Crime & Safety

Ask an Officer: Parking Trailers on City Streets

A Patch reader asks about parking trailers not attached to vehicles on city streets.

Jeffrey Spaulding has been the chief of the  since January 2, 2004. He came to Westminster with more than thirty years of police experience in the Howard County Police Department.

Chief Spaulding has agreed to work with Patch to answer citizen questions about laws, codes, ordinances, processes and penalties. If you have a question you would like to ask a police officer, post it in the comment section of this article or email kym.byrnes@patch.com and we'll do our best to get it answered.

 

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Question: What is the ordinance/law concerning parking trailers without a vehicle attached on city streets?

Answer: Typically every municipality and county has their own parking regulations. In Westminster there is an ordinance (Section 155-20 of the Westminster City Code) which makes it illegal to “store” a trailer or any other type of vehicle on a city street. A detached trailer parked along the street falls within this definition.  The penalty for such violations is a $25 parking citation. 

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I would point out that Section 155-20 applies to city-owned and maintained roadways only. There are a number of communities within Westminster with private streets, cul-de-sacs and parking areas. These locations are typically governed by contracts, leases or covenants which can be more or less restrictive than the City parking code. You should consult your landlord or home owners association for details relating to the parking rules for these properties.

*This column offers a broad response to questions and should not be considered legal advice.


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