Title 13 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 13.20 STOPPING AND PARKING
13.20.010 Parking so as to impede traffic prohibited.
13.20.020 Parking prohibitions.
13.20.030 Parking permit areas.
13.20.040 Parking or standing--Prohibited areas.
13.20.050 Enforcement of parking and standing regulations.
13.20.060 Manner of parking--Double parking prohibited--Exceptions.
13.20.070 “For sale” sign on parked vehicle prohibited.
13.20.080 Parking commercial vehicles in residential zone prohibited--Exceptions.
13.20.090 Storing or parking vehicles--Unregistered vehicles, repairs on public property.
13.20.100 Violations and penalties--Exceptions.
13.20.010 Parking so as to impede traffic prohibited.
No person shall cause, allow, permit or suffer any vehicle registered in
the name of or owned or operated by him or her to be parked or left standing in
any manner which interferes with or prevents free passage of other vehicles in
either direction. (Prior code § 13-62)
13.20.020 Parking prohibitions.
No person shall cause, allow, permit or suffer any vehicle registered in
the name of or owned or operated by him or her to be stopped, left standing or
parking in any of the following places, except in compliance with the directions
of a police officer:
A. Within an intersection;
B. On a
crosswalk;
C. On a bridge or underpass or approach thereto;
D. Within
40’ of the curblines of all intersections, or alongside any painted
portions or areas of the curbs, whenever the curbs were painted at the direction
of competent authority;
E. Within 25’ from the approach to any
“stop” sign, located at the side of the highway;
F. Blocking or
obstructing the view of any “slow” or “speed” sign,
located at the side of the highway;
G. Upon any highway in front of or along
the side of any school, public or private, during any hours when the school is
in session;
H. Alongside of or opposite to any street excavation or
obstruction;
I. Reserved;
J. In front of any barricade or sign that has
been placed for the purpose of closing a highway; and
K. Within 3’ of
the front or rear of another vehicle or vehicles parked at or parallel with the
curb. (Ord. 2004-38 § 1 (part), 2004/Ord. 2003-28 § 1, 2003: prior
code § 13-63)
13.20.030 Parking permit areas.
A. The Council finds that the health, safety and welfare of many residents
of the City are adversely affected by burdens placed on residents by virtue of
the existence of major public facilities and programs. Frequently, the use of
streets within residential areas for the parking of vehicles by persons using
adjacent commercial, industrial, educational and transit areas and other areas,
facilities and programs emanating from planning, zoning and other decisions by
government results in hazardous traffic conditions, the overburdening of
existing streets, roads and other facilities, air and noise pollution and the
inability of residents of certain areas to obtain adequate parking adjacent to
or close by their places of residence and to secure ease of access to their
places of residence. In order to reduce to the extent possible the
aforementioned conditions, to foster the use of mass transit facilities and to
promote the safety, peace, good order, comfort, convenience, health and welfare
of the residents of the City, the Council deems it essential that the parking
permit authorization provided for in this section be enacted.
B. The City
Administrator is authorized to recommend to the Council roads, streets and other
areas within the City in which the parking of vehicles may be restricted, in
whole or in part, during certain specified times, to holders of valid parking
permits issued pursuant to this section. The City Administrator shall consider
the institution of a parking permit system upon petition by the residents of a
given area. The authority granted herein shall be in addition to and may be
exercised in conjunction with any other authority the City Administrator may
have to recommend times and conditions of motor vehicle parking.
C. The
designation of a parking permit shall take into account, among other
things:
1. The effect on the safety of residents of the area under
consideration from intensive use by nonresidents for parking of
vehicles;
2. The need of the residents of the area to obtain adequate
on-street parking adjacent to or close by their places of residence;
3. The
difficulty or inability of residents of the area to secure adequate on-street
parking adjacent to or close by their places of residence because of widespread
use of available parking spaces in that area by nonresidential transient
motorists;
4. The impact of major public facilities and programs on the
health, safety and welfare of the residents of the area and any unreasonable
burdens placed on those residents in securing adequate on-street parking and
gaining access to their places of residence by virtue of such facilities and
programs;
5. The likelihood of alleviating, by use of a parking permit
system, any problem of nonavailability of residential parking spaces;
6. The
desire of the residents in the area for the institution of a parking permit
system and the willingness of those residents to bear the administrative costs
incidental to the issuance of permits authorized by this section;
7. The
fact that the residents of a contemplated parking permit area have contributed
to the cost of construction and/or improvement of streets and roads in such area
either by the direct assessment of costs or indirectly to the extent such costs
are reflected in purchase or rental prices paid by those residents;
8. The
need for some parking spaces to be available in the area under consideration for
use by visitors and the general public;
9. Such other factors as shall be
deemed relevant.
