One of the signs of a bureaucracy that is too powerful is a City that allows its Code Enforcement personnel to become part of the nanny state. We have seen this happen in mostly Democrat controlled cities. I hope this is not starting to happen in Bradenton.
I was recently patronizing a business in the Village of the Arts in Bradenton, Fl. When I parked my car on the street, my rear tire encroached on the sidewalk by 12 inches. My front tire encroached by 6 inches.
When I returned to my vehicle, I saw that I had been ticketed for “parked on sidewalk.” The fine for parking on the sidewalk is $25. Most people would believe that parking on the sidewalk means parking on the sidewalk in a manner that impedes the flow of pedestrians. Not so with the City of Bradenton Code Enforcement. Part of the rear tire overlapping the sidewalk is the equivalent of “parked on sidewalk.”
Please understand that I can afford the ticket and I have paid the ticket. My complaint is that this is what many people consider evidence of the nanny state where the government has too many employees and ends up straying far from what most people would consider the duties of government.
Bob Spencer
Publisher
Manatee Herald
publisher@manateeherald.com
