Dear Editor:
On Thursday, May 27, I received Parking Violation Number 39:4-138E for improper parking within 25 feet of a crosswalk. As I removed the ticket from my windshield and my car from the “illegal” spot, I was not at all surprised to see another car waiting to take my place. After all, 364 days a year, Hoboken residents use the NW corner of Ninth and Hudson without issue. The space I am referring to is at least 15 feet from the drivers’ edge of the crosswalk; it leaves unusually ample room for pedestrian traffic. Westward turns are not permitted because Ninth is one-way as it travels east up the hill to Stevens, so turning trucks are not a problem either.
Confused, I spent some time the next day walking around Hoboken. What’s the deal with Violation Number 39:4-138E? I saw several instances of “legal” violations. For instance, the last spot on the NW corner of Hudson and First, and the NW corner of Hudson and Third, are both less than 25 feet from the crosswalk, yet there are white lines painted on the surface of the street, inviting a driver to park legally. How can that be? Just around the corner, on Hudson and First, a parking meter is less than 25 feet from the crosswalk. Why is that?
Parking will always be a challenge in Hoboken, but I am genuinely confused by the inconsistencies I mentioned with regard to Violation 39:4-138E.
Tim Miller