Residents of Grant Street and nearby blocks told the Fall River City Traffic Board that large commercial vehicles have increasingly occupied curbside parking, sometimes double-parking and partially blocking driveways and intersections.

The complaints came during the board’s public-comment period. Kristen Silva, who said she lives at 147 Grant Street, described streets she canvassed last week and told the board the commercial vehicles “are taking up doubles like, 2 parking spots where cars could fit.” Dennis Feldman, of 149 Grant Street, said he counted 13 commercial-style vehicles between South Main and Broadway on the night he walked the neighborhood and said two had registration stickers that appeared to be expired.

The residents pressed the board for enforcement and for options such as resident permits or paid parking at nearby lots. The board and police described the limits of current enforcement. Lieutenant Duarte of the Fall River Police Department told the speakers that enforcement depends on the vehicle’s status and location: “Those cars can be towed. If they are preventing you from getting out of your house or into your house or things like that, they definitely can be towed by a police tow.” He also said that simply having a commercial license plate does not automatically trigger a city ordinance that would prohibit overnight parking if the vehicle is registered as a passenger vehicle.

Stephanie McArthur, director of traffic and parking, told the residents she would make the traffic division aware of the complaints and encouraged them to call the police when vehicles are blocking driveways or creating safety hazards. McArthur said the city is limited to enforcing existing ordinances and that a longer-term remedy could require a new local ordinance or a neighborhood parking-permit program; she noted such programs require staffing and revenue that larger cities typically provide.

Residents raised safety concerns including blocked sight lines near a bus turn and difficulty exiting driveways in the early morning. They also said repeated tickets had not changed behavior for some vehicles, which they suspected might be ignored by owners.

No ordinance or regulatory change was adopted at the meeting. Board members and staff advised residents to report incidents to police dispatch and to collect photo evidence; McArthur and police staff said they would follow up with targeted enforcement where public-safety conditions exist.