Could have been…
Most head-in parking rules I’ve seen are to prevent car exhast from dirtying and/or damaging nearby walls.
I reckon there would be some infraction you could get a ticket for, if you piss off the cops. Even if it’s a matter of “(SMASH) Busted tail light - $50 fine!”
That makes sense. The signs at work are at spaces close to the (white) building.
Without knowing the specifics of the situation beyond what you’ve stated, it could be that the cop was performing a “Terry stop,” which allows officers to “stop and frisk” based on a “reasonable suspicion” that the person is armed. Under Hiibel a state with the appropriate law on the book can demand that a person produce identification in the course of a Terry stop. So there is a chain of legal events that could result in what you’ve described.
Or as also noted he could’ve just run the plates.
IANAL, etc.
Even though I can see PA from my window I am in fact in New Jersey. Here the only parking offense that can be written on private property is for handicapped parking. Even then the signs have to be the only signs that are authorized by the NJ DOT. Just painting “handicapped parking” is not enough. If the property owner requests it then other parking offenses can be covered. For instance Walmart can request that the fire zone in front of the store be enforced by the police. The local traffic commisioner or some other designee of the mayor goes to the store and ensures that the firezone is set up with the proper DOT signs and markings. A township ordinance would then have to be passed authorizing the enforcement of the fire zone. That has to be done for each and every property that wants the motor vehicle code to be enforced there. Otherwise there are very few statutes in the NJ motor vehicle code that can be enforced on private property. Busted tail light is not one of them.
This does not include pregnant parking. And I can’t force your neighbor to move his car because he parked in the spot marked 3B instead of 2A.
Really? I always thought it was because the area was busy or narrow, and they wanted to discourage folks clogging up the right-of-way by backing into a space. Ignorance fought!
Ah… but whose property is it?
I’d wager it belongs to XYZ Retail Properties Inc rather than the store that put up the sign.
I think backing out of the space is even more disruptive to traffic flow, not to mention more dangerous.
I’ve seen some “head-in parking only” signs in Japan, and as far as I could tell, it was on parking spaces that faced an adjacent property. They didn’t want exhaust blowing into the neighbor’s property.
But people backing in and out at the same time is yet more disruptive. I think the goal is to make sure that all cars are moving in a predicable and regular manner. Other factors (like idling exhaust, damage to walls, etc) seem less important. But these are all WAGs.
Locations which have only one license plate usually put it on the rear. In parking lots where parking legality is judged by a list of license plates, backing your plate up against a wall can be frustrating.
It can also be interpreted by police as an attempt to hide the license plate of your vehicle.
Okay, so, what about me?
There are spaces at many local supermarkets that say “Reserved for New or Expectant Moms.” Well, when I went to pay my mortgage (there’s a branch of my bank in the supermarket), I had my five month old little girl with me, and that carrier is bloody heavy. Shouldn’t new dads get to park there too?
For the record, I parked elsewhere, but I was sorely tempted by the “stork space”.
No, you’re just babysitting. :: d&r
Just after the hurricanes in south Florida a few years ago, I was living in Miami and the nearby Publix supermarket was the only place that had power. Of course, everyone was there getting supplies and food. The parking lot was full. Cars were driving in circles trying to get a spot, yet leaving this one, obviously non-HC spot. Turns out it was a “pregnant spot”. I took it (I’m a mid 20’s guy driving with my girlfriend). Besides, once I’m inside, how can you tell I’m not pregnant?