Bel Air Police To Step Up Parking Enforcement

BEL AIR, MD — The Bel Air Police Department is notifying the public that it will be especially focused on enforcing pedestrian and parking laws. A number of "close calls" prompted police to issue a refresher on the rules around parking.

Particularly around Main Street in Bel Air, drivers must park within 12 inches of the curb, in part because the roads are so narrow, police said.

Some violations of this "have been extreme," Bel Air police reported.

Vehicles have been sideswiped, and pedestrians have nearly been hit, officials said.

Parking enforcement personnel will photograph and measure vehicles that are in violation.

This is the guidance for parking, according to the Bel Air code:

A vehicle that is stopped or parking must be parallel to the curb or edge of the road, with its wheels within 12 inches of the curb or edge of the road, in the direction that traffic is moving.

Violations may be $50 if issued by a sworn police officer; these are called Maryland Annotated Code violations and are infractions that will appear on driving records. Town of Bel Air code violations are issued by parking enforcement personnel in the form of citations, which result in a $35 fine that does not go on driving records.

"Heightened enforcement efforts related to curb violations, pedestrian safety, and speed/traffic violations will continue throughout the summer months, especially on Main Street and Bond Street," the Bel Air Police Department said in a statement on Friday. "We thank you for assisting us in improving traffic safety in the Town of Bel Air and recognizing that safety is paramount."

File photo of Main Street by Elizabeth Janney.