Winston-Salem Implements Fines for Oversized Vehicles on Residential Streets
Residents of Winston-Salem can expect to see a new enforcement measure targeting large trucks and RVs parked on city streets. This comes as a response to ongoing complaints about these vehicles posing safety risks on streets not designed for such sizes.
Although city regulations have long prohibited the parking of oversized vehicles in residential areas, enforcement has been a challenge. According to Winston-Salem Transportation Manager Reid Hutchins, the lack of a penalty mechanism has hindered effective enforcement. “We’ve got a lot of feedback saying, ‘Okay, we’re seeing this as an issue, but we don’t have any teeth in the game,’” Hutchins remarked.
In a move to strengthen compliance, the city council has introduced a new ordinance that imposes a $50 fine on drivers who park vehicles wider than 80 inches or longer than 30 feet on city streets. Exceptions are made for vehicles that are actively loading or unloading.
While the city will now issue fines for repeated violations, officials clarified that towing will not be part of the enforcement strategy due to resource constraints.
