WILMINGTON -- Like weeds, vehicles routinely pop up near the New Castle County Courthouse, illegally parking along King Street or on the road leading in and out of the adjacent 1,000-space garage.
The cars and trucks, some blue and gold, others black and white, some even decorated with brown and gold decals, can be found under "No Parking" signs. The cars, which belong to any number of police agencies, remain in these spots for minutes or hours -- depending on the reason the officer is in the courthouse.
Delaware code states that officers can park in such areas during emergencies. Otherwise, they must follow the same laws as other motorists.
Wilmington is in the midst of a campaign to collect a portion of $23.5 million in uncollected parking fines. The city also plans to hire more meter maids to increase the number of tickets they write.
"It makes me mad," Annamarie Vendergrift said Thursday as a state trooper pulled his car into a bus stop, got out and walked across King Street and into the courthouse. "If that was a normal person who did that, that cop would give them a ticket."
The trooper's vehicle she complained about was left in front of three other police cars -- also parked under or near signs prohibiting parking.
Parking can be difficult to come by at times, especially in small towns where few parking spots are available.
"In Sussex County, there aren't a whole lot of places to park," state police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Oldham said. "You have to find a back road that might not have meters on it or if you find a meter you have to pay."
When troopers are given a ticket, Oldham said, they have to pay it.
"The state does not reimburse us," he said.
Wilmington and Capitol police have jurisdiction over the area surrounding the courthouse, located at Fourth and King streets. Neither agency would say Thursday if police cars had received citations for illegally parking there.
Unlike the Sussex County Courthouse, the New Castle County Courthouse has a garage attached to the 14-story building. The rates start at $2 for the first half hour and go up to $10 per day. Wilmington and New Castle County police reimburse officers for parking costs.
On Thursday, both police departments said they would remind their officers of correct procedures.
County police spokesman Cpl. Trinidad Navarro said the department would issue a memo updating their policies.
Wilmington also said they would notify their police force about proper procedures, said John Rago, Communications Director for Mayor James M. Baker. "They'll get it at roll call [today]."
Rago said the Wilmington police chief will instruct city police officers to refrain immediately from parking in "No Parking" or restricted areas. If officers choose not to park in the courthouse garage, they can park near the police station at Fourth and Walnut streets, about a block from the courthouse main entrance.
"It's distressing if law enforcement officers flagrantly disobey the law," said Stephen Henderson, associate professor of law at Widener University School of Law. "Unfortunately, in our society, it's normatively acceptable to flagrantly violate certain laws."