Chapter 10.12 STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING

A. The provisions of this title prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times specified in Sections 10.12.010 through 10.12.350, except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the 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 other ordinances of the city, prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times. (Prior code § 17.51)

10.12.020 In parkways prohibited.

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway. (Prior code § 17.52)

10.12.030 Use of streets for storage of vehicles prohibited.

A. Parking for Longer Than Seventy-Two Hours. No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle, shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of seventy-two hours. For purposes of this section, a vehicle shall be considered to have parked for seventy-two or more consecutive hours if it has remained inoperable or has not been moved at least one mile during the seventy-two hour period. An inoperable vehicle is a vehicle that cannot be moved under its own power or a vehicle which cannot operate legally and safely on the highways of the state. Pushing or moving a vehicle a short distance or attempting to rub away the tire marking will not be considered compliance with this section. The mileage reflected on the odometer of the vehicle shall be presumed to be an accurate indication of the distance that the vehicle has or has not been moved. Obstruction of the odometer of the vehicle will result in a presumption that the vehicle has not been moved. Any vehicle found in violation of this section may be towed away.

B. Parking and Towing of Trailers and Semitrailers. No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any trailer or semitrailer, as defined in Vehicle Code Sections 550 and 630, trailer coach as defined in Vehicle Code Section 635, or trailer bus as defined in Vehicle Code Section 636, as such sections may be amended from time to time, shall park such trailer, semitrailer, trailer coach or bus upon any street or alley unless it is, at all times while so parked, attached to a vehicle capable of moving the trailer, semitrailer, trailer coach or bus in a normal manner upon the street or alley. Any vehicle found in violation of this prohibition may be towed away; provided, that signs are posted giving notice thereof. (Ord. 05-004 § 1, 2005: Ord. 83-001, 1983: prior code § 17.53)

10.12.050 Parking for certain purposes prohibited.

A. No person shall park a vehicle upon any street for the purpose of greasing or repairing such vehicle, except as necessitated by an emergency.

B. It is unlawful for any person to use or occupy, or to permit the use or occupancy of, any vehicle for human habitation or as a dwelling place, including but not limited to, sleeping, eating, or resting uses as occupancies, singly or in a group, on any street within the city so designated by resolution of the city council, between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m., or such other time period designated by such city council resolution. (Ord. 05-004 § 2, 2005: prior code § 17.55)

10.12.060 Parking parallel to curb—Exception.

A. Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within eighteen inches of the left-hand curb facing in the direction of traffic movement upon any one-way street unless signs are in place 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 city traffic engineer is authorized to determine when standing or parking shall be prohibited upon the left-hand side of any one-way street 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 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 extend beyond the centerline of the street and does not block traffic thereby. (Prior code § 17.56)

10.12.070 Signs or markings indicating angle parking—Designation of streets where angle parking permitted.

A. Whenever any ordinance of the city designates and describes any street or portion thereof upon which angle parking shall be permitted, the city traffic engineer shall mark or sign such street indicating the angle at which vehicles shall be parked.

B. When signs or markings are in place indicating angle parking as provided in this section, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such signs or markings.

C. Angle parking shall be permitted upon those streets and parts of streets described in Section 10.16.050. (Prior code § 17.57)

10.12.080 Parking adjacent to schools.

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon that side of any street adjacent to any school property when such parking would, in his opinion, interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation.

B. When official signs are erected indicating no parking upon that side of a street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place. (Prior code § 17.58)

10.12.090 Prohibited in certain places.

The city traffic engineer may appropriately sign or mark the following places, and when so signed or marked, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any of such places:

A. At any place within twenty feet of a point on the curb immediately opposite the midblock end of a safety zone;

B. At any place within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection in any business district, except that a bus may stop at a designated bus stop;

C. Within twenty feet of the approach to any traffic signal, boulevard stop sign or official electric flashing device;

D. Within one hundred feet of any intersection by a vehicle which is six feet or more in height (including any load on the vehicle);

E. At any place where the city traffic engineer determines that it is necessary in order to eliminate dangerous traffic hazards. (Ord. 2016-004 § 1, 2016: Prior code § 17.59)

10.12.100 Parking on narrow streets.

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed twenty feet, or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed thirty feet.

B. When official signs or markings prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow streets as authorized in this section, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign or marking. (Prior code § 17.60)

10.12.110 Parking on hills.

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway or street when upon any grade exceeding three percent within any business or residence district without blocking the wheels of such vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means. (Prior code § 17.61)

10.12.120 Parking of peddlers’ wagons, vehicles or pushcarts.

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall stand or park any vehicle, wagon or pushcart from which goods, wares, merchandise, fruits, vegetables or foodstuffs are sold, displayed, solicited or offered for sale or bartered or exchanged, or any lunch wagon or eating car or vehicle, on any portion of any street within the city, except that such vehicles, wagons or pushcarts may stand or park only at the request of a bona fide purchaser for a period of time not to exceed ten minutes at any one place. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to persons delivering such articles upon order of, or by agreement with, a customer from a store or other fixed place of business or distribution.

