Yesterday afternoon, upon approaching Angelo Brocato’s on Carrollton, a New Orleans Sheriff Deputy on detail at the pastry shop told me that if I parked in front of K’Jean’s, four store fronts down from the pastry shop, that I should move because the owner is towing cars.
I was confused because – 1) there is no clear demarcation to indicate where K’Jean’s parking starts/stops and 2) I didn’t see a sign warning me of potential towing because of errant parking.
Filled with civic pride, I retorted, “Is that legal without proper demarcation??” I just added two question marks to my response because I want to note my confusion and urgency that was clearly conveyed to this officer of law.
He looked at me shocked, said that he’s doing his job at the pastry shop and that he’s trying to help me out to not get towed. That really confused me more and I responded with, “You are a law enforcement officer, if there is no demarcation warning me about getting towed, I think that is illegal. Are there any signs in front of K’Jeans?” He said yes, I was relieved and I asked him to tell me where it was so I could read it and know what my rights were on this private commercial property on Carrollton Ave.
He quietly looked away, seriously annoyed that I would be so impetuous as to question legal authority from a law enforcement agent. “Sir?” I questioned. He looked back at me and pointed at the sign on Angelo Brocato’s door warning everybody of potential towing. The sign read something like – ‘Please be aware that if you parked diagonally in front of K’Jeans the owner will tow. He watches and laughs.’
I looked back at the Deputy and repeated, “You are a law enforcement officer and I think this is illegal, and I don’t think its right that you let it go on.”
I’ve researched the legality of towing without proper warning and from what I can tell there needs to be proper signage and demarcations for legal towing authority. I understand he has a job at hand - to protect Angelo Brocato’s, but in general isn’t his job also to protect citizens from prevailing injustices. What aggravates me more is that others haven’t questioned the legal rights of this business owner to act in such a manner.
Maybe I just missed the sign stating the ramifications for utilizing the limited parking in that commercial sector and also maybe the officer didn't know if its existence; and maybe I didn’t see clear lane indications for each businesses allotted parking spaces. But, that’s not my issue, my issue is with the ‘not my job’ attitude and ‘lets let crazy be crazy’ attitude that prevails.
To be perfectly honest, this makes me want to boycott that strip on Carrollton for being unwilling to share space and being aggressive to potential customers. Like I tell my 2nd graders, if you are going to act like that, I don’t want to be around you because you are out of control. This situation seems out of control.
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