A reader writes: “I have a Tesla. I only take an EV parking spot when I want to charge. That’s the whole idea of the special sign.
“Today I was downtown, in the Baldwin lot. There are 10 or so spots reserved for EV owners to charge.
Baldwin parking lot sign.
“As I was setting up the charge for my car, a car with 4 women pulled in nearby, parked, and simply walked away.
“I don’t think their car was even electric. It was merely a great spot to park.
Not a charging vehicle.
“I was horrified. I was with my children, and told them I believe this woman was morally wrong for hogging a charging spot when she wasn’t even planning to use it.”
Readers: What do you think? Are the signs for EVs merely suggestions? Are they okay to park in if you do have an electric vehicle, but are not actually charging? Click “Comments” below.
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Sorry to be the spoiler here; but, that Jeep is, in fact, an EV. If the “Karen” took the time to examine the logo on the back left fender she would have known this. It’s OK to delete this comment; as usual, it probably doesn’t with your agenda…
That’s hysterical. Although your entry might get deleted because you chose not to provide your name.
Thanks. I took the liberty of adding Bob’s last name, since providing it originally did not fit with his agenda.
I’m horrified!
She is undoubtedly legally wrong as the sign says, “Electric Car Parking Only.” Whether it is morally wrong is a quandary. The town has decided to encourage EV ownership by making certain spots with chargers available to electric cars, whether or not the EV is in need of charging. However, all taxpayers are paying for providing that service, whether they own an EV or not, and whether they think an ongoing benefit of parking should be provided to those who choose to purchase an EV. The driver might think this is an elitist decision—an oddly socialist way to promote a very capitalist end: more shopping by people of means. Parking in that spot may be that driver’s way of non-violently protesting the town’s decision to erect those classist parking spots; a moral stance to some.
I misunderstood the question. The Jeep IS electric. The question was whether the driver should use it without charging.
The answer is no. The spot is for charging. You don’t get to use it as a free parking space just because you’ve elected to drop $75K on a vehicle.
Actually, it doesn’t say that. Unless there is another sign out of frame, the spot is for an EV vehicle.
Actually, it does say that. It says, and I quote, “Charging station. Electic Car Parking Only”.
Don’t tell me you’re going to spin that as an invitation for merely parking, not charging, are you?
All tax payers pay, but you forgot to mention that all tax payers also benefit from EVs because they’re no longer breathing pollutants from those vehicles. That benefits everyone. Unless, of course, you prefer to breath in pollutants.
Upon a closer look at your reader’s post (ironically, anonymous when comments aren’t), I found nuances I initially missed. You posed two key questions: Are the signs merely suggestions for EV parking, and must the spot only be used while charging? Legally, charging isn’t mandatory; being an electric vehicle, like the Jeep, suffices. The town intentionally omitted a charging requirement, absolving the Jeep owner from assuming intent. Regarding the second question, parking without charging is the owner’s prerogative; legally, they aren’t compelled to use it solely for the EV benefit. The town’s strategic decision not only promotes EV ownership for environmental betterment but also entices those with disposable income to shop. The Jeep owner rightly seizes this opportunity, aligning with the town’s intended encouragement.
This issue is universal at busy lots throughout the world. It’s human nature to game a system when it’s perceived there is no consequence. Solution? Pay more attention to your state of charge so you don’t really need it to get home.
In my experience, most places have signs that say “no idling”, or for “EV vehicles only when charging”, or something similar. Since this says for EV Parking Only, as long as the vehicle is actually an EV or hybrid, they are allowed to park there. Personally, I would only park there, if there were no other spots to park in unless I was charging my vehicle. However, that’s my personal decision only because I wouldn’t want to take a spot from someone who was actuallyIN NEED of a charge. A few years ago, before Covid, I needed a charge when I was in Boston and couldn’t find a parking spot anywhere that had an EV charger I could use because many spots were being used without charging the vehicles that were parked in those spaces and so I had to try to go 15 minutes further to outside of Boston to get my vehicle charged there. I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to deal with that issue of hoping I wouldn’t run out of enough charge before I got to this other town to charge my vehicle. That’s just me though and since it doesn’t say EVs must be charging in order to park there, this other person is free to choose to park there if she wanted.
Worse that these same women will park their car in a handicap spot and think nothing of it.
Women??
C’mon fellow Westporters…Don’t take spots that are reserved for certain purposes…even if you are inconvenienced. We all need small acts of kindness these days…the simple awareness of where you park and finding a spot elsewhere IS the right thing to do.
I agree, it is wrong and those cars should be ticketed. The proceeds used to build more EV chargers
The sign does say “Charging Station.”
We should have some spaces with gasoline pumps that give free gasoline supplied by the taxpayers.
