Monterey corrects fake red zones on Garden Road near airport

Photo by James Herrera - Monterey Herald

Monterey city crews used a light gray paint to correct illegally-placed red zones along Garden Road near Monterey Regional Airport on Tuesday.

Monterey >> Less than a day after a story appeared in The Herald about fake red zones being painted on Garden Road near Monterey Regional Airport, the city of Monterey quickly took action to rectify the situation on Tuesday.

About 250 feet of curb was painted red, without permission or permitting, sometime after the city had performed a slurry seal resurfacing project over the weekend of April 16-17.

An unknown person or persons painted the curbs in an effort to keep people from parking along that stretch of road which is frequently used by travelers as an alternative to paid, long-term parking at the airport. Others are able to park there for work or to patronize businesses nearby.

Using a light shade of gray, city crews painted over the fake red sections of curbing at a cost to the city of about $300.

Red zones mean no stopping, standing or parking. They are typically reserved for emergency vehicles and are often found in front of fire hydrants. The zones are usually long enough to accommodate a fire truck. Drivers illegally parked in a red zone can be ticketed even if they are sitting in the car.

Parking is allowed for up to 72 hours on any city street though overnight camping in a vehicle between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. is prohibited.