Police may look other way on parade tape

PORTLAND, Ore. - As the deadline for the big Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade draws near, it appears the controversy over taping off a favorite spot is alive and well despite a new ordinance prohibiting saving spaces.

Portland Department of Transportation staffers are warning would-be squatters that their tape, chalk or lawn chairs will be removed from sidewalks ahead of  Saturday's Grand Floral Parade.

However, Portland police have indicated they will not be writing space-saving scofflaws tickets over the matter. Fines for illegally reserving a spot are $100.

City Commissioner Randy Leonard said he would take the Portland police chief to task over reports that officers would not be enforcing the ordinances prohibiting reserving parade route real estate.

"I'm less than impressed with the city of Portland Police Bureau's announcements," Leonard said. "It's news to me that the police bureau decides which laws they do or do not want to enforce, so that's another conversation I'm going to have with the chief."

In years past, duct tape, chalk, lawn chairs and even spray paint have been used to reserve a spot along the parade route in the week leading up to the annual event.

This year, it appears most people have gotten the message not to mark off spots. No tape or chairs were visible along the parade route on Tuesday.

Complaints from people who said they were unable to see the parade led Leonard to spearhead an effort to ban the practice of saving spots last year. The City Council later passed the resolution.

According to the new rules, parade goers can grab a spot beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning.  However, PDOT officials said one person saving a bunch of seats is not going to be allowed.

Special seating arrangements for the disabled or elderly can be obtained by calling (503) 227-2681.