A questionable arrest, plus a discrepancy in no-parking zones, have prompted the city of Williams, Ariz., to review its ordinance for downtown parking, reported the Williams-Grand Canyon News.
For a town that gets its lifeblood from Grand Canyon and Route 66 tourism, the situation is appalling:
— Amy Fredrickson, owner of the Grand Canyon Hotel, has her property sitting in the 100 block of West Route 66, where parking is prohibited from 2 to 6 a.m.
On July 12, five of the hotel’s guests who parked overnight on the 100 block of Route 66 received parking tickets.
“So my husband walked out and took their tickets so we can pay them, because we offer them free parking,” Fredrickson said. “The response was the police came and arrested him, and not only arrested him, cuffed him.” […]
“We have guests from all over the world who come to Williams, they have a great time, they love Williams, they’re leaving the hotel, they said, ‘That was awesome,’ they walk out, they have a $98 ticket out there,” she said. “What a nice way to send out our tourists.”
The newspaper said the arrest incident involving Fredrickson’s husband hadn’t been resolved at press time.
Arresting one of the hotel’s proprietors seems overzealous. If the fine is going to be paid, why should the police care who does it?
— The city in the spring (apparently inadvertently) changed the no-parking ordinance from the full length of Route 66 to a one-block area. However, the city installed no-parking signs in the old prohibited area. A few signs were removed when the discrepancy came to light, but some still are standing in areas where parking is no longer illegal.
The mayor said the new ordinance was intended to include all the old no-parking area. But the language was botched.
— The no-parking zone in the wee hours was created specifically for street sweeping and snow removal. However, the city manager said the street sweeper hadn’t run in several weeks because city workers were busy with other more-urgent tasks.
The city council plans to discuss the parking discrepancy at its next meeting in early August.
Having been to Williams several times, I understand parking space is an issue. However, it seems counterproductive to issue tickets to overnight tourists, arrest a hotel owner who’s trying to extend hospitality to his guests, and erect confusing or inaccurate signs.
There has to be a better way to solve the parking situation and welcome visitors.
UPDATE 8/14/2013: The city changed the ordinance to restrict parking in a three-block area, instead of just one block. And it added this portion:
“Every person in whose name a vehicle is registered or licensed shall be prima facie responsible for any parking of the vehicle in violation of any provision of this chapter.”
City Attorney Kellie Peterson explained that portion of the ordinance will “clarify that the owner of the vehicle is responsible” for any violation.
That apparently is in response to the co-owner of the Grand Canyon Hotel being arrested for paying parking tickets of his guests.
(Image of downtown Williams, Ariz., by Jess & Corey, via Flickr)
Thanks Ron for this article !! I will put this on my list of things to remenber for my Rt. 66 trip next june !!!
My thought is if there is a sign that says no parking why would a hotel guest park there in the first place?
Maybe the owners told them to go ahead and park anyway and it would be taken care of.
In that case I see the owner going out and getting them.
What made no sense is for what reason did they arrest the owner ? That would be interesting
Sounds like they need to just back up and start this allover and forget this issue ever happened
Isn’t it comforting to know that government is incompetent at all levels.
Whatever happened to best and brightest?
The City of Williams also issues tickets to cars entering their annual summer car show held on 66- you know that 26-27mph in a 25 zone sort of thing. The City clear sees tourists as a revenue stream- little more.
Certainly is a mess. And I’m with Doc…I’d like to know why the owner was arrested. If removing the tickets from other peoples cars is against a local ordinance, then OK, write the hotel owner a ticket too. But cuffed and arrested? That doesn’t make sense. Did things gt a little heated between him and the police? It would be interesting to know more details on this.