D. In order to determine whether a particular area or
location should be designated as a parking permit area, the Council, upon
receipt of a certified petition requesting the designation or withdrawal of a
parking permit area, shall conduct a public hearing prior to such designation or
prior to the withdrawal of such designation once it is established, at which
time any interested person shall be entitled to appear and be heard. Such
hearing shall be held only after due notice has been published in a newspaper of
general circulation. The notice shall clearly state the purpose of the hearing,
the exact location and boundaries of the parking permit area under consideration
and the reasons why such area is being proposed for designation or withdrawal of
designation as a parking permit area and the proposed parking permit fee that
would be charged. In addition to the published notice, a similar notification
shall be prominently posted within the area under consideration for designation
as a parking permit area.
E. Within 30 days after the close of the record of
the public hearing, the Council shall decide, based on the record of that
meeting, whether or not to designate the area under consideration as a parking
permit area or to remove the designation in the case of an established parking
permit area. The decision of the Council shall be publicly announced in the same
manner as the announcement of the hearing.
F. Following the designation of a
parking permit area, the City Administrator or his or her designee shall issue
appropriate parking permits and shall cause parking signs to be posted in the
area indicating the times, locations and conditions under which parking shall be
by permit only. Permits shall be issued only to persons residing on property
immediately adjacent to a street or road within the parking permit area. A
permit shall remain valid for such time as the holder thereof continues to
reside in the area and during the period for which the permit is issued. Permits
may be transferred only in accordance with procedures to be established in
writing by the City Administrator.
G. Subject to any regulations prepared by
the City Administrator under subsection (H) of this section:
1. Each holder
of a residential parking permit shall be entitled to no more than 2 permanent
visitor parking permits. Visitor parking permits shall be issued under the same
terms and conditions as the residential parking permit, except that such visitor
parking permits will only be valid if used within 500’ of the address for
which the residential parking permit is issued. Nothing in this provision shall
prevent the City Administrator or his or her designee from issuing temporary
visitor permits in accordance with regulations developed under subsection (H) of
this section.
2. Non-profit entities located at an address within a
designated residential permit parking area may be issued parking
permits.
3. A business located at an address in a commercial area
immediately adjacent to a residential permit parking area may apply for a
commercial permit. No more than 3 commercial permits will be issued to any one
business.
4. A business located at an address in the City may apply for an
area-wide permit which would enable a business vehicle bearing the permit to
park in any of the designated residential permit parking areas in the City. No
more than 3 area-wide permits will be issued to any one business.
H. The
City Administrator is authorized to promulgate written regulations in accordance
with Chapter 2.12, to implement the provisions of this section.
I. The City
Administrator is authorized to recommend to the Council a parking permit fee for
permits to be issued pursuant to this section in an amount sufficient to pay the
costs incidental to the issuance of permits authorized by this section. The
permit fee shall become effective upon the affirmative action of the
Council.
J. In addition to any other penalties available under law,
violations of the City Administrator’s written regulations promulgated
under subsection (H) of this section may result in revocation, by the City
Administrator or his or her designee, of permits issued by the City
Administrator or his or her designee.
