I wanted to let you know that all cars at the State Beach in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs that have tires on the sand, not completely on the pavement, are being ticketed by the sheriff’s department. I have parked there for 40 years and never was ticketed for good parking, but was ticketed on July 2 by officer number 25.

I talked with him today and he said he is ticketing everyone and anyone whose tires touch or border on the sand. I told him it was abusive and had never been done before. He first said, officiously, “If you hadn’t had a ticket in 40 years, you’re just lucky!” I called the sheriff’s department and was told the matter of tickets was handled between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and no comments could be taken over the phone. I also heard from the sheriff’s department that “Fifty tickets had come in yesterday!”

I call this to your attention because it reminds me of what happened two years ago when all cars not facing the traffic were ticketed and a hue and cry was raised that resulted in all tickets being cancelled and the policy changed.

I think this is a parallel case and, hopefully, will be stopped and tickets ($50 each) cancelled.

It seems a violation and official abuse of our Martha’s Vineyard friends and visitors.

Edward Higham and Anna Stocker
Chilmark
Oak Bluffs