CYPRESS : Residents Rebuffed on RV Parking Limit

Despite complaints from recreational-vehicle owners who say a 72-hour parking limit is discriminatory, the City Council this week refused to lift residential parking restrictions.

After studying several laws adopted by nearby cities, the council decided not to lift an ordinance that prohibits parking on a public street for more than 72 hours. The matter was referred to the traffic committee for future study.

“The 72-hour ordinance is in place to identify derelict vehicles,” said Chief of Police Daryl Wicker. “It is not intended (to restrict parking of) motor homes.”

Last month, several recreational-vehicle owners complained to the council that police were harassing them by placing warnings on their vehicles for breaking the 72-hour rule. Some complained that it was a tool used by irate neighbors to “get at them.”

Led by resident Joe Hardcastle, the RV owners asked the council to exempt recreational vehicles.

“Fairness is what we are asking for,” said Hardcastle, who told the council that he has parked his motor home in front of his house for 15 years. “We are good people. We just can’t put up with this harassment.”

But on the recommendation of the police chief, the council unanimously decided to keep the current ordinance in place. Wicker said he would ask his officers to make an effort not to duplicate warnings.

Furthermore, the council directed the traffic committee to study whether the issue is worthy of a ballot initiative, which would allow residents to decide whether to keep the 72-hour limit.