K. Vehicles bearing handicap tags are
exempt from the provisions of this section. (Prior code §
13-63.1)
13.20.040 Parking or standing--Prohibited areas.
A. No person shall cause, allow or permit any vehicle registered in the
name of or owned or operated by him or her to be parked or left standing in any
of the following places:
1. At any time, at any place or within any area
where official traffic signs or parking signs have been or shall hereafter be
erected prohibiting standing or parking at any time;
2. At any place or
within any area where official traffic signs or parking signs have been or
hereafter shall be erected prohibiting parking within certain hours or for more
than a given period of time within those hours during which parking is
prohibited or for a longer period of time than is prohibited, as indicated
respectively by any such sign;
3. On a sidewalk space or on a public space
between the curb and building line;
4. Within 15’ of a fire hydrant or
bus stop;
5. In front of any fire station;
6. In any fire
lane;
7. On any highway or roadway for more than 72 consecutive
hours;
8. In any public alley where official signs prohibiting parking have
been or shall have been placed except when actually engaged in receiving or
unloading merchandise;
9. In or upon any public highway, street, alley,
court or roadway when parking will obstruct the open ingress and egress of other
vehicles or in front of or within 5’ of a public or private driveway,
except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with
law or upon the direction of a police officer;
10. Within the front setback
area of any lot in a residential zone or the side setback area facing a street
on a corner or reverse corner lot in a residential zone on any space other than
on a permanently constructed driveway within front or side setback areas,
provided that any vehicle shall have displayed thereon a current license
plate;
11. On public or private property designated as parking reserved for
the physically handicapped with the proper signs posted in conformance with the
sign standards in the Maryland Manual, unless the vehicle displays a special
registration plate or permit issued by any State or the District of Columbia
with the handicap designation.
B. Any person issued a ticket for violation
of subsection (A)(6) (fire lanes) of this section shall be subject to a fine as
set forth in Section 13.40.010 (Schedule of fines and charges).
C. Any
person issued a ticket for violation of subsection (A)(11) (handicapped parking)
of this section shall be subject to a fine as set forth in Section 13.40.010
(Schedule of fines and charges). (Ord. 2004-38 § 1 (part), 2004/prior code
§ 13-64)
13.20.050 Enforcement of parking and standing regulations.
The City Administrator may designate a parking enforcement official (or
officials), who shall have concurrent jurisdiction with police officers in the
enforcement of the parking and standing regulations contained in this title.
(Prior code § 13.64.1)
13.20.060 Manner of parking--Double parking prohibited--Exceptions.
A. Except when necessary in obedience to traffic regulations or traffic
signs, the driver or operator of any vehicle shall not stop, park or leave
standing the vehicle in any public highway or roadway, other than parallel with
the edge of the highway or roadway and headed in the direction of traffic, with
the vehicle’s right side to the curb and within 12”
thereof.
B. No double parking or standing shall be permitted except, in the
case of a passenger vehicle, only long enough to take on or let off passengers
and, in the case of a commercial vehicle, only while actually engaged in loading
or unloading merchandise if no curb space is available within a reasonable
distance. (Prior code § 13-65)
13.20.070 “For sale” sign on parked vehicle prohibited.
No vehicle displayed for sale shall be left standing or parked upon any
public highway. (Prior code § 13-66)
13.20.080 Parking commercial vehicles in residential zone prohibited--Exceptions.
No person shall cause, allow, permit or suffer any commercial vehicle
registered in the name of or owned or operated by him or her to be parked or
left standing on any public highway in front of, alongside of or in the rear of
any residentially zoned property, except when actually loading or unloading
merchandise. (Prior code § 13-67)
13.20.090 Storing or parking vehicles--Unregistered vehicles, repairs on public property.
A. No person shall park or store any unregistered motor vehicle on a
highway or other public property in the City at any time.
B. No person shall
perform service or repairs on a motor vehicle parked on a highway or other
public property in the City and no person shall store or park, on a highway or
other public property in the City, any motor vehicle left in the custody of any
vehicle repair facility, body shop, garage, or service or parking facility;
provided however, that this section shall not apply to:
1. Emergency service
or repairs necessary for the removal of an inoperative motor vehicle;
2. An
owner of the motor vehicle performing minor service or repairs on a vehicle
which is otherwise legally parked and operative; or
3. The accommodation for
the immediate transfer, exchange or removal of a motor vehicle to or from a
vehicle repair facility, body shop, garage, or service or parking facility.
(Ord. 2004-38 § 1 (part), 2004: prior code § 13-68)
13.20.100 Violations and penalties--Exceptions.
Except as provided in Sections 13.20.040(B) (fire lanes) and 13.20.040(C)
(handicapped parking), any person issued a ticket for a violation of this
chapter shall be subject to a fine as set forth in Section 13.40.010 (Schedule
of fines and charges). (Prior code § 13.20)
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