BREA : Trying to Park Drives Some Wild

Horace Jackson, chief of security at Brea Mall, says the holiday shopping season brings out the best and worst in drivers searching for parking.

Unfortunately, some people “lose all sight of reality and common courtesy when it comes to parking at this time of year,” he said. “I’ve seen people fighting over parking spots instead of being kind to each other. People just tend to get ballistic.”

Jackson, who has patrolled the mall’s parking lots every holiday season for the past seven years, said he has nearly been run over by motorists seemingly blind to everything in their way as they race for an open parking spot.

“I’m wearing a white shirt, white gloves, a Smokey the Bear hat and orange vest and I’m blowing my loud whistle trying to direct traffic--and people have tried to run me over,” Jackson lamented. “If I wasn’t jumping out of the way all the time, I would get hit. . . . People do a lot of stupid things in the parking lot.”

Jackson has seen motorcycles parked in front of stores and elevators, cars on sidewalks and in fire lanes, and drivers stopped part way up a lane, not letting others pass while they wait for someone to leave.

Shopping centers throughout Orange County tend to have similar problems during the holidays, officials said.

At South Coast Plaza, a few cars that are parked illegally and causing traffic hazards are towed daily to less congested areas, security officials said.

Congestion in the parking lots at Santa Ana’s MainPlace Mall is the most frequent complaint there, police said.

Santa Ana Police Lt. Dave Nick advises holiday shoppers to drive defensively and watch out for cars backing up, doors swinging open, sudden stops and people darting between automobiles.

“Don’t try to sneak in a spot when someone else is waiting for it,” he said. “It’s not worth it. People should not let their aggressions take over.”

Added Jackson: “Just use common courtesy. When you fight over a parking spot, you are just making yourself look ridiculous. It doesn’t accomplish anything. Let the other person have the space and don’t waste your time arguing when you could be finding another space.”

Nick further suggests that shoppers look for alternative transportation to the malls, such as shuttles from nearby locations.

“I wish there was peace on earth and good will toward men in the parking lots, but at Christmastime, it’s a different ball game,” Jackson said.

Barbara Phelps, 66, of Brea said she knows firsthand how bad the parking problems are during the holiday season, so she does all of her shopping months in advance.

“I can’t stand the crowds and the parking headaches, so I just avoid it,” she said. “I hate to find my car with chipped paint and dings all over it from people who park too close and don’t care about anybody else’s cars.”

BREA MALL

* Height of Christmas tree: No tree

* Stroller/wheelchair rental: No/no

* Cost of photo with Santa: $6.95

* Santa’s gift: Candy

* Mall gift certificate: Yes

* Gift wrap: Yes

* Valet parking: Weekends only

* Post office: Yes

* Concierge/info desk: Yes

* Number of temporary stores: 12

* Mall security: Yes

* Best way to get in: Exit Orange Freeway at Imperial Highway, pass State College Boulevard and use Randolph Avenue, just west of the mall grounds