These questions explain some of the most common parking violations in West Lafayette.
General Parking Enforcement
Can vehicles be ticketed on private property?
Yes. Violators will be towed at the owner’s expense, and the owner and/or violator will be ticketed. The property owner or agent must first complete and sign the appropriate form(s). Private property owners may also opt to remove vehicles from their property without police involvement.
Does the City have parking ticket quotas?
No, this is contrary to enforcement philosophy. To do so would conflict with the inherent reasons for the need for a parking enforcement program.
What options are available to contest a parking ticket?
You have the option to contest a parking ticket first by appeal and then through the West Lafayette City Court.
What is considered the travel portion of the roadway?
Any vehicle parked in the roadway that blocks any vehicular traffic and emergency vehicles.
How are parking limits identified when there is no sign by the space?
The beginning and end of each block is marked to help drivers know that the entire block is enforced.
Timed Parking
How are two-hour parking violations determined?
All parking officers coordinate times at the start of each day using one uniform time schedule. Your particular timekeeping method may not be the same as used by parking control officers. Parking control officers carefully log times at the beginning and end of each route as well as multiple times during the route such as when they change streets. Enforcement practices actually yield a buffer or grace period of 5-10 minutes.
Can a vehicle be ticketed after leaving and returning to the same spot?
Drivers are required to park their cars in an entirely separate block. This rule helps avoid monopolization of the same parking spot all day.
Parking Violations
Why are vehicles ticketed for parking the wrong way?
You must park your vehicle consistent with the flow of traffic, park no more than 12 inches from the curb, and your vehicle must be parked parallel to the curb.
Can a vehicle be ticketed for facing the wrong direction while unloading?
The vehicle must be driven left of center in order to park facing the wrong way. The vehicle then has to travel again, across traffic, to get back into the correct travel pattern. Both present avoidable dangers.
Why are vehicles ticketed for parking in a yard?
Parking in yards or lawns is not permitted. The only exception to this is on days of major sporting events associated with Purdue University, and is allowed within eight blocks of Purdue University.
Can a vehicle be ticketed if only part of it is in a yellow-curb area?
Yellow curbs are designed to create a safe space away from an intersection so vehicles can turn safely and without view obstructions created by vehicles parked on a yellow curb. There is no allowance for how much of the car is in the yellow before it’s ticketed. Any portion of the car in the yellow is considered a violation.
Can a vehicle be ticketed for briefly blocking a sidewalk?
Pedestrians and persons with disabilities require access to the sidewalk. Special chairs and/or equipment are safer to operate on a sidewalk than in the street.
Can a vehicle be ticketed when parked briefly with hazard lights on?
Flashers are an obvious indication that a vehicle’s operator knows not to park in a particular spot. Remember that in the 2-4 minute window your vehicle is parked there, a firetruck, ambulance, or other lifesaving emergency vehicle might be unable to access the street due to your vehicle causing an obstruction.
