Question: Often I see delivery vehicles of all kinds stopped in the roadway. Either they are double parked, parked near a fire hydrant, parked next to a yellow curb, parked parallel in an angle-parking spot (taking up numerous parking stalls) or parked in a no parking zone of some type. I see this all the time and have seen it for many years. In some cases they actually block in some cars that are parked legally or cause other hazards for vehicles, pedestrians or bicyclists. I have a difficult time with this issue and so do a lot of people I have talked with about it over the years. I even see garbage trucks driving the wrong direction or driving over the center line in the opposing lane. I can understand an ambulance or other emergency type vehicles parking where they need to park to do their job during an actual emergency but not delivery or similar type vehicles. I would just like to know: Is there a special statute for these types of vehicles, allowing them to park like that? If there are no laws allowing it then why aren’t the laws being enforced, and what can be done about it? It seems to be very common, but not very safe none-the-less.
Answer: No, there are no special laws that I am aware of for allowing that type of parking by those vehicles, unless some cities have special ordinances for special situations in specific areas. I have heard complaints about this many times before over the years. All drivers have a responsibility as the operator of their vehicle to obey the traffic laws and to exercise due care. The company that owns the vehicle and hires the driver has some responsibility in training their drivers properly and setting forth guidelines or policies for the operation of the company vehicles.
These delivery-type vehicles are usually there for a short time and if someone does call the police the vehicle is gone before they arrive. If you see a particular company committing these unsafe practices, you can call them and complain or speak to the driver and let them know your concerns. You can also speak to the local police and request enforcement. The ones that concerns me the most are the ones driving the wrong way or in the opposing traffic lane. I would hope that those actions would be cited by an officer upon observing.
If you have any questions for future columns concerning motor vehicle traffic in Minnesota, please send your questions to: “ASK A TROOPER” c/o Sgt. Curt S. Mowers, MN State Patrol, P.O. Box 644, Brainerd, MN, 56401, or email questions to curtis.mowers@state.mn.us with Ask a Trooper in the subject line. Questions are edited.
Comments (24)
Add commentI think
delivery drivers have a tough enough job. Why make them park a block or more away and have to make multiple trips back and forth. Times that with the number of stops they might be making and they would never get done. I don't imagine they are paid all that much to begin with. Just leave them alone.
Wrong Dean
These drivers, if you are talking about the ones I think you are, make good wages. Also, if they had to drive/park according to the laws, they would never get their jobs done. Wrong again. If they can't get their job done, what do you supposed would happen. They would either get overtime pay or heavens forbid, the company would have to hire more employees. WOW a partial solution to our unemployment problem. Novel idea, hey Dean.
To those who are so damned
To those who are so damned important, you can't wait for a delivery to be made, take a pill. These working people getting in your important lives, how dare they? Don't they know you are all important, and the world revolves around you?
Charlie, your envy is
Charlie, your envy is showing. You really hate "the man " don't you?
Angry
Angry about everything Charlie? Is there anything that you WON'T argue about?
Me: The snow is sure a pretty white, isn't it Charlie?
Charlie: No Nan, I'm sorry you are wrong, the snow isn't white, it's actually a gray color but because you are an optimistic person you see it as a pretty white. I'm a pessimist so I see it as off colored.
Careful here.
I wouldn't want too many judges ganging up on one charlie.
Then
Then he doesn't have to act like he knows it all, or have a negative opinion on everything. We don't have to be careful F&B, now do we? No one tells him to be careful.
Frankly, Nan
there isn't much you say that I agree with either...so it isn't just Charlie that disagrees with you.
Some of us just dont bother trying to communicate with you because it has proven useless in the past.
Nan-o Nan-o
You're not angry now are you????? However, I know how you feel about knowing everything. I found someone once that knew more than me and I was angry also. LOL. Go to bed and sleep it off and you'll be okay tomorrow after the hangover goes away. Peace, sister. PS: I don't HATE anyone. I love all my brothers and sisters, however I do reserve my first amendment rights to comment on stupid things (and smart things) that my brothers and sisters say, and continue loving them. That goes for you also, Snacky, Cappy, Motley, Little Johnny and the rest of your gang.
