Fourth Ward Parking

On Street Parking Passes

As you know, our on street parking program continues for 2009. Parking passes are now available from Park It! for residences included in the parking program district. At our request to make the parking passes easier to access, Park it! has agreed to offer extended hours one weeknight to renew and/or apply for a 2009 residential parking permit. Park it will add two additional hours and stay open on Thursday, February 5th up to 7pm. The cost of a 4th Ward permit is still $30.00 as in past years. You will be required to bring the appropriate documentation to establish that you are a resident of Fourth Ward and live within the parking district.

To qualify for a parking decal you must bring:

- a current motor vehicle registration card and
- proof of residency (see below) to the Park It office

(The address on the motor vehicle registration must be in the permit zone for which you are applying. That address must also match the address on one of the following proofs of residency.)

Proof of residency can be any one of the following:
1. Current motor vehicle driver's license for the applicant, listing an address in the permit zone.
2. Current billing receipt for rent payment, Duke Power, Bellsouth, or any other utility in the applicant's name and listing an address in the permit zone.
3. Deed or other legal document of the applicant providing ownership or lease of property in the permit area- sub-letters can provide a letter from the legal residence indicating this agreement.
4. Current paycheck stub of the applicant verifying employment within the permit zone or a letter from their employer stating that.

Park It! Office Information
1440 S. Tryon, Suite 108 (South End)
Charlotte, NC 28203
704-375-3177
Open Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm
Feb 2nd open until 7pm

fofw update

First Ward Parking

All residents are reminded to obtain their 2009 First Ward event parking permits by January 23, 2009. Click here for permit requirements.

First Ward event parking permits are free to residents who apply.

Temporary permits are $3 each and valid for up to seven days.

Lost, stolen or destroyed decals can be replaced for a $5 charge.

Replacement decals are available for sold vehicles at no charge.

Displaying Decal - all decals shall be attached to the driver side rear windshield with the adhesive on the decal. No taping of decals is allowed. Temporary permits should be placed on the passenger side front dashboard. Decals issued to motorcycles shall be displayed on the rear fender.

Abuse of the above regulations may be grounds for decal revocation by the City of Charlotte.

Open Letter from an Auto Theft Investigator

With cold weather on the way CMPD is concerned about a spike in auto thefts. Apparently many of us will start the vehicle and return in doors. Don't do that as often the vehicle will leave without you! Click here to see what you can do to stop auto theft. Below is a letter from a CMPD investigator.


You Can Make A Difference!

I have been an auto theft investigator for more than 10 years for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. At present, I am one of nine investigators in the Auto Theft Unit. We have one of the highest case loads in the Police Department with over 50 cases assigned to each investigator every month. While we recover about 92% of the vehicles that are stolen in this county, this figure tells us much more. Most of the vehicles stolen in this city are stolen by juveniles and stolen for transportation purposes.

Not too many years ago, most of our cars were stolen by using a key that was left in the vehicle. Now many of our suspects use a screwdriver or dent-puller to "pop" the ignition. Many of our vehicle thefts occurred during the winter months when citizens left the keys in the car as they were "warming them up". A favorite target was apartment complexes where a juvenile could have more selection and opportunity to take a vehicle.

Auto thefts in Charlotte have been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years. More than ever, we recognize that the theft problem here is not going to be solved by the police alone. We absolutely need the community's help in reducing the number of thefts.

One of the first things many of us have to understand is that we can not be complacent because we have insurance. Most of us have deductibles that have to be paid. Another valuable commodity (i.e. your time) is lost when your vehicle is stolen. It takes time to find temporary transportation, time to deal and negotiate with the insurance company, time to pick up and return a rental vehicle, and in some cases, time to go to court.

Not everyone who gets their vehicle back feels like the vehicle is in the same condition as when it was stolen. Many times a victim will not be able to recoup all the vehicle content losses such as money or firearms. Some damage can not be detected initially such as damage to the transmission and engine. Getting back in your car after it has been driven and probably abused by someone else can be a little unsettling.

Car theft is often a stepping stone to other crime. Juveniles who steal a vehicle are almost always inexperienced and, in reality, just plain dangerous behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle. More and more citizens are leaving firearms in their vehicles and they become an incentive and tool of new crimes--armed robbery. Rather than steal gas , a suspect will commit an armed robbery either of a business or individual to get gas money. Our city becomes a little more unsafe every time a vehicle is stolen.

cmpd.org

The CMPD is currently on scene of a death investigation on the Brookshire Frwy

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. on January 8, 2009 Eastway Division officers responded to a 911 call for service in reference to an armed robbery from person at 1705 Eastcrest Dr. The victim was robbed at gunpoint and pistol-whipped by two black male suspects; who fled the scene in a stolen red Ford Mustang. Approximately thirty minutes later, Eastway Division officers spotted the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop the vehicle. After the suspect vehicle refused to stop for officers; officers initiated a vehicle pursuit. They lost sight of the suspect vehicle and due to the high rate of speed officers terminated the vehicle pursuit.

While continuing to canvass the area for the suspect vehicle; officers encountered a vehicle collision in the 200 block of W Brookshire Frwy., which involved the suspect vehicle. A plain clothed City of Gastonia Officer stopped to render aid to the parties involved in the collision. Then as CMPD officers arrived they witnessed an altercation between the suspects and a plain clothed City of Gastonia officer. This encounter involved a carjacking between the suspect and the Gastonia officer. During the carjacking shots were fired by the officer striking the suspect, the suspect gained control of the officer’s vehicle, and sped off crashing the vehicle into an overhead highway sign post a short distance away.

Upon impact, the vehicle burst into flames, one suspect fled the scene and the second suspect was pulled from the burning vehicle by CMPD officers. The suspect who was pulled from the vehicle was pronounced deceased on scene and the second suspect was taken into police custody at 3113 Southwest Blvd, Apt #4 after an extensive search conducted by several CMPD officers.

Once suspect identification and family notification has been made their name will be released. In addition, the second suspect’s name will be released once he is formally charged.

CMPD Homicide detectives and the HITS unit will be conducting the investigation and interviewing witnesses to determine the exact sequence of events that occurred during this incident. Crime Scene Search responded and is processing the scene for physical evidence. The exact cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Good News

Perhaps the sky is not falling after all. As this article, in the Charlotte Observer, points out crime in the Central District is down 14.8% in 2008. Our district had the third best improvement from 2007 and our numbers are usually some of the best in the city. This article speaks to sharp decline in crime in the second half of the year. Yes; there was a spike in the first part of the year but when viewed in context we are moving in the right direction. Our leaders do care and our Police Department is on the job. Obviously there is room for improvement but well done to all who were involved with this turn of events. Those of you who are active in your Neighborhood Watch should be proud!

Charlotte crime rate -- lowest in years

By Steve Lyttle
slyttle@charlotteobserver.com

The number of crimes in Charlotte-Mecklenburg was the lowest in 2008 in five years --and the lowest in at least 14 years, according to statistics released this morning by police.

"These statistics are representative of some of the lowest rates we've seen in the city in a long, long time," said Chief Rodney Monroe, who took over the department last June after the retirement of Darrel Stephens.

Property, violent crimes plummet in Mecklenburg
Police chief credits more patrol officers, targeted policing for year-over-year decrease – best in years.

By Christopher D. Kirkpatrick
ckirkpatrick@charlotteobserver.com

Mecklenburg crime dropped sharply in the second half of last year after months of spiking violence and home break-ins drove residents to march on City Hall and in some cases hire their own security.

The year-end result was a 7.8 percent drop in the number of crimes compared to 2007 –the largest one-year percentage decrease since the 1994 merger of the city and county police, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.