In the hour before the London Knights battled the Niagara IceDogs in their OHL final series on the weekend, another fight nearly broke out a block away — one sparked by a city hall crackdown on illegal parking lots.

Denis Dimitrakopoulos was in one of 13 private lots he manages under the Metro Park banner, this one at Handford’s Tire and Service at York and Ridout streets Saturday. Each time a customer parked, Dimitrakopoulos was loudly confronted by a disheveled-looking man — not connected to city hall — that the lot manager says hangs around the area. The man screamed that the lot was illegal and no one should pay.

The two men stopped short of blows, but were so animated, a concerned patron, Sue McLeish intervened to talk them down. Afterwards, McLeish said city hall was wrong to go after Dimitrakopoulos and others who operate private lots when thousands go to the Budweiser Gardens for events like the hockey games.

“I think it’s disgusting,” McLeish said of the crackdown.

Her companion for the Knights game, Gary McNaughton, agreed. “I’ve had two hip replacements and I don’t mind paying $10 so I don’t have to walk a long way,” he said.

The confrontation came after the city started issuing tickets and even a court summons last month to those who operate lots that parking enforcement head Annette Drost says are illegal. It wasn’t the first crackdown, she said: Pop-up lots are illegal when owners don’t get proper insurance, signs and the zoning from city hall.

“It’s really irrelevant whether we received a complaint,” Drost told The Free Press two weeks ago. “We are proactive and take action when we see someone violating a bylaw.”

But her explanation was rejected by some of the lots’ customers, many of whom said they’ve used the Handford’s lot for years because it allows a quick exit after a game or concert.

While it might make sense to regulate the lots, it would be wrong to drive them out of business, said Dan and Nathan Mather — doing so would make it harder to park downtown and give parking goliath ImPark a virtual monopoly on parking near the arena.

“To come downtown and park is hard,” Dan Mather said. “I’ve been driving around for 10 minutes.”

Asked about concerns of some patrons of Bud Gardens, the city politician who chairs a committee that oversees parking enforcement, Virginia Ridley, said she was sympathetic to those who believe government sometimes over-regulates business.

“I’m interested to learn more,” said Ridley, who chairs city council’s community and protective services committee. Citizens who feel strongly about the enforcement should email her at vridley@london.ca, she said.

Told of the concerns, Drost explained awareness alone isn’t enough to trigger enforcement, which is limited by resources.

“There are two (officers) to investigate (infractions),” she wrote in an email to The Free Press over the weekend. “There are thousands of businesses, hundreds of cabs and limos requiring inspections and testing, not to mention illegal businesses operating.”

Asked if it was true, as Dimitrakopoulos claimed, that an enforcement officer came by his lots earlier in the week but did not issue a charge, Drost wrote that while she couldn’t comment in individual cases, that officers have up to six months to lay charges.

Those who want to operate lots should seek out what is required and city hall will help, she said.

“They should familiarize themself with all relevant regulations prior to operating, including zoning regulations, licenses, signage permitted, storage of goods, inspections required . . . The effort for perspective business operators to undertake due diligence in advance will benefit the operator in the long run.”

Drost wouldn’t disclose if the crackdown came after a complaint from ImPark.

“We do not release the name of any complainant,” she wrote.

Drost says bylaw officers usually issue a ticket with a $125 fine, but repeat offenders can be given a summons and be fined up to $1,000.

jsher@postmedia.com

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