In 2014, Wrightsville Beach added 11 smaller parking spaces around town for compact cars. But not everyone agrees on what defines a compact car—over the past year 72 beachgoers have squeezed a larger vehicle into one of the 15-foot spaces and returned to find a 35 dollar fine on their windshield.
Town manager Tim Owens admitted there’s not one overriding definition of a compact car. Town ordinances state that if the vehicle’s tires are outside the white lines marking the space, it is in violation.
Owens said violations are mostly issued to obvious offenders or those blocking walkways, an issue about which some residents have complained.
“What we’ve gone to is more common sense as far as enforcement goes,” he said. “If the bumper is hanging over, or if you’re blocking access to a driveway or a walkway, then typically you will get a citation.”
