By Tony Dobrowolski
Berkshire Eagle
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All Rights Reserved
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fed up with the number of motorists who park illegally in fire lanes, the Pittsfield Fire Department has decided to issue tickets to the offenders.
Beginning on Monday, Fire Department inspectors will issue $100 tickets to motorists for fire lane violations, Fire Chief James Sullivan said. He said state law allows fire inspectors to issue tickets for these violations between $100 and $500 depending on the number of infractions.
“An unattended vehicle in a fire lane is a direct violation and should be enforced,” Sullivan said.
No specific incident has led the Fire Department to take such action, Sullivan said. It’s a problem that has built up over time.
“It’s just getting worse,” Sullivan said, adding that the city’s parking enforcement officers are not able to cover the entire city. “Over the last few years, people just feel it’s OK to pull up in front of a store, park and walk in.
“When I was in charge of an engine company, a lot of times we’d pull up and there was nowhere for us to park,” he added.
Offenders can appeal the tickets issued by Fire Department inspectors, but Sullivan has also authorized his inspectors to take pictures of offending vehicles.
“If we have a picture of the car parked in a fire lane, they better have a real good reason for being there,” Sullivan said.
Funds collected through the fines will be placed in a revolving account for fire prevention, Sullivan said.