Cop car parking

Started by BrianB17 • 8 replies • 904 views

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BrianB17 (Florida)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Again Im in Florida, my brother-in-law is a cop, and in florida we just passed a bill SB 476 which states.

S.B. 476 has a simple purpose. It states that an association can't prohibit a law enforcement officer who's a unit owner or tenant, guest, or invitee of a unit owner from parking an assigned law enforcement vehicle where the unit owner or the tenant, guest, or invitee of the unit owner otherwise has a right to park.

Who's a law enforcement officer? Anybody elected, appointed, or employed full time by any municipality, state, or other government entity who can essentially carry a gun and make arrests. It includes supervisory and command personnel who supervise, train, guide, and manage such officers but not support personnel of a law enforcement agency.

Translation: All of these people can park on streets, in driveways, and other spots in HOAs.

But our Hoa is telling him that since its private property they dont have to abide by that rule and he cant park his cop car in the road.

Is this true

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Are cars in general allowed to be parked on the road? Are they to be normally parked in driveway or garage?

My brother used to be an ambulance driver. He'd come to our house on his lunch breaks. So the neighborhood would see an ambulance in our driveway or in front of the house and think something had happened. Had to explain everything was good he is an EMT on lunch.

Also in our HOA we had a renter whom was a county police officer. They parked their car on side of the road not far from the mailboxes/entrance. People thought it was a good thing that it would deter crime etc... It wasn't. We had a rash of mailbox robberies. The County officer's child support was stolen. (I had a paycheck stolen myself). Had to work with the Post Office Police section to report the crime. No law enforcement was able to do anything as it was a "federal" crime with the postal system.

So will say through experience that sometimes having a police car parked can give people a false sense of security. Plus give him more attention good or bad. I would recommend parking it in the garage instead of the street in public view if possible. Today's reaction to police is such a mixed bag it may be best option for all involved.

Former HOA President

BrianB17 (Florida)
Posts: 3

Posted:

No our hoa doesnt aloud cars to be parked in the road. And with having more then 1 car, there isn't room in the garage to park it. But according to the florida statue it states hes aloud to park on the road.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Again that is two different things. He is allowed to park his vehicle on the road most likely when acting in the capacity of a police officer. He is not if he just takes the car home with him as a second vehicle.

Sorry to say it but having a police car as a 2nd vehicle doesn't mean you get an extra parking space if no parking on the road isn't allowed. That isn't what the intention of that statute means.

Former HOA President

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BrianB17 on 05/29/2021 9:21 PM

But according to the florida statue it states hes aloud to park on the road.

That would be incorrect based on your own posting.

According to your posting [emphasis added]:

It states that an association can't prohibit a law enforcement officer who's a unit owner or tenant, guest, or invitee of a unit owner from parking an assigned law enforcement vehicle where the unit owner or the tenant, guest, or invitee of the unit owner otherwise has a right to park.

If an owner is not allowed to park on the street, then the officer can not park on the street (unless he/she is responding to a call).

AugustinD
Posts: 3,698

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BrianB17 on 05/29/2021 8:55 PM
Again Im in Florida, my brother-in-law is a cop, and in florida we just passed a bill SB 476 which states.

S.B. 476 has a simple purpose. It states that an association can't prohibit a law enforcement officer who's a unit owner or tenant, guest, or invitee of a unit owner from parking an assigned law enforcement vehicle where the unit owner or the tenant, guest, or invitee of the unit owner otherwise has a right to park.

Just confirming that this bill did indeed become law. The specific Florida statute section 720.318, also known as FS 720.318. The Condo and Coop statutes also have new sections equivalent to the latter.

ArtB1 (Florida)
Posts: 97

Posted:

you really want to tell a police officer he can't park his patrol car in the street?

We are a FL HOA with private roads and we allow police cars to be parked overnight.

No one is stupid enough to tell them they cant park there

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Why not? A police officer off duty is still a HOA member. Which has to obey the rules of the HOA. They don't get an "extra" parking space because they have a police car. Plus some streets are too narrow to have car parking on them. Ours are not wide enough for people to park. Emergency vehicles can't fit or even the garbage truck.

Former HOA President

BenA2 (Texas)
Posts: 1,273

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BrianB17 on 05/29/2021 9:21 PM
No our hoa doesnt aloud cars to be parked in the road. And with having more then 1 car, there isn't room in the garage to park it. But according to the florida statue it states hes aloud to park on the road.

What you posted states that an owner can park a police car anywhere they would otherwise be able to park. That means if an owner can't park their private vehicle on the road then they would also not be able to park their police car on the road. In simple terms, the HOA cannot treat a police car any differently than a private vehicle but they also don't get special privileges.

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