Salinas council members approve parking ban for oversized vehicles

UPDATED 6/19/2018 10:00 p.m.

Oversized vehicles will soon be banned from Salinas City Streets.

Tuesday, nearly a year after it was introduced, the city council passed the ordinance.

Concern over where these vehicles go now and how it might impact the homeless population has made this a controversial topic. But that’s just part of why this decision was so divided.

The ordinance bans parking for oversized vehicles on city streets and other public places in Salinas.

That means any trailer, boat, commercial vehicle or RV more than 20 feet long or seven feet high.

“This ordinance comes due to countless, countless reports from citizens in Salinas that have been impacted,” Councilman Steve McShane said.

Some say the new rules will cover two separate issues, big work trucks parked in front of homes and homeless people parking RVs on city streets.

“I’m inclined to support the ordinance as it is, with perhaps some direction to staff to look at some alternatives for our RV situation,” councilwoman Kimbley Craig said.

But many still don’t support this four to three vote.

“We’re going to be filing an injunction against this,” said Wes White, president of the Salinas Homeless Union.

It’s not just the homeless speaking out against the change.

Tow truck companies that allow their employees to take trucks home when they’re on-call may be impacted.

Not only will they be the ones likely towing these oversized vehicles, their trucks may be too big for the street as well, slowing their emergency response time.

“If someone was trapped in a vehicle we need to get them out, evidence tows, I’m sure the police department needs to look at that,” said Elaine Garcia, owner of P&R Towing, “What happens if somebody gets shot?”

The new rules go into effect in 30 days, police say there will be a grace period as they start citing.

City staff say they’ll continue to look for parking alternatives for those living in RVs.

PREVIOUS STORY: The Salinas city council approved a controversial ordinance to ban oversized vehicles from city streets.

The council voted 4 to 3 passing the new rule at their meeting on Tuesday, June 19th.

The vote comes after a meeting with the public to discuss the rule on Monday.

The ordinance bans oversized vehicles including RVs from parking on city streets, roads, alleys and other public spaces.

KION’s Zach Fuentes was at the meeting and will have the story at 11.

For previous stories on this click here