All 14 were there to engage in lewd conduct. Prompted, they say, in part by complaints from residents of nearby neighborhoods, Pacific Division's vice squad officers conducted a four-month investigation of Sandpiper starting last October. But Miller says officers had already devoted considerable effort without success, and that the parking restrictions allowed them to clean up the street with a minimum of police activity. We're looking at ways we can best utilize resources and best eliminate the problem. The parking ban on Sandpiper may have eliminated the problem, but it also raises the question of whether the public is well served by measures that limit access to scenic places in order to ensure safety.
Police maintain that they have received few complaints about the new restrictions.
But not everyone sees the parking ban as an improvement. John Bangs of the Airport Police, which patrols the area adjacent to Sandpiper. It was a favorite lunch spot. Bangs himself supports the ban, but he understands why others might differ. I know there were a lot of people who used to enjoy going up and sitting there that weren't part of the problem, so it's a mixed bag.