Chapter 10.20
STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
Sections:
10.20.010 Applicability of provisions – Exceptions.
10.20.020 City-owned, public utility and post office vehicles exempt when.
10.20.030 Stop and yield right-of-way signs – Placement authorized when.
10.20.040 Stop required when emerging from alley, driveway or building.
10.20.060 Stopping, standing or parking – Curb marking designations.
10.20.070 Stopping, standing or parking – Parkway restrictions.
10.20.080 Unattended vehicles – Keys to be removed.
10.20.090 Parking spaces to be marked.
10.20.100 Parallel parking.
10.20.110 Angle parking.
10.20.120 Parking – On grades.
10.20.140 Parking – In alleys.
10.20.150 Parking – Commercial vehicles.
10.20.170 Parking – Vehicles transporting explosives or flammable materials.
10.20.180 Limited or prohibited parking zones.
10.20.210 Parking vehicle for sale of or repairs prohibited – Exception.
10.20.220 Repealed.
10.20.230 Storing vehicles on streets – Time limit – Removal authorized when.
10.20.240 Vehicles left for repair or service – Parking restrictions.
10.20.250 Temporary and emergency parking signs and barricades.
10.20.260 City property – Parking restrictions.
10.20.261 Persons in city-owned parking lots or structures – Restrictions.
10.20.270 Private property – Parking restrictions.
10.20.280 Obstructing streets or municipal parking lots prohibited.
10.20.290 Bicycle parking spaces.
10.20.300 Bus zones.
10.20.310 Taxi stands.
10.20.330 Loading zones and passenger loading zones – Use restrictions.
10.20.350 Parking violations – Evidence – Notice and citation procedure.
10.20.010 Applicability of provisions – Exceptions.
A. The provisions of this title prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device.
B. The provisions of this title imposing a time limit on standing or parking shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions of the Vehicle Code of the state or of this title prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.
C. This title is meant to and hereby does provide the authority to tow vehicles that are not in compliance with the City’s ordinances or resolutions prohibiting stopping, standing, or parking. Persons authorized to tow such vehicles include the City’s peace officers and regularly employed and salaried employees engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1949 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.44)
10.20.020 City-owned, public utility and post office vehicles exempt when.
The provisions of this title regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of a city department or public utility while necessarily in use for construction or maintenance work upon the streets of the City, or any vehicle owned by the United States while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.41)
10.20.030 Stop and yield right-of-way signs – Placement authorized when.
Whenever any provision of this code, other ordinance or resolution of the City, or the traffic engineer designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a through street, or any intersection at which vehicles are required to stop at one or more entrances thereto, or any intersection at which vehicles are required to yield the right-of-way, or any railroad grade crossing at which vehicles are required to stop, the traffic engineer shall erect and maintain stop signs and yield right-of-way signs as follows:
A stop sign shall be erected on each street intersecting such through street or portion thereof so designated, and at those entrances of other intersections where a stop is required, and at any railroad grade crossing so designated; and a yield right-of-way sign shall be erected at those entrances of intersections where motorists are required to yield the right-of-way. Every such sign shall conform with and shall be placed as provided in Sections 21353 and 21354 of the Vehicle Code of the state. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.42)
10.20.040 Stop required when emerging from alley, driveway or building.
The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or into the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.43)
10.20.060 Stopping, standing or parking – Curb marking designations.
A. The traffic engineer is hereby authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this title, to place, and when required herein shall place, signs or the following curb markings to indicate parking or standing regulations, and such curb markings shall have the meanings as set forth in this section:
1. RED shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time, except as permitted by the Vehicle Code of the state, and except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone.
2. YELLOW shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time except for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or freight for the time specified by signs.
3. WHITE shall mean no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers, which shall not exceed three minutes, and such restrictions shall apply at all times.
4. GREEN shall mean time-limited parking and/or no parking during certain hours as specified by signs.
5. BLUE shall indicate parking limited exclusively to the vehicles displaying a disabled placard.
B. When the traffic engineer, as authorized under this section, has caused signs or curb markings to be placed, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible sign or curb marking in violation of any of the provisions of this section. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.56)
10.20.070 Stopping, standing or parking – Parkway restrictions.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway, except on a permanent or temporary driveway. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.46)
10.20.080 Unattended vehicles – Keys to be removed.
No person shall leave a motor vehicle, except a commercial motor vehicle, unattended on any street, alley, used-car lot or unattended parking lot without first stopping the engine, and removing and taking the key from the vehicle; provided, however, that any violation of this section shall not mitigate the offense of stealing any motor vehicle, nor shall this section or any violation thereof be admissible as evidence affecting recovery in any civil action for theft of such motor vehicle, or the insurance thereon, nor have any other bearing in any civil action. Whenever any police officer finds any such motor vehicle standing in violation of this section, such police officer is authorized to remove the keys therefrom and deliver the same to the police station. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.45)
10.20.090 Parking spaces to be marked.
A. The traffic engineer is authorized to install and maintain parking space markings to indicate parking spaces adjacent to curbs where authorized parking is permitted.
