The Butler police officer who ticketed a few cars parked on a curve on Pillow Street during the Butler BlueSox' game against the Danville Dans Friday evening was acting in the best interests of people traveling the street.

Whether those tickets were warning tickets or the real thing, they were justified. The vehicles' back ends, because of being parked on a curve, were an accident waiting to happen. That's one of the situations police officers are hired to address.

But there's another side to that ticketing that must not be ignored. Since the vehicles probably were owned by people attending the BlueSox game, there's the issue of whether the city really wants to discourage people from attending events at Pullman Park — the effect that vehicle ticketing around the ballpark might have.

Does the city really want to fine people who pay money to support the home team?

The answer to that question is simple: No.

Based on the "No Parking Between Signs" signs in place in the area where the vehicles were ticketed, the police officer could have ticketed several other vehicles but cut those vehicles a break presumably because they weren't creating a hazard like those that were ticketed.

All of that said, the parking situation should be addressed by city leaders and those in charge of the ballpark. It's time that officials stop ignoring the need for a real parking plan for the ballpark — even if it's just a temporary one until the area around the facility is fully developed in the way initially envisioned.

For now, prominent signs are needed to direct people to available parking spaces — and to prohibit them from parking in off-limits spaces. The "No Parking Between Signs" signs don't merit any awards for prominent warning.

Meanwhile, a free or low-cost shuttle bus for parking spaces that would require too long of a walk to the ballpark is another option, if not for now then for the future.

This is the ballpark's second year of operation. The parking issue should not be waiting for resolution indefinitely.

Does the temporary answer lie with a formal agreement involving the parking lot in front of the former, currently vacant Shop N Save supermarket, as long as that vacancy exists? It's a fact that some ballpark traffic already uses that lot.

Perhaps there are insurance issues for the lot's owner; perhaps not.

Beyond that, a study is in order to identify the full range of potential parking spaces for the ballpark and how best they can be utilized on behalf of keeping the ballpark an exciting, vibrant and convenient place to go — while keeping Pillow Street a safe route for traffic.

Those tickets that were handed out Friday evening won't drastically affect ballpark attendance. However, even losing one paying fan is not something with which city or ballpark officials should be content.

The police officer was correct, but city and ballpark officials have been remiss in allowing the shabby parking situation to remain unaddressed.