Police See Record Number Of People Parking Illegally At Tulsa State Fair

Tulsa police say a record number of people are parking illegally near the fairgrounds. Officers say it's not just a hassle, it's a safety hazard.

The streets in the neighborhoods south of the fairgrounds are especially narrow, and when people are parked on both sides it'd be tough to fit a car through, let alone a fire truck or an ambulance. That's what Tulsa Police are concerned about.

Finding parking near the fairgrounds is a big problem.

"I thought we'd find a spot and just go in, but that's not the case," said Elijah Alwert after parking.

If you've been to the fair, chances are you feel Alwert's pain. Nearly every street in the neighborhoods surrounding the fairgrounds is choked with cars.

"Took us about, I'd say 15 minutes to find a spot," Alwert said.

Tulsa Police Sergeant Will Dalsing said many people have tried to skip that wait and park illegally.

"I can say that on a weeknight like tonight, we're going to have 100 to 150 parking tickets out here," Dalsing said.

It's double that number on the weekends.

Dalsing said they're on track to have the busiest parking enforcement year in the 10 years he's been patrolling the area around the fair.

"So, here's the problem," Dalsing said. "We have to have enough space for emergency vehicles to get to houses and so, the parking is limited by signs from one side of the road to the other on some of the more narrow roads."

Dalsing said the area south of the fairgrounds is the worst. The most common offense is people parking on corners past signs telling them not to do so.

"If you call for an ambulance, you want it to be able to get to your house. And if they can't get through, that's a problem," Dalsing said.

The tickets run anywhere from $35 to $50, but if you're blocking a driveway or a fire hydrant you could be towed.