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Letters to the Editor

Parking enforcement

Editor: On Main Street if someone parks without paying they will be ticketed, if they park in a no parking area they will be towed. But in our residential areas these same laws don’t seem to apply. If we have parking laws in Park City, why are they enforced only in some areas? The signs on Comstock in Prospector read, "Cars hampering snow removal will be towed," but cars are seldom if ever towed. Cars park in the middle of the bike/walking lanes so our children going to and from school, people walking to the bus stop or just walking their dog all have to walk down the middle of the street. But the cars are never ticketed or towed. We all know about the traffic problems in Park City. The corner of Comstock and S.R. 248 is a prime problem area. The hundreds of cars coming into town on 248 every morning meet the hundreds of parents driving their kids to school, causing big delays. If we enforced the laws we already have, we could make it safe for more kids to walk to school and reduce some of the traffic problem. With Sundance, there are cars lining Comstock, and many other residential streets, and they park in the bike/walking lanes because there is too much snow to park on the edge of the street. They aren’t ticketed or towed. If cars are not allowed to park on the street when it snows the snowplows can remove the snow and people can then park their cars out of the bike/walking lanes. The bike/walking lanes can be kept open and walking the streets of Park City will be much safer. Sincerely, Ken McCarthy Park City Leash law refresher Editor:

For the purpose of education, I would like to present the facts concerning unleashed dogs and dog attacks as they appear in the Park City Municipal Code.

Title 7 Animal Control, Chapter 3

Section 7-3-2, Dogs running at large. It shall be unlawful for the owner or person having charge, care, custody or control of any dog to allow such dog at any time to run at large. The owner or person charged with responsibility for a dog found running at large shall be strictly liable for a violation of this section regardless of the precautions taken to prevent the escape of the dog and regardless of whether or not he knows that the dog is running at large. Deemed "at large" unless personally controlled by leash or lead in condo common areas, public parks, parking lots open to public, ski areas, golf courses and shopping centers.

Section 7-3-6, Dogs attacking persons and animals. A. It shall be unlawful for the owner or person having care, charge, custody or control of any dog to allow such dog to attack, chase or worry any person, domestic animal or any species of hoofed protected wildlife, or to attack domestic fowl.

B. The owner in violation of A. (above) shall be strictly liable for violation of this section in addition to being subject to prosecution the owner of such dog shall also be liable for damages to any person injured or to the owner of any animal injured or destroyed.

C. The following shall be considered in mitigating the penalties or damages or in dismissing the charge: 1. That the dog was properly confined. 2. That the dog was deliberately provoked.

D. Any person may kill a dog while it is committing any of the acts specified above or while such dog is being pursued thereafter.

These ordinances are virtually identical for Summit County and the state of Utah. There’s a reason dogs are the only domestic animals required to be on a leash. Know your responsibilities and the ordinances involved. Be aware of the consequences if you choose to ignore them. Richard P. Howe Park City


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