That would certainly promote a different set of priorities. You should consider running for office.
Looks like it is electric or at least a hybrid Jeep. I agree if not plugged in perhaps an electric vehicle could cede space to another in need?
Honestly, I am against all these special parking spots. We all fall into one category or another. I am senior citizen without any mobility issues, but I know many of my friends do have issues ( but not severe enough to need a handicap tag) and I don’t see parking spaces for them, but there are for veterans, mothers with children, EV drivers, etc. Parking should be open to all. If you want to promote EV use, and the town or business wants to offer free charging, it should be located at the far end of lots, not close by.
I find it so interesting that the town provides 10 spots for EVs and only one or two for Handicapped.
Just a thought
As a handicapped person, I appreciate your posting!!!!
You want gas, you go to a gas station. You run out of gas you walk to a gas station to schlep enough gas back to your car
Pay attention to your charge. Don’t make it a town responsibility
If the town is kind enough to give these people charge “stations”. Do not park there with a chargeable car , not charging. That’s equivalent to once needing a handicap spot , but not today, but “I still have the sticker”
I’m just finding this whole discussion funny
If you have to have an electric car , get a hybrid and keep your gas tank full and charge at home or in a charge station
I have always found it interesting to see cars charging all day at the train station, for free. Wasn’t their car at home all night, shouldn’t they have charged then?
If only there were a part of town government that could change the rules.
I think the solution to this issue is buried at the end of Jonathan McLure’s comment. Providing not just a dedicated spot but also free charging to these cars/drivers is a pretty nice perk. It doesn’t also need to come with convenience. The dedicated charging spots should be at the far end of lots. Those drivers will get the benefit they need, but it won’t be at the expense of everyone else’s convenience. And non-chargers will have no incentive to wrongly take those spots.
The spot is free but the charging is not.
The whole point is to acknowledge the fact that EVs are here, need to be charged and as someone pointed out (oh, right. It was me) their use benefits everyone. Why shouldn’t these charging stations (not parking spaces) be made convenient?
Who said that the charging is free? Many EV chargers require an app – with credit card attached (or swipe credit card) – to charge one’s vehicle. The issue is that they aren’t supposed to park once the charge is complete. Some chargers assess a fine for such behavior…not a bad idea?
I agree, put them at the far end of the parking lot…
Charge your electric car at home. Way too many of these “elitist” spots taking valuable parking at Baldwin. Handicap parking all day long for residents who actually need a space.
None of these charging stations should be free. It’s not like these cars have biodegradable tires, batteries, and electronics in them.
Those damn elitists. Progressives—every last one of them! They probably use electric leaf blowers and smoke jazz cabbage.
Tom, nothing wrong with electric leaf blowers or Progressives. Good dialogue equals good results amongst all.
I must admit the word “elitist” a bit strong. I just don’t agree special parking should be given to electric vehicles to charge.
This is just my opinion. The overall “green foot print” of the average Westport resident is probably not that great.
If we had in our home sizes, how we drive, waste fuel, food, etc. Does driving an electric car give one the “right” to a “rock star parking” with sometimes free energy?
A great topic for discussion. A good blog by Dan
Jimmy, Interesting take. But as an RTM member I would assume you would support following the rules – that these spots are for charging EV vehicles. Who paid to put these in ? Did the town? I would hope you would support the decision even if you didn’t agree with it. Or do well just pick and choose the rules we want to follow?
everyone is trying to plug something
it says electric car parking, there is an electric car parked there, the owner did nothing wrong. want it to be different? such as including a charger must be used requirement? then have an ordinance / law passed and sign updated. then the question is, what if someone charges for 1 minute, or 5 minutes, or 30 minutes, and uses the spot for say 12 hours?
There are 5 EV charging stations .
All are full but only 3 are actually charging.
Along comes an EV on a very low charge for some perfectly valid reason.
What now?
Need a little exercise ?
Perfect time to squeeze in a few extra steps from the far end of the lot.
While we are at it convenient handicapped and senior spots are always welcome.
But if you don’t need it save it for something who does.
Golden rule???
I experienced the same last week and then was truly dismayed to go downtown again today and find that the 5 spots close to the stores had cars charging and the 10 further were all full of cars not charging. Some were electric cars, most were not.
This is a very simple situation without any moral ambiguity.
These are spots for charging EV vehicles. Period. Yes they are perks for EV drivers but I would bet that the restaurants and stores downtown benefit from this. People will go downtown to take advantage of the EV spots and shop and dine while they charge. The town put them there , and paid for them , for a reason.
If you don’t agree with it, talk to the town. But it is not up to individuals to decide if they agree. Would you decide there are too many handicapped spots (as there often are) and so use one?
If you aren’t charging an EV vehicle pretend the spots not there.