The entire 100 block of South Maple Avenue has been restricted to 20 minute parking.

It’s a move designed to make it easier for Manteca Police to put pressure on illegal drug sales and homeless parking in the area.

The signs were just installed along South Maple south of Yosemite Avenue to where it dead ends at a barricade prior to the Tidewater Bikeway.

The area has had issues with people “sitting” in cars parking for long periods of time.

Over the years, officers have had limited success at nabbing those who use the area for drug transactions at night.

Police on patrol now have the ability to pressure those that park there to move after 20 minutes.

The goal is to make the area less conducive to such nighttime transactions that often use homeless parked on the street in their vehicles for cover of sorts.

And while police are going to continue to target illegal drug sales, the proactive move is designed to reduce — if not eliminate — criminals from using the area for such activities.

It is part of an ongoing city effort to reduce criminal activity in the central district.

The limited parking provides law enforcement with a tool to step up the pressure.

It is in the same spirit as other “proactive steps” such as securing the Library courtyard with wrought iron fencing to prevent the homeless from crashing their overnight.

Before the fence went in, city crews had to clean up debris, feces, and even drug paraphernalia the homeless left behind each morning.

Also damage to light fixtures that were routinely torn apart to charge cellphones and power small appliances ended.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin