While Allentown will resume metered parking enforcement Monday, the street-cleaning parking enforcement suspension has been extended to May 26, city officials said Friday.
The Allentown Parking Authority suspended metered parking enforcement May 18 and street-cleaning parking enforcement March 23 amid resident outcry on social media to stop ticketing for numerous violations that do not affect public safety.
The authority determined that parking meter enforcement wasn’t necessary to maintain orderly parking on public streets given that many businesses are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and the state’s shutdown order.
Like metered parking enforcement, street-cleaning parking enforcement was expected to resume Monday, “but was again delayed today following last night’s decision by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to extend the stay-at-home order covering the city until June 4,” city spokesman Mike Moore announced Friday.
“Residents may notice the street cleaner in operation, but they are not required to move their vehicles,” Moore said.
Moore did not say why metered parking enforcement isn’t being pushed back to May 26 as well.
The only tickets currently being issued are for public safety violations, such as blocking fire hydrants.
With businesses closed, more vehicles are parked on city streets. That means vehicles on designated street-cleaning streets have fewer alternative parking places.
Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com.
