Bel Air Police Reinstitute Weekday Parking Meter Enforcement

BEL AIR, MD — The Bel Air Police Department has started to again reinforce parking rules after more than two months of not doing so due to coronavirus-related staffing reductions.

Department spokeswoman Patti Parker said Tuesday that reinforcement was again instituted on Monday after many spots had been taken up by a single vehicle for an entire day, which hindered usage for customers of local restaurants and businesses offering curbside pickup services.

Parker said that temporarily ending parking meter restrictions was started without a public announcement at a time when changes were made to the town’s staffing and operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Reducing parking enforcement was part of a staffing reduction.

By reinstating the parking enforcement, increased rotation of vehicles should be seen along Main Street as visitors frequent retail shops and restaurants, Parker said. Restaurants have been provided meter covers to allow for parking for their businesses and the police department does not anticipating the renewed parking enforcement having any negative impact on local businesses.

Enforcement of the parking meters will be done until 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and drivers will have 15 minutes of free parking before meters go into effect.