Handyman fined $345 for parking work truck at his own home

A disabled handyman in Florida is challenging fines from his city after officials cited him for keeping his work truck in the driveway of his home, saying the vehicle violates local parking rules.

Bali Ramnarace, who lives in Boynton Beach, has been ordered by the city to remove his 10-foot commercial box truck from his residential property. City officials say the truck is not permitted under municipal code regulations that restrict certain vehicles in residential neighborhoods. Ramnarace says complying with the order would make it much harder for him to work and manage daily life because of his physical disability.

Ramnarace, a single father, has filed a civil lawsuit against the city over the issue. He said he has parked the truck in his driveway for about 45 years and believes he should be allowed to continue doing so under a grandfather provision. According to him, the truck is essential because it carries the tools and materials he needs for his handyman work.

He said removing the vehicle from his property would seriously affect his ability to earn a living. The truck’s location at his home also helps him deal with his physical limitations, making it easier for him to access the equipment he needs.

City leaders argue the vehicle breaks Boynton Beach’s municipal code governing parking in residential areas. The rule, found in Chapter 14, Section 14-3 of the city code, was designed to preserve neighborhood appearance and property values by limiting large vehicles such as trucks, tractors, buses, and heavy equipment from remaining in certain residential areas for more than 15 minutes.

Ramnarace maintains that his vehicle meets most of the requirements laid out by the city. He said the truck is a single-axle 10-foot box truck that weighs about 5,900 pounds, well below the 16,000-pound limit mentioned in the guidelines. The only issue, he says, is that it is classified as a truck.

So far, the city has issued him a $345 fine. If he continues to keep the truck on his property, he could face an additional $75 penalty each month.

Ramnarace says officials have not offered him an alternative place to park the vehicle, leaving him uncertain about what he would do if he is forced to move it.

The dispute comes after the city approved changes in February to its ordinance covering where vehicles can stop, stand, park, or be stored. The updated rules introduced tighter limits on parking in both residential and commercial areas. Under the revised ordinance, vehicles generally must be parked in driveways and not in streets, swales, or yards, except during temporary events such as open houses or small gatherings that receive approval.

Some residents criticized the new rules after they were adopted, arguing they impose restrictions similar to those found in homeowner associations, even for people who do not live in one.

City public safety director Bonafair rejected the idea that the policy was created to generate money through fines. He said the purpose of the regulations is to address public safety concerns rather than raise revenue.