Concerns about safety and the environment led the City of San Jose’s Department of Transportation to announce Thursday the start of a pilot program to police parking rules for over-sized and lived-in vehicles.
A press release sent out Thursday said that DOT workers had found more than 900 over-sized and lived-in cars parked on city streets in more than two months.
The information, which can now be seen on a public map, is said to have helped make 30 temporary and 10 permanent tow-away zones in the neighborhoods that have been hit the hardest.
“Keeping our streets clean, safe, and easy to get to is one of the government’s most basic duties,” said Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose. With this list, we can keep an eye on the city’s worst RV areas and keep track of how far we’ve come in taking them apart.
The mayor’s office says that temporary tow-away zones will make it easier to clean the streets and move vehicles. Leave your car in these areas, and it could be towed away or impounded.
The Oversized and Lived-In Vehicle Enforcement (OLIVE) program, which costs $1.5 million, was paid for by the city’s budget for 2024–2025.
City officials also said they want to add more safe parking choices for people who live in their cars. For example, the Berryessa Safe Parking Site will open in early 2025 and can hold up to 85 cars.
People who live in affected places can give their opinions through their Council district offices.