B. When such parking space markings are placed in the highway, subject to other and more restrictive limitations, no vehicle shall be stopped, left standing or parked other than within a single space unless the size or shape of such vehicle makes compliance impossible. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.61)
10.20.100 Parallel parking.
A. Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within 18 inches of the left-hand curb facing the direction of traffic movement upon any one-way street unless signs are erected prohibiting such stopping or standing.
B. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one direction upon any such roadway, no person shall stand or park a vehicle upon the left-hand side of such one-way roadway unless signs are in place permitting such standing or parking.
C. The traffic engineer is authorized to determine when standing or parking shall be prohibited upon the left-hand side of any one-way street or alley, or when standing or parking may be permitted upon the left-hand side of any one-way roadway of a highway having two or more separate roadways, and shall erect signs giving notice thereof.
D. The requirement of parallel parking in this section shall not apply in the event any commercial vehicle is actually engaged in the process of loading or unloading freight or goods, in which case that vehicle may be backed up to the curb; provided, that such vehicle does not block traffic. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.49)
10.20.110 Angle parking.
A. Whenever the traffic engineer or any provision of this code or other ordinance or resolution of the City designates and describes any street or portion thereof upon which angle parking shall be permitted, the traffic engineer shall mark such street indicating the angle at which vehicles shall be parked.
B. When markings are in place indicating angle parking, as herein provided, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such markings, with the front wheel within 18 inches of the curb or edge of the roadway. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1365 § 6, 1991; 1960 code § 13.50)
10.20.120 Parking – On grades.
No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway when upon any grade exceeding three percent within any business or residential district without blocking the wheels of such vehicle by turning them against the curb, or by other means. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.60)
10.20.140 Parking – In alleys.
When official signs prohibiting such parking are in place, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose other than loading or unloading of materials in any alley. Such parking shall not exceed 20 minutes. In no event shall the driver of the vehicle leave less than one traffic lane for unobstructed passage. When an alley is designated as a one-way alley, such parking by vehicles shall be permitted on the right side only. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.57)
10.20.150 Parking – Commercial vehicles.
A. No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, on the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, parked or standing at the curb edge of a highway except when necessary to avoid conflict with the other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device.
B. No person shall stop, park or leave standing any commercial vehicle for the purpose of loading, delivering or unloading of freight or materials in any business district between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. unless such vehicle is parked so that both right-hand wheels are parallel with and within 18 inches of the curb, or unless such vehicle is legally parked in any angle-parking space.
C. The Chief of Police shall, in case of undue hardship, such as extremely large commercial vehicles or commercial vehicles at the terminal of a long haul, issue a permit for parking to load or unload even though curb space may not be readily available. Permits, when issued, shall contain the make and type of vehicle, the license number, the name of the applicant, the location where and time when the permit shall be in effect, and the manner of parking or other restrictions necessary to ensure the usual flow of traffic. The permit shall be attached to the windshield of the vehicle at all times when the permit is in effect. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.55)
10.20.170 Parking – Vehicles transporting explosives or flammable materials.
It is unlawful for any person to leave standing any truck, tank truck or trailer arranged or designed for the transportation of flammable gases or liquids, or explosives of any kind or description, unattended on any street in the City between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the day following, unless such vehicle is in service between such hours. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.71)
10.20.180 Limited or prohibited parking zones.
A. The traffic engineer shall designate those streets or portions of streets upon which parking shall be prohibited at all times, or during certain hours, or upon which parking shall be limited to a certain period of time by appropriate signs or curb markings.
B. When authorized signs or curb markings are in place giving notice of such prohibition or limitation, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle in violation of such signs or markings. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.58)
10.20.210 Parking vehicle for sale of or repairs prohibited – Exception.
No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of servicing, repairing or otherwise working on such vehicle, except repairs necessitated by an emergency. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.48)
10.20.220 Parking or camping in vehicle on public street or highway prohibited.
Repealed by Ord. 2033. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.73)
10.20.230 Storing vehicles on streets – Time limit – Removal authorized when.
No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of any vehicle, boat, trailer, or equipment shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of 72 hours. The intent of this section is to limit the storage of vehicles to 72 consecutive hours. Successive acts of parking shall be presumed to be a single act of parking within the meaning of this section when the vehicle is moved merely for the purpose of avoiding the parking limitations prescribed by this section.
