Park Service unfairly strict on parking rules
Citizens of Guilford County, be warned. Your friendly local military park will be more than happy to slap you with a substantial fine for parking improperly. When we went out for what was supposed to be a pleasant afternoon walk, we got back to find a National Park Service vehicle with blue lights flashing parked beside our car. The officer informed us that we parked “right beside the cone with the no parking symbol on it” as if we purposely set out to break the law even though the parking restriction that the cone was referring to was by no means clear. We parked at that particular spot because of an uncertain car battery. It was a downhill slope and we could have popped the clutch on the gentle incline if we needed to.
We were not blocking anything or anyone. Instead of a warning, which we would have certainly respected, we were given a $75 ticket. We are both natives of Greensboro and have always loved and supported Battleground Park, but it will not be the same. What we formerly viewed as a sanctuary will never feel that way again.
Pam Blackwood
Greensboro
Comments (7)
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Tell it to the Judge .. and remember to vote for Law and Order.
Posted on November 4, 2008 5:53 AM
I too was a victim of the over zealous park Nazi's
I pulled my truck forward so my bike rack wouldn't stick out the back end and impede other traffic . . . apparently my front tires were on the grass . . . and this is an unforgivable and hangable offense at country/battle ground park . . .
how can you argue with three time loser park cops anyway . . .
Posted on November 4, 2008 9:02 AM
While $75 does seem excessive and the cops out there are overzealous, don't you wish you had just spent that money and got a new battery for your car?
Your excuse for parking right beside a "No Parking" sign probably wouldn't wash with me, either.
I'm sure if you asked anybody charged with a crime if they "purposefully set out to break the law", they'd say no.
On a sidenote, if you were illegal alien, you'd only have to pay $50 for that ticket if you paid it at all.
Posted on November 4, 2008 9:09 AM
As a Greensboro native and a Battleground park (area) fan myself, I wonder why in the world did you park beside a no parking sign and think that the words on the sign did not apply to you?
Sometimes Greensboro people really embarrass me with their intelligence levels...
*sigh*
Posted on November 4, 2008 9:39 AM
I was interested in the three-time-loser-park-cop bit. I'd never given much thought to the fed job.
Turns out they have much higher educational and experience standards than our municipal officers to even get a foot in the door:
Random fed grab, "protection," lowest salary I saw (BA or BS):
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=76689319&brd=3876&AVSDM=2008-10-15+12%3A30%3A22&sort=rv&vw=d&q=nps&Logo=0&ss=0&customapplicant=15513%2C15514%2C15515%2C15669%2C15523%2C15512%2C15516%2C45575&TabNum=3&rc=2
Greensboro officer posting (GED):
http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/humanresources/jobs/joblisting.htm?key=1302
State trooper (GED):
http://osp.its.state.nc.us/positiondetail.asp?vacancykey=4960-0001&printit=no
Guilford county deputy (GED):
http://gclxweb01.co.guilford.nc.us/depts/law/content/view/37/161/
Posted on November 4, 2008 11:01 AM
Cheer up, Pam, and look at it this way. IF a certain event which culminates today turns out as the media has been telling us for months and months, you'll be ahead of the game by paying your $75.00 to the federal government before the swearing-in take place.
Now don't you feel better?
And I loved these lines from you:
"Instead of a warning, which we would have certainly respected . . . ." Now that is FUNNY!
"We . . . have . . . supported Battleground Park . . . ." And your $75 will support it even more.
"What we formerly viewed as a sanctuary . . . ." I haven't viewed it as a "sanctuary" since rabid animals were terrorizing people there.
Posted on November 4, 2008 11:56 AM
Cool. So, now the Fed bailout will only cost $699,999,999,925.00
Posted on November 4, 2008 4:11 PM