HICKORY, N.C. — Hickory police have started enforcing a nearly 50-year-old ordinance that prohibits drivers from backing into parking spaces in the downtown area. The enforcement efforts began over the past two weeks and are primarily focused on parking spots along the Hickory City Walk.
The ordinance, which dates back to 1976, makes it illegal to reverse into spaces. City leaders said the rule is intended to prevent vehicles from hanging over pedestrian walkways, a concern that has grown as the City Walk attracts more people to the Union Square area.
Most citations issued during the initial weeks of enforcement have been warning tickets.
The mayor said that while the city is focusing on education, a small number of repeat offenders have already been issued fines for the parking violation.
The enforcement was prompted by complaints regarding accessibility along the city wall. Police reported that when drivers back into those specific spaces, the rear of their vehicles often hangs over the walkway, creating an obstruction for pedestrians.
On Wednesday morning, several drivers were still reversing into parking spots around Union Square. There were also warning tickets on some.
Resident Cliff Collins got one after backing his work van into a space and as a precaution, took off his hitch first.
“I can’t understand what’s going on with downtown these days,” Collins said. “If I turn my van around, my hitch is going to stick out in the middle of the street. That’s the reason I back in”
Mayor Hank Guess said he was in high school in 1976 when the ordinance was first enacted. He said it is useful now because more people are going downtown.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever hit your shin on a trailer hitch from a vehicle, but when you do back in, there is potential for injury, and it’s a safety issue,” Guess said.
However, drivers said there were no signs warning people about the old ordinance.
Jack Boling backed his pickup truck into a space Wednesday morning and was unaware of the violation until Channel 9’s Dave Faherty told him.
“It’s safer for me, and I’ve been driving since 1974, and I’ve never put as much of a door ding on automobiles, so they can argue with that,” Boling said.
Purp Propst enjoys walking along the Hickory City Walk and doesn’t believe people should be fined for backing into a space.
“To me, it’s minor nitpicking,” Propst said. “Why does it matter how you park?”
Fines are $15, but the mayor said officers will only write tickets if drivers are caught doing it more than once.
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