Twice during any one calendar year, out-of-town visitors may park a recreational vehicle (motor home) on the street for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days, provided said vehicle is not used for camping or habitation purposes.
In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street in excess of a consecutive period of 72 hours, as defined above, any member of the police department authorized by the Chief of Police may remove such vehicle from the street in the manner and subject to the requirements of the Vehicle Code of the state. The vehicle owner may also be subject to issuance of an administrative citation for violating any provision of this section. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1755 § 1, 2005; 1960 code § 13.47)
10.20.240 Vehicles left for repair or service – Parking restrictions.
No person shall park, cause to be parked or allow to be parked on any street a motor vehicle or any service vehicle left under his control or in his possession for service or repair, except along the side of the street adjacent to and directly in front of his place of business. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.63)
10.20.250 Temporary and emergency parking signs and barricades.
A. Whenever the Chief of Police determines that an emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings or functions, or for other reasons, the Chief of Police shall have power and authority to authorize temporary signs, devices or barricades to be erected or posted indicating that the operation, parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on such streets and alleys as the Chief of Police shall direct during the time such temporary signs are in place. Such signs, devices or barricades shall remain in place only during the existence of such emergency, and the Chief of Police shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.
B. When signs, devices or barricades authorized by the provisions of this section are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall operate, park or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions and provision of such signs. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.62)
10.20.260 City property – Parking restrictions.
A. Whenever the City Manager or his/her designee determines that the orderly, efficient conduct of the City’s business requires that parking or standing of vehicles on city property owned or controlled by the City be prohibited, limited or restricted, the traffic engineer shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted, or curb markings to be placed indicating that the parking of vehicles is thus prohibited, limited or restricted.
B. When signs or curb markings authorized by the provisions of this section are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall park or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions or provisions of such signs or curb markings. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.64)
10.20.261 Persons in city-owned parking lots or structures – Restrictions.
No person shall enter or remain in any city-owned or operated parking lot or parking structure except to park a vehicle therein and to exit the lot or structure or to enter a lot or structure in order to retrieve any parked vehicle and to depart therefrom, unless the person is in the parking lot or structure for the purpose of short-term pick-up or drop-off of transit users, direct passage to another public area, or a special event permit has been obtained pursuant to Chapter 12.45 LMC. (Ord. 2051 § 1, 2017)
10.20.270 Private property – Parking restrictions.
A. It is unlawful for any person to operate, drive or leave any vehicle in, over or upon any private property without the express permission of the owner or occupant thereof.
B. No trailer, boat, or motor vehicles shall be kept, parked, or stored in the front yard or corner lot side yard facing a street of any residential property except on a driveway or driveway extension. A maximum of two recreational vehicles may be parked or stored in the front yard setback of a residential property at the same time. One inoperable vehicle may be parked in place of one of the two allowable recreational vehicles so long as it is screened by a fitted, manufactured vehicle cover maintained in good repair and is supported by inflated tires, and not supported by blocks, jacks, or similar supports. At all times the area under or around any vehicle shall be free from an accumulation of litter, trash, vegetation, or any other debris.
C. For the purposes of this section, “driveway” shall mean a surface area improved by means of application of concrete, asphalt, bricks, interlocking pavers, or other impermeable material leading to a city-approved garage or carport, or other parking area acceptable to the City with a city-approved driveway approach or curb cut for access.
D. For the purposes of this section, “driveway extension” shall mean that area of the front yard adjacent to the public right-of-way, and between the driveway and its nearest side property line, that is improved for use in a manner substantially similar to the driveway.
E. For the purposes of this section, “recreational vehicle” shall mean a recreational vehicle as that term is defined in subdivision (a) of 18010 of the California Health and Safety Code, and shall also include truck campers, camping trailers, trailers, boats, personal watercraft, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and similar vehicles that can be propelled, moved or drawn upon a highway.
F. In no event shall any vehicle be parked or stored within 20 feet of the intersection of a line tangent to the right-of-way line of two intersecting streets, or where it obstructs the view of vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
G. Any vehicle determined to be in violation of any part of this section may be authorized to be removed by a peace officer or salaried city employee. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 2045 §§ 1(I), 1(J), 2016; Ord. 2016 § 1(H), 2015; Ord. 1920 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1754 § 1, 2005; 1960 code § 13.64a)
10.20.280 Obstructing streets or municipal parking lots prohibited.
No person shall operate or stand or park any vehicle on any street or in any parking lot owned or controlled by the City in such a manner as to obstruct the free use of such street or parking lot. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.65)
10.20.290 Bicycle parking spaces.
A. The traffic engineer is authorized to designate and establish bicycle parking spaces for use at such places and during such times as he may deem suitable and necessary. The traffic engineer may also authorize the placing of bicycle parking racks in the spaces so designated.
