Hot Springs enforces town's right of ways

In order to decrease congestion of parked vehicles, trailers and other debris, Hot Springs Police Department has buckled down on the town’s right of way violations. Over the last several weeks, warning stickers have been attached to vehicles or property that have been parked or stored in the right of ways of city streets for an extended period of time.

“Enforcement is essential for vehicle and pedestrian traffic to move freely and safely on the road ways,” said Hot Springs Police Officer Jason Acheson. “In addition, vehicles and property left unattended and abandoned are usually neglected for long periods of time. So, not only are they a violation of town ordinance, but it’s also a decay matter which leads to not just an eye sore for a clean community and it’s a public nuisance.”

According to Hot Springs town ordinance, once a warning sticker is placed on a vehicle or stored property, the owner has five days to comply. The ordinance states if the owner does not correct the violation within the five days, a $25 fine will be issued. After five days, the vehicles will be towed at the owner or operator’s expense.

Right now, Acheson says it’s hard to get an accurate estimate for the number of vehicles in violation of the town ordinance because of the multiple violations on various levels the police department is seeing throughout town. “It’s not just broken down and abandoned vehicles, it is also campers, trailers and property such as appliances and stacked wood posts left in the right of ways,” he said. “In the past two or three weeks, there have been over 15 warnings given out and to my knowledge, up to this date, almost everyone is complying with the warnings offered and rectifying the concerns that have been pointed out.”

Acheson says up until recently, enforcement of parking and storing on town right of ways has been on an “as-needed basis” only. “Unfortunately, the generosity afforded to some in the community has created an expectation to where they now ‘unofficially’ adopt the town right of ways for their own property use,” he said. “It has now become problematic because the generosity afforded before has been getting abused by some members in the community and it’s created a larger problem that will take more time to manage.”

To this date, the police department has not had to tow any vehicles or needed to contact Hot Springs City Crew to remove any property that is in violation of the right of way. “I am very thankful that the citizens are cooperating and rectifying the matter on their own to avoid any additional expense or hassle,” Acheson said. “I do foresee at least half a dozen vehicles that will possibly get towed because of lack of compliance to the ordinance by the property owners.”

Acheson hopes that people will understand that if their vehicle or property is stickered, the five-day warning will be given in discretion. Hot Springs police officers will take a picture of the sticker attached and the time will be tracked for the date of removal.  If the sticker is intentionally removed, there will still be a visual record of it in order for the officer to remove the property on the appropriate date.  Once the five-day allowance has passed, the property will be removed at the owner’s expense. 

“We understand that many people have had their vehicles or property parked in a manner that encroaches the town right of way for days, weeks and even years,” Acheson said. “So, if a sticker is put on their property, it is not a manner of singling them out. There are multiple infractions throughout town that require attention and the enforcement has to start somewhere in order for this to be managed at an efficient level.”

The Hot Springs Police Department says it is also equally important that the citizens remember it is their responsibility to research and inquire if they are in compliance when parking or storing a vehicle in an area that could be public right of way.  “A lapse of enforcement for long periods at a time does not relieve them of that responsibility, or allow them to be immune from enforcement,” Acheson said.

For more information, contact Hot Springs Town Hall at (406) 741-2353, or visit townofhotspringsmt.com for information on the town ordinances.