B. No person shall park or stand on any street any lunch wagon, eating cart or vehicle, or pushcart from which tamales, peanuts, popcorn, candy or other articles of food are sold or offered for sale without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the chief of police which shall designate the specific location in which such cart shall stand.

C. No person shall park or stand any vehicle or wagon used or intended to be used in the transportation of property for hire on any street while awaiting patronage for such vehicle or wagon without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the chief of police which shall designate the specific location where such vehicle may stand.

D. Whenever any permit is granted under the provisions of this section and a particular location to park or stand is specified therein, no person shall park or stand any vehicle, wagon, or pushcart on any location other than as designated in such permit. In the event that the holder of any such permit is convicted in any court of competent jurisdiction for violating any of the provisions of this section, such permit shall be forthwith revoked by the chief of police upon the filing of the record of such conviction with the chief of police and no permit shall thereafter be issued to such person until six months have elapsed from the date of such revocation. (Prior code § 17.62)

10.12.130 Emergency parking signs.

A. Whenever the city traffic engineer 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 city traffic engineer shall have power and authority to order temporary signs to be erected or posted indicating that the operation, parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on such streets and alleys as the city traffic engineer shall direct during the time such temporary signs are in place. Such signs shall remain in place only during the existence of such emergency and the city traffic engineer shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.

B. When signs 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 provisions of such signs. (Prior code § 17.63)

10.12.140 Display of warning devices when commercial vehicle disabled.

Every motor truck having an unladen weight of four thousand pounds or more, and every truck tractor irrespective of weight when operated upon any street or highway during the time specified in Section 24250 of the Vehicle Code of the state shall be equipped with and carry at least two flares or two red lanterns or two warning lights or reflectors, which reflectors shall be of a type approved by the Department of Highway Patrol of the state. When any vehicle mentioned in this section or any trailer or semitrailer is disabled upon streets or highways outside of any business or residence district within the city and upon which street or highway there is insufficient street lighting to reveal a vehicle at a distance of two hundred feet during any time mentioned in Section 24250 of the Vehicle Code of the state, a warning signal of the character indicated above shall be immediately placed at a distance of approximately one hundred feet in advance of, and one hundred feet to the rear of, such disabled vehicle by the driver thereof. The continuous flashing of at least four approved class A-Type I turn signal lamps, at least two toward the front and at least two toward the rear of the vehicle, shall be considered to meet the requirements of this section until the devices mentioned in this section can be placed in the required locations. The warning signals mentioned in this section shall be displayed continuously during the times mentioned in Section 24250 of the Vehicle Code of the state while such vehicle remains disabled upon such street or highway. (Prior code § 17.64s)

10.12.150 Parking of commercial vehicles.

A. It is unlawful for any person to park any commercial vehicle having a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight (GVWR) rating of ten thousand pounds or more on any street in the city of San Pablo, between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m.

B. It is unlawful for any person to park any commercial vehicle having a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight (GVWR) rating of ten thousand pounds or more on any street, or portion thereof, in a residential district as identified in Chapter 17.32, or as amended in the future. This prohibition shall not be effective with respect to any commercial vehicle, or trailer component thereof, making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on the restricted streets or highways, or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure upon the restricted streets or highways for which a building permit has previously been obtained.

C. For purposes of this section, “gross vehicle weight rating” or “GVWR” are defined in the State of California Vehicle Code Section 350(a) as such section shall be amended.

D. Any vehicle parked in violation of this section may be towed; provided, that signs are posted giving notice thereof. (Ord. 2016-004 § 2, 2016: Ord. 05-004 § 3, 2005: Ord. 2001-006 § 1, 2001: Ord. 596 §§ 1, 2, 1970)

10.12.160 Police department as agent for owner.

Where any owner of property, or any person entitled to the possession thereof for the time being, or the authorized agent of either, has authorized the police department to act as his agent for the purpose of warning and forbidding persons from trespassing upon his land, each member of the police department shall thereby be constituted his authorized agent therefor. (Prior code § 17.65)

10.12.170 Unlawful when signs displayed.

It is unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle upon any private property, or upon property used for private parking purposes, without the consent of the owner of such property, the person entitled to the possession thereof for the time being, or the authorized agent of either; provided, that signs specifying conditions under which parking is permitted shall have been posted at all entrances to such property. Such signs shall be approved both as to wording and posting by the police department. (Prior code § 17.66)