B. When official signs or markings restricting parking to bicycles only are in place, bicycles shall be parked only in such places, and it is unlawful for any person to park or stand any vehicle other than a bicycle or other nonmotorized two-wheeled vehicle in such space. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.66)
10.20.300 Bus zones.
A. “Bus,” as used in this section, means any motorbus or motor coach used as a common carrier of passengers.
B. The traffic engineer is authorized to establish bus zones for the loading and unloading of buses or common carriers of passengers, and to determine the location thereof subject to the limitations set forth herein.
C. Bus zones shall normally be established on the far side of an intersection.
D. Such bus zones shall be indicated by signs or a red line upon the top of the curb.
E. No bus shall stand in any bus zone longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
F. No person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle except a bus in any bus zone. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1365 § 7, 1991; 1960 code § 13.68)
10.20.310 Taxi stands.
A. The traffic engineer is authorized to determine the location of and to mark taxi stands.
B. Such taxi stands shall be indicated by signs or a white line stenciled with the words “TAXI ONLY” upon the tops of all curbs and places specified for taxicabs only.
C. No driver of any taxicab shall park or stand the same upon any public highway in any business district in the City for any period of time longer than is necessary to discharge or receive passengers then occupying or then waiting for such taxicab; provided, that a taxicab may be parked in a taxi stand established pursuant to subsection A of this section.
D. When official signs or markings designating such taxi stands are in place, no person other than the driver of a taxicab shall park or stand any vehicle in any taxi stand. (Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.67)
10.20.330 Loading zones and passenger loading zones – Use restrictions.
A. Permission herein granted to stop or stand a vehicle for purposes of loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial vehicles, and shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor, shall not extend beyond the time indicated by signs, and in no event for more than 20 minutes.
B. The loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial deliveries; and also, the delivery or pickup of express and parcel-post packages and United States mail.
C. Permission herein granted to stop or park for purposes of loading or unloading passengers shall include the loading or unloading of personal baggage, but shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor, and in no event for more than three minutes.
D. The provisions of this section shall be enforced so as to accommodate necessary and reasonable loading or unloading, but without permitting abuse of the privileges hereby granted. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; 1960 code § 13.54)
10.20.350 Parking violations – Evidence – Notice and citation procedure.
A parking violation shall be subject to civil penalty. If a vehicle is unattended during the time of violation, the peace officer or person authorized to enforce parking laws and regulations shall securely attach to the vehicle a notice of parking violation in accordance with Vehicle Code Section 40202 and following. The following procedure shall be observed:
A. During the time of such illegal parking, a notice thereof shall be securely attached to such vehicle, setting forth the fact of such illegal parking, including reference to the section of this chapter so violated, the approximate time thereof, and the location where such violation occurred. Such notice shall be attached to such vehicle either on the steering post or front-door handle thereof, or in such other conspicuous place upon the vehicle as to be easily observed by the person in charge of such vehicle upon his return thereto.
1. Notice of Illegal Parking. The notice of illegal parking shall contain the information required by the Vehicle Code, and shall inform such registered owner that for a period of 21 calendar days from the issuance of a notice of parking violation or 14 calendar days from the mailing of a notice of delinquent parking violation, the registered owner may request an initial review of the notice by the police department.
2. Initial Review. Pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 40215(a), the registered owner may request initial review of the notice of parking violation or notice of delinquent parking violation. The police department shall cancel the notice of parking violation or notice of delinquent parking violation if, following the initial review, the police department is satisfied that:
a. The violation did not occur;
b. The registered owner was not responsible for the violation; or
c. Extenuating circumstances make dismissal of the citation appropriate in the interest of justice.
The police department shall mail the results of the initial review to the person contesting the notice.
3. Administrative Hearing. Pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 40215(b), if the registered owner is dissatisfied with the results of the initial review, he or she may request an administrative hearing of the violation no later than 21 calendar days following the mailing of the results of the initial review, which shall be conducted by the police department. The examiner’s decision following the administrative hearing may be personally delivered to the person by the examiner or sent by first-class mail.
4. Appeal. The administrative decision may be appealed to the municipal court within 30 days after its mailing or its receipt pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 40230. (Ord. 1787 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1519 § 1, 1998; 1960 code § 13.69)