VICENZA -- United States Army Garrison Italy has updated its reserved, designated and general parking here.
The policy takes into account much of the pre-existing Department of Defense policy and international rules of the road.
"We want to provide for a safe and secure environment throughout our community, and we want to make sure we are all being considerate and doing our part to make this a wonderful place to live and work," said Maj. Brian Mumfrey, provost marshal/director of Emergency Services.
According to the policy memorandum, the goal is to make the most effective use and control of available parking for customer service, while also designating authorized, reserved spaces. Mumfrey said the policy actually reduces many reserved spaces and tries to utilize space to the maximum extent.
"By DoD instruction, there are only two acceptable reserved parking spaces, and those are for handicapped parking and spaces for Gold Star family members," he said. "So again, we are reducing the number of spaces. We are also making the barracks parking lots around Hoekstra Field and on Olson Avenue solely for the Soldiers who reside in those barracks.
The policy outline authorized, designated and reserved parking as follows:
Official vehicle parking. This includes military and government sedans and other vehicles with official government license plates. They will park behind a reserved parking sign assigned to the respective tenant unit or agency. Three spaces are reserved for general/flag officer-level commands; two spaces are reserved for colonel-level commands; and two spaces are reserved for lieutenant colonel-level commands.
Disabled parking spaces are reserved for individuals with disabilities. Individuals authorized to park there must display the proper USAG Italy-issued handicap placard obtained at the Provost Marshal Office.
Key personnel. Parking is reserved for general/flag officers and civilian equivalents and their command sergeants major; command selection list brigade and battalion commanders and their Department of the Army-appointed command sergeant major; colonel and civilian equivalents serving as agency heads; colonel-level chiefs of staff, executive officers, staff principals or civilian equivalents serving on a general officer-level command staff.
Other reserved parking provisions include spaces for expectant mothers, families of the fallen/Gold Star families, Warrior Transition Unit members, and VIP guest parking.
Other rules under the updated policy include privately owned vehicles. POVs for sale will not park overnight on any USAG Italy installation. The exception is it is parked at the family residence or properly registered to park in the re-sale lot in the rear parking lot of the Ederle Inn.
Barracks parking is specifically reserved for Soldiers who reside in those barracks. Motorcycles or moped will not park on any sidewalk and will only park in designated spaces. Drivers of motorcycles will make every attempt to park in the designated motorcycle spaces.
Vehicles are not allowed to be parked or stopped on lawns, seeded areas, on curbs or in front of a lowered curb known as a "half curb," sidewalks within five meters of an intersection or crosswalk.
Also, there is no parking on the wrong side of the road. Drivers must park on the side of the road in the direction of the traffic. This offense will be enforced with four points for failure to obey traffic instructions/signs/signals.
Offenders of the policy will see action on behalf of the authorities. First-time offenders will be issued an armed forces traffic ticket; second-time offenders will receive the ticket and will be required to meet with the USAG Italy garrison command sergeant major, and receive a warning letter from the garrison commander. Third-time offenders will have their cars booted or impounded at the owner's expense and receive a 30-day suspension of on-post driving privileges on all USAG Italy installations. Anyone with more than three parking violations within a 12-month period are subject to further penalties.
Vehicles can be impounded for safety issues as well as for being booted, Mumfrey said. If POVs are booted/impounded, they will go to a vehicle lot designated for vehicle impoundment on Caserma Ederle.
Meanwhile, there are no fines in association with the armed forces traffic ticket. Because fines can only be levied by a military magistrate and there is not one here in garrison, a points assessment and restriction of operator privileges are enforced.
Mumfrey said it's important for community members to recognize that the policy is not meant to punish, but rather to reinforce that being a good community member starts with everyone doing his part.
"I ask that we all do our part," he said. "We should be considerate of others and we will all help make our community that much more enjoyable."
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