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An ounce of prevention is worth $30

Considering the flooding from hurricanes past, a man takes the usual precaution and ends up in an extraordinary situation.

By NICK BIRDSONG
Published July 17, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - For Walter Larson, it's not about the $30 ticket the city of St. Petersburg slapped him and five of his neighbors with. It's the principle behind it that perturbs him.

With Hurricane Dennis' wrath looming over the horizon last weekend, Larson knew exactly what to do. In 1996, his wife's car was totaled when the sunken driveway at their home on Huntington Avenue NE flooded and brackish saltwater saturated the engine of Julia's blue Ford Taurus. Sometimes, the water can get up to 21/2 feet high, Larson said.

Ever since, Larson said he's been parking on the sidewalk near Bayou Grande Bridge whenever inclement weather is imminent. There's no sign posted prohibiting parking there and he's never had a complaint from any of the residents who live adjacent to the small catwalk-sized structure either, he said.

"It's not like we were parking our cars up there to go fishing or something," Mrs. Larson said.

That's why Larson was so perplexed when he found the red and white ticket from the city of St. Petersburg wedged between the windshield and wipers of his champagne Chrysler Sebring, on July 10.

"They figure they can write a ticket and you're going to pay it to make it go away," Larson said. "Well, I don't play that game."

Larson said a city law enforcement officer told him he could do one of two things, pay the fine or fight it. The decision was a no-brainer. "He waved the red flag," said Larson, face grinning with sarcasm. "And I was happy to challenge him."

It all started when Officer Scott Newell was flagged down by a Progress Energy trucker on duty scanning for homes that may have lost power during the storm.

According to the police report, the trucker was nearly hit by an oncoming car that was forced to swerve across the road's double-yellow centerline to avoid hitting all of the illegally parked cars.

Larson said he wasn't trying to cause an accident. He was just trying to protect his assets.

"I'm sure that people will violate the law again," Larson said. "If I have a $25,000 vehicle out here, I'm going to park it on the highest piece of ground I can find to keep the water from inundating it. If that means parking up there, I'll park up there again."

St. Petersburg Police Department spokesman George Kajtsa said it is illegal to park on any sidewalk in St. Petersburg, in any situation.

"It's still a violation," Kajtsa said.

Mike McFadden parked his car near the bridge, too. But he didn't get a ticket.

McFadden lives next door to the Larsons. He had to maneuver his Toyota pickup truck through the flooded street, to avoid being ticketed. McFadden parked on the sidewalk the night of July 9 but moved early the next morning after Larson warned him of the consequences.

"I've lived here since 1985," McFadden said. "And this is the first time they've given anyone tickets for it."

If the offenders don't pay up by July 24, the fee increases to $45. The Larsons aren't budging. They're taking it to trial.

"It's not that we're out here to bust their chops," Mrs. Larson said. "But I think they're out here to bust these citizens."

She thinks the whole thing is "over the top."

"You just think that people would have more consideration for the circumstances," Mrs. Larson said.

[Last modified July 17, 2005, 01:06:14]