Since being enacted in 1963 Menlo Park’s overnight parking ordinance has been upheld by the courts, survived several majority votes of city residents and has been actively enforced since its inception. The benefits of the ordinance to city residents and businesses include:
- Better distribution of cars parked overnight in areas with higher population density.
- Easier access to structures and streets during nighttime emergencies.
- Issuing permits assures that vehicles belong to residents and their guests.
- Less overnight crime by reducing suspect and possible victim vehicles.
- Parking enforcement officer’s presence deters potential criminals from committing property crimes.
- Streets are free of parking congestion.
- The City’s ability to provide street cleaning and maintenance is unobstructed.
- Suspicious, stolen, abandoned and disabled vehicles are easily checked, identified and removed.
- Residents are able to easily identify vehicles that are unfamiliar to the neighborhood.