Lompoc police propose ban on overnight parking

Lompoc police want to ban overnight parking. On Tuesday the city council will revisit the proposed parking ban which if it passes will affect parking between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Aviation Drive and Cordoba Avenue.

A number of people park and live in their cars or recreational vehicles for an extended amount of time on the two streets.

“Those two blocks have generated an excess of 200 calls of service in the last 18 months,” said Lompoc Police Commanding Officer Joe Mariani.

Lompoc police said the camped vehicles have led to an increase in crime in the area and the dumping of raw sewage. Other complaints come from local business in the area.

“A lot of times there are people who seem to be on drugs, other times they are loitering, other times there has been theft, ” said Coldwell Banker real estate agent Cindy Eisen.

Currently, there is a 72-hour limit for cars to park there but if the owner of the car moves it even an inch the 72 hours start over, allowing vehicles to stay for weeks on end.

“Safe parking is a great idea, it brings folks into a common area, and provides some kind of control to ensure there are no problems or issues that go on with the folks that are staying there, ” said longtime Lompoc resident Ken Ostini.

Lompoc City Council Member Jim Mosby voiced the ban could just add burden to other areas of unrestricted overnight parking by the campers moving locations.

If the proposal is passed there will be a cost to the city.

“Because you have to have security and make sure people will be compliant with the rules, that’s an added cost as well,” said Lompoc Police Commanding Officer Joe Mariani.

Police said that if the proposal is passed they will do the designated safe parking area on a trial basis for at least three months.