Folly Cove -- ticket alert

[large_diver]

Dove Folly Cove for 2 dives yesterday afternoon. Beautiful day with calm conditions. Vis was sort of average -- maybe 10 feet. Water temps in the mid-50s.

It was a relatively busy day at Folly -- I'd say there were 10-15 people there while we were there.

Being the polite divers that we are, our group unloaded our gear and then parked up the road on the side street that so many people use for parking.

After dive #1, we noticed the Gloucester PD show up and ticket all of the cars in the Folly lot.

My buddy for the first dive had to leave after dive #1, so he walked back to get his car while the rest of us were hanging out before our second dive. He came back to inform us that the GPD had also ticketed all the cars on the side street. As anyone who has parked there before will know -- there are no signs indicating that you can't park there. My buddy had a chance to speak with the officer while she was writing the tickets on the side street -- apparently one of the neighbors had complained, so they had to respond. She said that since cars were parked on both sides of the road, the justification was that there was a risk that they couldn't get emergency vehicles through.........

Of course I've parked there so many times I've lost count, and have never had a problem, even on crowded days....

So word to the wise -- be quiet and polite to neighbors, and park on one side of the road....

-Chris

 

[Mitchell]

How much was the ticket?

 

[large_diver]

$15

 

[matt_unique]

$15

Gotta love the residents that think they own the ocean.

 

[Spectre]

Gotta love the residents that think they own the ocean.

They don't think they own the ocean. I imagine they wouldn't have an issue if you chose to actually park -in- the ocean.

 

[PeaceDog]

They don't think they own the ocean. I imagine they wouldn't have an issue if you chose to actually park -in- the ocean.

I would be happy to park many of them in the ocean. The real bumout is that that side street was just about the last bastion of legal parking for anyone attempting to dive Folly Cove without a resident permit. Now, all of the divers have to synchronize their parking to one side of the street there.

Priceless. Absolutely priceless.

As we were all sitting there talking about the absurdity of the ticket, one diver raised the notion of a "diving" permit. Think about it - non-residents pay a fee, $100 or so - to park and dive where they choose for the year.

The bottom line is this - the residents of Gloucester and Rockport have their city officials by the short curlies for one reason only - money. We all know that. If we're all willing to pay $50 for a lobster license, why wouldn't we be willing to pay for a parking license? And if divers start bringing in another couple hundred thousand in license revenue, who do you think is going to have the upper hand then?

Well, maybe not us, but at least we'll be on even ground......

 

[pipedope]

Check the state laws.
In most states they must have parking regulations posted to be enforceable. Otherwise they can just make it up as they go along.

I remember in Long Beach, CA, many years ago the City decided they could make a lot more money if the ticked cars on the street during street sweeping time, even if the street was not swept. In court the people won and the court ruled that the street sweeping tickets could only be issued if the car actually blocked the street sweeper.

 

[matt_unique]

They don't think they own the ocean. I imagine they wouldn't have an issue if you chose to actually park -in- the ocean.

Limiting access to the ocean serves the same purpose for those that shore dive. It's too bad it has become so difficult to gain access. I am surprised there have not been similar problems at Cat.

--Matt

 

[eab]

As we were all sitting there talking about the absurdity of the ticket, one diver raised the notion of a "diving" permit. Think about it - non-residents pay a fee, $100 or so - to park and dive where they choose for the year.

I was the one who said that. But I added the part that I would want to pay for a sticker outright, not in increments -- as in ticket by ticket.

I sent in my appeal request today. We'll see how it goes.

Even with cars parked on both sides of the street, I'd be curious to see what emergency vehicle Gloucester has that wouldn't have fit down the street.

grumble, grumble

 

[alemaozinho]

Dove Folly Cove for 2 dives yesterday afternoon. Beautiful day with calm conditions. Vis was sort of average -- maybe 10 feet. Water temps in the mid-50s.

It was a relatively busy day at Folly -- I'd say there were 10-15 people there while we were there.

Being the polite divers that we are, our group unloaded our gear and then parked up the road on the side street that so many people use for parking.

After dive #1, we noticed the Gloucester PD show up and ticket all of the cars in the Folly lot.

My buddy for the first dive had to leave after dive #1, so he walked back to get his car while the rest of us were hanging out before our second dive. He came back to inform us that the GPD had also ticketed all the cars on the side street. As anyone who has parked there before will know -- there are no signs indicating that you can't park there. My buddy had a chance to speak with the officer while she was writing the tickets on the side street -- apparently one of the neighbors had complained, so they had to respond. She said that since cars were parked on both sides of the road, the justification was that there was a risk that they couldn't get emergency vehicles through.........

Of course I've parked there so many times I've lost count, and have never had a problem, even on crowded days....

So word to the wise -- be quiet and polite to neighbors, and park on one side of the road....

-Chris

i did dive at folly cove a few times and i witnessed that only vehicles from other states get the ticket i.e new hampshire,vermont ect.Yep you are right,the parking situation sucks over there,try the cathedral rocks next time,thats a better dive anyway.I,ve had a student (Police man)last week and he tipped me with 30 bucks and when i came out of the store ,i had a 25$ citation on the windshield,what a bummer,sometimes you win and sometimes you loose.peace