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Westchase still dealing with people parking poorly

Posted at 8:20 PM, Feb 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-24 20:20:56-05

WESTCHASE, Fla. -- Neighbors in Westchase say they are fed up over parked cars breaking the rules.

Congested is one way to describe the streets of West Park Village.

“It’s a lot of people and not a lot of space,” said Michele DelSordo, the Vice President of the Westchase Board of Directors.

She says that makes it difficult for school buses and emergency vehicles to get through all of the cars parked along the curb.

“People just park wherever they want in any direction they want regardless of safety,” she said.

It’s has gone on for years. DelSordo says a car was sideswiped after someone made a wide turn to get down New Park Road last week.

“Every parking space is taken and you live here where are you gonna park at?” said Debbie Kemp.

Kemp lives in the townhouses on Montague Street. She sees people park poorly every day inches away from stop signs. She thinks stripes painted on the ground at least 30 feet from a stop sign or intersection can help deter folks from doing that.

“Just block it off, like they do here, block it off and say you can’t park in the spot. This is a no parking zone,” she said.

DelSordo says the County has already installed no parking signs along parts of New Park Road.

“The 'No Parking' here is not a suggestion. It’s a rule,” she said.

County officials also plan to paint stripes in the area but DelSordo says drivers should start expecting tickets.

“We are expecting full enforcement,” she said.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says if you see someone parked illegally, you need to call the non-emergency line right away so they can get an officer out to take care of it. That number is 813-247-8200.