NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — Stricter parking enforcement could be coming to New Smyrna Beach.
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On Tuesday, commissioners will discuss changing language in the current ordinance that would give police the authority to take action against illegal parking.
This comes two months after the city re-established a parking task force to come up with ideas to improve parking in the area.
Signs at businesses in New Smyrna Beach that say no parking tell people they’ll be towed if they stay there for too long.
If you go out to Flagler Avenue, there is limited parking.
But police could have more power to enforce parking laws if the ordinance passes.
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Visitors in New Smyrna Beach said searching for a parking spot takes time from their vacation.
“If we find parking on the street, we take it,” Mark Leverenz said. “Otherwise, we just keep going further out until we find a spot, and then we walk.”
The city’s parking situation has been an issue for several years and the lack of spots often leaves businesses to pick up the slack.
“They park in all the residential areas; they don’t really respect private property,” said Terry Stephens, owner of the Seahorse Inn.
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Updating the city’s parking codes could give police more power to enforce rules.
The ordinance said New Smyrna Beach has seen an increase in traffic, which has led to numerous parking violations, traffic congestion and illegally parked vehicles.
The city is considering enhancing fines and giving police authority to tow.
Stephens often sees four-hour parking spots on Flagler Avenue filled by the same car for the entire day.
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“That’s not the reason for four-hour parking on Flagler, he said. “That’s for shopping and eating.”
If out-of-town guests want to go to the ocean, they can leave their car in the paid lot or pay $20 to park on the beach.
Stephens agreed that those prices are a little steep, but since free spots on Flagler don’t seem to work either, he believes meters might make a difference.
“What they should do now is have that parking as the most expensive parking in town,” Stephens said.
Commissioners will discuss this ordinance during a first reading Tuesday night.
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