Can I be ticketed for parking on the shoulder at Orlando International Airport?

ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road, helping Orlando-area residents become better drivers by being better educated.

Trooper Steve on Tuesday was asked a question by a viewer named George.

“I recently got a ticket for parking on the shoulder by a deputy at the airport. What’s up with that?” he asked.

Let’s face it, parking at the airport is never going to win any awards for convenience.

It doesn’t matter how many new garages get built or how many color-coded levels they add, airport parking will always feel like the 10th circle of travel frustration.

And if you’ve ever circled Orlando International during rush hour, you know it turns into a real-life video game of “Spot the Space Before the Other Guy Does.”

But here’s where things get especially interesting: Despite the sea of “NO STOPPING” signs plastered like wallpaper on airport roadways, drivers somehow turn into shoulder-surfing optimists, thinking, “Surely this doesn’t apply to me.”

On a busy day, it looks like folks are pulling over for free Disney tickets or launching their own rideshare startup.

When you pull over on the shoulder at the airport, you’re not only committing a textbook traffic violation, you’re potentially creating a major security risk.

Think about it: this is airport property. These vehicles haven’t been screened; they’re not accounted for; and to put it bluntly, law enforcement doesn’t love mysteries when it comes to unknown vehicles sitting around transportation hubs.

In fact, officers would rather have bumper-to-bumper traffic moving than a parade of parked cars pretending the shoulder is VIP parking.

Here’s where our viewer comes in. George admitted to being parked on the shoulder, acknowledged the warning, and then—shock of shocks—getting a citation.

His only complaint? Wondering what authority a county deputy had to write the ticket.

Spoiler alert: the authority was 100% valid. County deputies can enforce traffic laws on public roads and, yes, that includes the roads surrounding the airport.

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You break a traffic law, you’re gonna hear about it.

There’s a reason those signs say “DO NOT STOP OR STAND ON SHOULDER.” They aren’t suggestions. They’re rules that are grounded in safety, not inconvenience.

If you’re picking someone up, use the designated lanes or cellphone lots. We promise your passenger won’t spontaneously combust if they wait five extra minutes.

So the next time you’re tempted to pull off to the side like you own the place, ask yourself: Is this really the hill I want to pay a fine on?

Drive safe, follow the signs and remember that airport patience is a virtue.

If you have a traffic question for Trooper Steve, submit it here.

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