Alls I'm sayin' is
that hypocricy is easy to slip into and even eyolf didn't judge on charlie tonight.
Charlie is the man
When I read what Charlie has to read, I say to myself, "Charlie you da MAN!"
Because it'd not just your first amendment rights but the second and third too. The right to conceal carry and the AR15, a fine gun. I thing its my favorite.
We needs to keep are rights and sir Charles you get it!
Don't forget the 7th amendment? If any of this nonsense costs more Than $20 you have a right to trial by jurrie!
That is why the Kenyan prince want's us to switch to euros. To inviolate the 7th amend,met and repeal the constitution.
Tisk, tisk!
SMTN
Aitken
WHATTA
Putz..............lefter
Charlie
I don't always disagree with you, in fact we have laughed over a few things. Generally you have something negative to say and I don't have enough ink in my computer to copy and paste it all for you to see.
I don't drink, sorry to tell you you're wrong in front of your cronies. Just because I disagree with you doesn't make me a drunk.
You also reserve the right to remain silent, but you are unable to do so.
Look at who get's more thumbs down in a day. Let's see how well you do today Charlie, Perpetrator and F&B. No one else knows that you 2 give Charlie thumbs down.
Sorry Charlie
Guess we will just have to disagree on this one. Most of those delivery trucks can't use normal parking spots. Forcing businesses to pay overtime or hire additional people (and buy more vehicles) because of double parking ordinances just drives up the end cost of the products. Add to that the additional tax expense to hire extra LEOs to enforce this and it looks like a lose-lose to me.
delivery guys
Driving the wrong way is one thing but expecting the delivery people to find a legal parking space at each stop is asking too much. I know for a fact that some of these guys run as many as 150 to 200 stops a day. Find something else to complain about Grumpy.
No complaint here
We would have to identify which delivery trucks/garbage trucks we are referring to. In the town of Brainerd, I've not seen a garbage truck going the wrong way. If they are it is because they have been doing it for years and getting by with no complaints. That would be my opinion only.
I have seen some delivery trucks in alleys blocking entrance but, I usually see that is their only choice to make their delivery. UPS usually is fast and I understand that also as they are timed (I think). and seem to have a good system for their routes.
They have a job to do and it can be hard delivering and driving around some idiot drivers around this town and everywhere. I have to go make a delivery now.
When Red Thumbs Don't Work
Have it pulled, right Nan. If you can't win the argument, just call the cyber monkey ahd have the article pulled. Thanks NAN. I know, sombeody else must have done it.
Nan, don't propose to say
how I voted. I didn't vote up or down. Or are you like Rolf and know all even what the writers of the Constitution were thinking?
I had
I had nothing to do with your misbehaving or your rants Charlie. Maybe a moderator came in and seen you being belligerent again. Typical Charlie, blame someone else for something you have done, lol. (shaking head)
I don't have that much power but thank you for thinking that I do.
What
What article was pulled Charlie?
I was being sarcastic F&B, you know what that is.
Hey Nan
You definitely sound a little more like someone respectable today. You definitely had em in a bunch the other day. The article that got pulled was about the mid-life crises. I put it on right after you said you don't drink. Sorry for offending you. I get it all the time from other posters. Blow it off. Sometimes when someone gets mad at me, I like to rub it in a little also. Kind of gets-em going. Ya know. Have a good day.
I tend
I tend to get a little PO'ed when someone accuses me of being a drunk and then tries to back pedal their way out of it. I didn't have your remarks pulled Charlie, you did that all by yourself and yet you accuse me of that too. I'm not the only one here that doesn't find you a barrel of laughs.
Even though some day's I do laugh at what you have to say.
You have a good one too Charlie.
Sorry NAN
The BDD pulled my article before it even went on. Sorry for blaming you. It was actually kind of humorous but probably over the line. You might have enjoyed it. Once again, Sorry.
you're
You're forgiven Charlie. Next time let me know when you're going to be funny so I laugh, okay? (grinnin)