Rehoboth visitor disgruntled with parking

The following letter was sent to Rehoboth Beach Mayor Paul Kuhns, with a copy submitted to the Cape Gazette for publication.
I was greatly dismayed to have passed through your city May 22. We pulled into town at about 1 p.m., and I dropped my family of nine off at the Boardwalk. I looked for parking for my 30-foot RV, but to no avail. I spoke to a bicycle police officer, who was very kind and helpful, in order to get advice as where to park my RV. He gave me the police department phone number and told me to call there to get some advice because he didn't want to steer me in the wrong direction.

I called the number and spoke to a dispatcher who informed me that there are no spots big enough for my RV close to the Boardwalk and no parking lots to park in unless you park outside town. I thanked him and drove around looking for parking. To my surprise, I was pleased to have found lots of open metered parking spots on Maryland Avenue. I pulled up alongside four spaces and filled the parking meters with quarters. Two very kind local folks gladly informed me that you don't pay for parking meters in town until Friday, May, 25.

So, instead of just enjoying my find and parking on the very empty street of Maryland Avenue and enjoying a few hours of beach fun and food and tourist-type spending, I called the police department to let them know about my discovery. The dispatcher put me on hold this time, then returned on the line and told me that I may not park anywhere in the town with my "oversized" vehicle. I explained that the block was empty and I unnecessarily paid for all four meters already. The dispatcher just kept repeating, "There are no oversized vehicles allowed to park within the town."

He expected me to park two to three miles away from the beach and walk to the Boardwalk to meet up with my family. He said in parting, "You're on Maryland Avenue, right?" I said yes, thank you and continued to use a bathroom at a hotel I stood next to. I exited the hotel and saw the same very kind bicycle officer standing next to my RV. He told me to move my RV regardless of whether I paid or not, or pay a $50 parking ticket.

I explained the situation to him, and he kindly apologized but did not use common sense nor relent. He said this is what his chief told him to do. I complied and moved, but not before immediately gathering my family off the beach and leaving your unwelcoming town.

This is sad and ridiculous. We left your town without spending a dime, aside from the $5 in quarters for the parking meters. Due to this foolishness and lack of welcoming discretion and common sense, I will never return to your town and never patronize any of your local business folks ever again, nor will I recommend your town to anyone I know or will know.

You should be ashamed of yourselves and your silly local ordinances. You should be ashamed of your leaders’ lack of common sense and discretion. I understand and follow the law, that's why I respectfully obeyed the officer and left, but you/they have the right/option to make exceptions based on the circumstances and common sense.

Now you know.

Tom Mollo and family
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.