Deputies Targeting Parkers Motorists Will Be Ticketed For Blocking Beach Traffic

Kootenai County sheriff’s deputies are stepping up efforts to bust people who improperly park along area beaches.

But it’s not as easy as it sounds.

The county’s most popular lake shores - Hauser Lake, Sun Up Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and Honeysuckle Beach on Hayden Lake - are so jammed with people that cops are spending too much weekend time resolving parking disputes, said Capt. Ben Wolfinger.

Because there are no county-wide parking rules, however, deputies can’t write traditional tickets. They can only cite people for blocking traffic.

“We can ticket drivers, but we can’t just ticket a car,” Wolfinger said.

Even so, deputies cited 16 drivers this weekend in those three areas alone.

“It’s getting to be a real problem,” he said.

County attorneys are at work on proposing new parking rules, Wolfinger said. But parking increasingly is becoming a central dispute around area lakes.

And it’s one public officials aren’t sure how to address.

Homeowners near Tobler’s Marina on Hayden Lake recently asked for “No Parking” signs near their property following a series of problems with area anglers.

Homeowners claim anglers were throwing loud parties, going to the bathroom on their lawns, dumping beer bottles in their mailboxes and putting drivers at risk with dangerous parking.

Anglers said the homeowners were exaggerating.

Tuesday night, Lakes Highway District commissioners decided against blocking parking in that area, which they feared would eliminate the popular spot for fishing.

“We don’t have the authority to kick fishermen off private or public land,” said road supervisor Mark Soderling. “We can only address road issues.”

Commissioners instead agreed to re-stripe the roadway to make more room for drivers. They also plan to post signs warning drivers not to park in front of homeowners’ mailboxes.

But ultimately, the problem is one of enforcement, said Ed Phillips, who attended the highway district meeting to defend area anglers.

“If people are blocking your mail, call the cops,” he said. “If they’re defecating in your driveway, call the cops.”

But, Wolfinger said, if drivers park in county lots designated for boats only, there is little the cops can do.

Area cities have ordinances to write parking tickets. Until now, authorities said, the county hasn’t needed one.

“Our little community has grown up,” said Lt. Jeff Thomas.

, DataTimes