Parking-space hogs not allowed in downtown Chambersburg

Chambersburg Public Opinion

Editor's note: This story was originally published Dec. 27. The headlines were updated and the story was republished Feb. 16.

CHAMBERSBURG -- Finding a parking space on downtown streets in Chambersburg should be a little easier in 2019.

A new parking law prohibits someone from hogging a metered parking space all day long.

“After time expires, if you're parked on street, you must shift your car to another parking space,” Borough Manager Jeffrey Stonehill said.

The rule, effective in January, does not apply if you are parked in a parking lot.

“The concept is to prevent folks from sitting all day in one parking spot and feeding the meter,” Stonehill said.

People will no longer be able to feed the meter to keep an on-street parking space all day in Chambersburg.

Downtown merchants suggested the change after employees of some downtown businesses refused to move their cars from parking spaces that customers might use, according to Stonehill.

“We hope people mostly comply voluntarily,” Stonehill said.

The Chambersburg Police Department and the borough parking enforcement officer will determine how the rule is enforced. The penalty is the standard $25 fine that most downtown parking offenses carry.

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“Occasionally an offender will be caught,” Stonehill said. “We anticipate some concerns from merchants who want to encourage visitors to stay downtown for a long time. In that case, shoppers and visitors should use the parking lots where feeding the meters is permitted.”

A vehicle parked on the street cannot remain in a spot for longer than the time limit labeled on the parking meter between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, according to the rule. The typical limit is two hours.

Chambersburg has limited on-street parking to 2 hours in most of downtown. People however can feed the meter in parking lots to hold onto the same space all day.

The rule applies to all quadrants of Memorial Square and both sides of the following streets:

Main Street between East Liberty Street and the Falling Spring.
Second Street between East Washington Street and Philadelphia Avenue.
Third Street between East Queen Street and Lincoln Way.
Penncraft Avenue between Lincoln Way and East King Street.
Broad Street between North Second and Commerce streets.
King Street between Hood and North Third streets.
Lincoln Way between Franklin and Third streets.
Queen Street between Water Street and East Point Avenue.
Washington Street between Water and South Second streets.

“This new rule keeps the spaces circulating, which is the whole point of parking meters,” Stonehill said.

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Council adopted the rule in November after the Parking, Traffic, & Street Lights Advisory Committee considered the change.

The change to the parking ordinance also exempts tradespeople who get permits. They can park for an unlimited time near the address where they are working.

Jim Hook, 717-262-4759