Essex County Faces Off: Saving Parking Spaces When It Snows

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — It’s a classic wintertime argument: should you be allowed to save a parking space on a public street that you dig out when it snows?

The above debate resurfaced in Essex County again Wednesday – as it does nearly every snowstorm – when Belleville town officials reminded local residents that saving parking spaces on public roadways is prohibited… even if you dug it out in front of your own house.

It's an issue that has caused clashes among neighbors in the past, with many Belleville residents attempting to save shoveled spaces in front of their homes by blocking them with items such as furniture, golf bags and traffic cones. Violators may be subject to a maximum fine of $2,000, according to the Belleville town code.

Belleville police have stated that the practice can “hinder emergency services and the Department of Public Works."

• See related article: Belleville Residents Butt Heads Over 'Saving Parking Spaces' When It Snows
• See related article: Belleville Cops Say ‘Stop Saving Parking Spaces Or Face Fines’

The practice is also banned in Bloomfield, but hasn’t stopped local residents from trying to save freshly dug-out parking spots with lawn chairs and garbage cans.

• See related article: Bloomfield Cops Say ‘Don't Save Parking Spaces In Snowstorm’

However, the practice of saving parking spots in snowstorms is apparently so common that it has its own Wikipedia page: the “Parking Chair.” It’s been reported in Garfield, Lodi, Hackensack, Passaic, Elizabeth, Newark, East Rutherford and several other towns.

Here’s what some Essex County residents had to say on Patch’s Facebook pages about the space-saving debate after the snow started falling Wednesday.

DON'T SAVE SPACES: "ITS ILLEGAL"

• “You actually don’t have a ‘right’ to park on a public roadway. Your landlord doesn’t own it. You don’t own it. It’s not the state of NJ’s fault you don’t have a driveway.”
• "It’s illegal."
• “You don’t own the street so stop your whining...”

SAVING SPACES IS OK: "I WORKED MY BUTT OFF"

• “Why shouldn't we? If we clean the space then we should be allowed to save it to park in! It's not right that someone that didn't clean out the space in front of my house should park there, I worked my butt off to clean it.”
• “When a landlord owns a piece of property, him/her or the tenants have a right to park there, hence why I say if I shoveled, I should park there, not others that didn't.”
• “Out of respect and common courtesy you should not park in a spot your neighbor cleared... but since those are in short supply, it should be allowed.”
• “You clear a parking space in front of your home... no driveway. You go to work, school, doctor appointment or grocery shopping and find your neighbor has taken your space instead of clearing one for themselves in front of their house. Now, you tell me...is this right?”

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File Photo: Bloomfield Police Department