The city of Akron is cracking down on residents who park their cars in their front yards. John Valle, director of the city's Department of Neighborhood Assistance said he met with police and city council members during council's August break and came up with a plan to assist police enforce the city's amended parking ordinance. Valle said the city was responding to a growing number of residents complaints.

Valle told WAKR's Ray Horner " We've amended the parking code to give the authority to our nuisance compliance and housing sanitarians to write tickets for cars parked in the front yard."

Valle says Akron Police will also continue to enforce the ordinance but will now be getting some help. " They're so busy going from call to call to call they just don't really have the time. We're just trying to work together with the COPS officers and the Department of Neighborhood Assitance to help them." 

He estimates that 100 to 150 complaints are received by the city each day about cars parked on front lawns. Valle says a violation could result in a $50 fine, and having the vehicle towed by police on a third complant.

John Valle is encouraging residents who observe cars parked on front lawns on therir streets to call the 3-1-1 call center to report or have inspectors who are investigating a nuisance complaints or housing code violations to cite property owners if they observe the parking law being broken.