Resident fed up with people not obeying ‘No Parking’ area downtown Abbeville

Worries have arisen within the Forsythe Family, who are in their 80s, regarding a parking problem in downtown Abbeville. They express genuine concern that if no action is taken, it may result in a loss of life for one of them.
The Forsythes have resided on North Main Street, situated behind the old Black’s Restaurant, for eight years. Their relocation from Illinois to South Louisiana was motivated by their desire to evade the harsh cold climate. They currently inhabit a New Orleans style house, which they hold great affection for. However, over the past eight years, they have been grappling with a significant problem that has now escalated to a critical stage.
Louisiana has a state law that does allow a vehicle to block a private driveway.
The Forsythes have a two-car closed-in garage that opens onto South Main Street.
In front of their home, there is a clearly marked bright yellow box on the road that indicates “No Parking.”
However, despite this, people persistently park in front of their two-car garage, which is causing great concern for the couple.
This situation is particularly distressing for Dianne, who recently suffered a heart attack and had to be urgently taken to the hospital. She is worried that if either she or her husband were to experience a medical emergency, they would be unable to leave due to a vehicle blocking their garage.
“Do people around here obey laws or not,” said Dianne. “I have been driving for 70 years, and I have never parked in front of a garage door. Why? Because there is no parking in front of a driveway.”
Dianne contacts the Abbeville Police whenever she notices a vehicle parked illegally. Upon arrival, the police make an effort to locate the owner of the car and instruct them to relocate it. Dianne personally engages with the driver of the unlawfully parked vehicle, who often expresses remorse and claims ignorance of the no-parking area.
Her response: “Did you not see the garage you parked in front of, either?”
“Saying you are sorry does not cut it if I have to get out of my garage door,” she said. “Sorry is not going to be help me.”
Dianne wants more. She wants the police to issue parking citations to teach drivers that they can not park in an illegal parking space without consequences.
In the last month, she began taking photos of vehicles that are blocking her garage. She also wrote a letter and voiced her concerns about the parking situation downtown Abbeville.
She mailed the letters, along with photos of vehicles blocking her garage, to the new Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, along with Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White, city councilman Brady Broussard, Abbeville Police Chief Mike Hardy and newly elected sheriff, Eddie Langlinais.
Dianne said she has not complained to the business owners near their home because they are not the ones who are parking in a no-parking zone.
“It is the drivers. They do not seem to know the law,” she added. “It has got to stop before me or my husband need to leave because of an emergency.”