Parking laws justified for everyone's safety

In response to Mr. Lindsey Porter's Sept. 29 letter to the editor, you received a ticket because parking against the flow of traffic is against the law. Plain and simple. And it's a law in every city and state in the country unless the street in question is a one-way street, or you're driving in a country where the normal flow of traffic in on the left side.

The law has it's base in safety. In order for someone to park against the normal flow of traffic you'd be driving against vehicles coming the other way across that oncoming lane. When leaving, the driver would be pulling out into oncoming traffic, cross that lane, and then merge with any traffic coming from their right.

It really doesn't matter how busy or not the street in question is, it is simply the law and your safety has nothing to do with revenue.

So yes, tell all your friends, family and neighbors. The island of Anna Maria and the three communities on it, do welcome visitors.

But it's not some podunk Mayberry where anyone can do as they please. There are laws out here that even we who live and work here have to abide by. I imagine just like they have to do in St. Petersburg.

Thomas Steveley

Bradenton Beach

This story was originally published October 3, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Parking laws justified for everyone's safety ."