City council updates Oxford parking code

The Oxford City Council met on Aug. 4, and approved an ordinance that adds a clause in the Oxford Codified Ordinance (OCC) to further enforce illegal car parking in residential aprons, the driveway area between a property’s street and sidewalk.

The parking method causes visibility problems, roadway obstructions and hazards for pedestrians on sidewalks, according to the city staff report. 

OCC Section 351.03, which focuses on prohibited parking places in the city, has been used in the past by the Oxford Police Department to address these violations, but city staff believe the language should be clarified to help enforce that this method of parking is illegal.

The current language in the OCC subsection B reads: “In front of a public or private driveway or within three feet of either side of the entrance to said public or private driveway.” 

Following the approval of the ordinance on Aug. 4, the new text will read: “In front of a public or private driveway or within three feet of either side of the entrance to said public or private driveway, including the driveway/apron area that is between the sidewalk and the street, which would prevent ingress and egress of the driveway.”

The ordinance will go into effect after a 30-day window, on Sept. 4, following its approval by the Oxford City Council on Aug. 4, according to Oxford Police Chief John Jones.

During this 30-day window, Jones said “warning cards” explaining the new ordinance will be placed on the windshields of cars in violation. Once the ordinance takes effect, citations will be issued.

The Oxford City Council will meet again at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 18 at the Oxford City Courthouse, 118 W. High St.