READING, Pa – One Reading City Council member says it’s about fairness and staying between the lines.
“Not having parking is the biggest issue, but we want to make sure there’s fairness across the board,” said City Council Member Jaime Baez Jr.
“If someone’s parking over the line on both ends and they’re taking one parking space, and then when they come home they move their vehicles so that way they can park their third car there,” said Baez. “It’s all about fairness.”
Council member Jaime Baez says it’s a problem people have been telling him about.
“I’ve driven down to Muhlenberg Street just so I can take a look and see what the constituents’ concerns are, which I think is important for us to do as legislators,” Baez said.
City parking can be challenging. This new ordinance requires that you not just have your four tires in between the white lines, but your whole vehicle.
“Making sure they stay within the lines and not taking advantage of the loophole, tire on the line,” Baez said.
What else do you need to know about this new ordinance?
“The tickets here, they’re not going up,” Baez said. “They’re remaining at 25 dollars. We’re not upping or lowering fines. All we’re doing is making sure everyone has a fair shot at a parking space.”
Baez says the city is working with the parking authority to improve the overall experience in Reading, and the parking authority Executive Director says they’re discussing a number of other issues in the coming weeks.
“Before this was introduced, I’ve had several conversations with not only the executive director but also supervisors on first and second shift about the issue down on Muhlenberg Street and other streets that have come to my attention.”