With two new part-time fire inspectors on the Yorktown payroll, drivers who park in fire lanes may face fines as town officials ramp up enforcement in the face of safety concerns.
Town Supervisor Ed Lachterman called blocked fire lanes a recurring problem.
“We have a lot of people who, unfortunately, abuse those fire lanes, and it’s really unsafe—especially for people walking out between cars,” he told Yorktown News.
He said stepping out of a store sometimes feels like stepping onto a “racing track, the way cars are ripping around the corners.”
Lachterman said the new hires, who will be paid hourly, will help the town enforce the law to keep the lanes clear across town. Drivers caught parking in fire lanes—which are clearly marked with signage and striped lines—can be ticketed with fines typically starting at $50. Town officials did not provide the hourly rate or overall compensation for the two hires, and the finance department did not respond to multiple requests for confirmation from Yorktown News.
“Ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the law,” Lachterman said. “You’re supposed to know the laws, and our fire zones in particular, they’re all marked.”
Town officials said the new inspectors will focus on fire safety, primarily in commercial properties, a role previously handled by the code enforcement officer.
“We’ve been having [Jason Zeif] do it, and he also has to handle all the other code violations throughout the town,” Lachterman said. “This gives more of a focus into the fire safety issues.”
These can be life-and-death issues, Lachterman said, citing several structure fires in town over the past year.
“It’s really important to make sure everything is inspected and up to snuff.”
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