Walmart is facing a $50,000 fine for simply allowing semi trucks to park overnight in the lot at its Springfield location.
The situation began last year, when a Springfield, Illinois city zoning inspector issued the Walmart location an ordinance violation for allowing trucks to “improperly park” across spots meant for passenger vehicles. The inspector claimed that the 1100 Lejune Drive Walmart Supercenter was not following the original parking plan submitted to the city, and that the location should have planned proper truck parking spots had they intended to allow tractor trailers to stay in the lot.
City officials reasoned that the tractor trailers parked across the spots farthest from the building blocked visibility for customers, posing a safety issue, reported the State Journal Register.
Initially, the city requested that Walmart create a plan to deal with their safety concerns, leading to a plan that called for barriers and increased security to prevent big rigs from parking there. Soon though, the city realized that Walmart was not following through with the plan, and so was issued another ordinance violation – this time with an approved $500 a day fine for Walmart if trucks were seen parked in the lot.
Then in February of 2018, the city froze the fines, which had already racked up to around $18,00, while the city looked over a second plan submitted by Walmart where the business proposed restriping the lot and changing landscaping to accommodate for commercial vehicle parking. The plan was approved, but on Wednesday, August 15th after months of Walmart still not following through with the plan, the city pinned Walmart with a $50,000 fine for the trucks left parked in the lot during the fine freeze.
“At this time, we are in the process of weighing our options as to how best to proceed,” wrote Walmart spokesperson Casey Staheli in an email.
“Nevertheless, Walmart will continue to amicably work with the City of Springfield, in accordance with the applicable ordinances, to ensure that a fair and reasonable solution is achieved, and any such issues are resolved,” she continued.
“What they [Walmart] cannot do is nothing,” said city attorney Jim Zerkle.
“I expected more trucks to be out here,” commented 50-year-old trucker, Marlowe, in the week following the hefty fine decision.
“I know they used to pack them in here…. There’s not enough parking for trucks anymore… Next time, knowing there is truck problems with this Walmart, I won’t come around here.”
