NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) — A disagreement between the town of Narragansett and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has ramped up after the town put three-hour parking signs along Ocean Road, which is state-owned.

RIDOT responded with a cease-and-desist letter Friday.

“After our town manager had communicated on our town website and it got social media attention, very shortly after is when we got the letter from DOT,” said Councilor Ewa Dzwierzynski.

Dzwierzynski said the signs along Ocean Road were taken down shortly after the town received the letter, but she’s confused why the state got involved in the first place.

She said the three-hour limit on Ocean Road was passed by the town last year to help control traffic in the area.

The town told RIDOT as a courtesy, according to Dzwierzynski, but she was surprised when RIDOT Director Peter Alviti had the state’s Traffic Commission review the ordinance in March.

“There’s so many things going on with the state’s crumbling roads and bridges for him to take such an interest in timed parking in Narragansett,” she said.

Dzwierzynski said nothing was decided by the Traffic Commission at the time, and after reaching out to RIDOT several times, the town decided to take matters into their own hands.

Alviti said Tuesday the state’s Traffic Commission wants to hear from both sides before making a decision about parking along the state-owned road. He said that will be on July 10.

“Far be it from us at RIDOT to impose restrictions on people enjoying the beaches and the views,” he said. “The town has a different idea, and some of the businesses and residents oppose the town’s idea.”

Bella Goldey from Albany, New York, is one of the thousands who visit Narragansett Town Beach in the summer. She doesn’t want a time limit on how long she can spend at the beach.

“I need my beach time to be longer than the walk,” Goldey said.

Kate Wilkinson ( kwilkinson@wpri.com ) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook .

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