to enhance safety and aesthetics in the County.
Endorsement for the ordinance also came from community figures such as the Four Square Mile HOA President Mark Lampert, who emphasized the enduring nature of the issue, "We have been living with this for years and years," Lampert said, as per Arapahoe County. The law aims to fill gaps left by previous legislation, replacing older restrictions on oversized vehicles and supplementing the County's Model Traffic Code.
