ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando International Airport officials said it is getting results and addressing the persistent illegal parking problem on the main roads leading up to its terminals.
News 6 first exposed the problem late last year showing cars standing on the shoulders, all day and all night, even in front of no-parking signs.
Former Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon, who tried for years to tackle the problem, called it dangerous for drivers and passengers to allow cars to linger so close to terminals and tarmacs where planes are parked, besides the hazard of drivers darting into and out of moving traffic.
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OPD is responsible for patrolling the Orlando International Airport.
Angela Starke, MCO Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & Community Relations, said OPD enforces the no-parking rule on airport access roads as much as possible.
However, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) understands “OPD cannot be stationed there at all times and that drivers will take it upon themselves to disregard signage and suggested alternatives.”
“There are still times when drivers choose to disregard posted signage and park,” an unnamed OPD spokesperson said. “We take the safety and security of Orlando’s travelers seriously and do not condone illegal parking.”
News 6 learned the Florida Highway Patrol also does enforcement.
A trooper who moved along illegally-parked drivers told News 6 he is not required to patrol the airport, but heard about the illegal parking problem and decided to include airport access road parking enforcement as part of his regular shift duties.
But after the trooper left, drivers continued to stand and wait on the shoulders of Jeff Fuqua Boulevard and even on the ramp leading up to the recently-opened south Terminal C.
Drivers were parked so close to the terminal they could walk to it.
Earlier this year, MCO hired private security company Allied Universal to move along drivers at arrivals and departures entrances and exits. The security officers are effective with their whistles and neon vests, but are only stationed in front of the terminals.
Former Chief Rolon suggested MCO consider enforcement methods other than patrols, including cost-effective measures like flashing lights, cameras and/or loudspeakers.
Starke said MCO is considering several options.
“In partnership with Orlando Police, we have been looking into technology that will notify officers and parking operations when a vehicle lingers on the roadway,” Starke said. “That technology may be via sensors, cameras or other devices.”
Starke said there are now more than a dozen no-parking signs on the airport access roads.
Instead of parking illegally, drivers can wait for passengers in either of the two free Cell Phone Waiting Lots – the north lot and the south lot by Terminal C.
They’re both open 24 hours a day and have free wi-fi and bathrooms.
Coincidentally, state lawmakers in Illinois passed a bill last month that would make it illegal to wait on the shoulder leading up the terminals at the Chicago International Airport (ORD) – one of the busiest in the world.
If the governor signs the bill, violators would face $100 fines and authorities would install cameras on the ORD access roads to monitor them.
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