10.12.180 Citation for unlawfully parked vehicle—Adoption of state law.

Any regularly employed and salaried officer of the police department may issue a citation to the owner or driver of any motor vehicle that has been parked or left standing on any private property, driveway or private parking lot, or property used for private parking purposes, in violation of Section 10.12.170. The provisions of Section 41102 of the Vehicle Code of the state shall be applicable in determining responsibility for such citation, and Section 41102 of the Vehicle Code of the state is adopted by reference as a part of this section. (Prior code § 17.67)

10.12.190 Removal of unlawfully parked vehicle—Authorized.

Any regularly employed and salaried officer of the police department, the owner of any private property, or the person entitled to the possession thereof for the time being, or the authorized agent of either, may remove or cause to be removed, any motor vehicle that has been parked or left standing on any private property, driveway or private parking lot, or property used for private parking purposes, in violation of Section 10.12.170. (Prior code § 17.68)

10.12.200 Removal of unlawfully parked vehicle—Liability for wrongful removal.

If a vehicle removed from private property pursuant to Sections 10.12.010 through 10.12.350 was rightfully there, the person who complained of the presence of such vehicle or the person, other than members of the police department, who caused such vehicle to be removed shall be liable for any and all charges for towage, and for caring for and keeping safe such vehicle. (Prior code § 17.69)

10.12.210 Removal of unlawfully parked vehicle—Disposition.

Any person referred to in Section 10.12.190 who removes any vehicle from any private property in the city is authorized to remove such vehicle to the nearest garage or other place of safety, or to a garage designated or maintained by the city. (Prior code § 17.70)

10.12.220 Removal of unlawfully parked vehicle—Notice to owner of vehicle.

Any person referred to in Section 10.12.190 who removes a vehicle from private property shall give notice to the owner of the motor vehicle as provided for and required by Sections 22650 to 22653 and 22850 to 22855 of the Vehicle Code of the state, which Sections 22650 to 22653 and 22850 to 22855 as they existed on the date of the adoption of Sections 10.12.010 through 10.12.350 are adopted by reference as a part of this section. (Prior code § 17.71)

10.12.230 Removal of unlawfully parked vehicle—Garage keeper’s lien.

The keeper of any garage in which any vehicle is stored in accordance with the provisions of Sections 10.12.010 through 10.12.350 shall have a lien thereon for his compensation for towage, and for caring for and keeping safe such vehicle, and may satisfy such lien upon compliance with and under the conditions stated in Section 22851 of the Vehicle Code of the state. (Prior code § 17.72)

10.12.240 Authority to establish loading zones.

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to determine and to mark loading zones and passenger loading zones as follows:

1. At any place in any business district;

2. Elsewhere in front of the entrance to any place of business or in front of any hall or place used for the purpose of public assembly.

B. In no event shall more than one-half of the total curb length in any block be reserved for loading zone purposes.

C. Loading zones shall be indicated by a yellow paint line stenciled with black letters, “loading only,” upon the top of all curbs within such zones.

D. Passenger loading zones shall be indicated by a white line stenciled with black letters, “passenger loading only,” upon the top of all curbs in such zones. (Prior code § 17.73)

10.12.250 Curb markings to indicate no stopping and parking regulations.

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this title, to place, and when required by this title shall place, the following curb markings to indicate parking or standing regulations, and such curb markings shall have the meanings set forth as follows:

1. “Red” means 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” means no stopping, standing or parking at any time between eight a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or materials; provided, that the loading or unloading of passengers does not consume more than three minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than twenty minutes.

3. “White” means no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers or for the purpose of depositing mail in an adjacent mailbox, which does not exceed three minutes, and such restrictions shall apply between eight a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays except as follows:

a. When such zone is in front of a hotel or church or in front of a mailbox, the restrictions shall apply at all times;

b. When such zone is in front of a theater, the restrictions shall apply at all times except when such theater is closed.

4. “Green” means no stopping, standing or parking for longer than twenty minutes between the hours of eight a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays.

5. “Blue” means disabled persons’ parking only. These curbs and spaces are enforced twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week on public streets and in private lots. The city engineer shall designate on-street parking spaces for the exclusive use of any vehicle which displays either a distinguishing license plate or a handicapped placard issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles. Such parking spaces shall be identified by blue paint on the curb adjacent to the space and by any of the following:

a. By posting immediately adjacent to, and visible from, each space a sign consisting of a profile view of a wheelchair with occupant in white on a blue background;

b. By outlining or painting the space in blue and outlining on the ground in the space in white or suitable contrasting color a profile view depicting a wheelchair with occupant.

B. When the city traffic engineer as authorized under this title has caused curb markings to be placed, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking in violation of any of the provisions of this section. (Ord. 2015-001 § 1, 2015: prior code § 17.74)

10.12.260 Effect of permission to load or unload.

A. Permission granted by this section 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, and in no event for more than twenty minutes.

B. The loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial deliveries, also the delivery or pickup of express and parcel post packages and United States mail.

C. Permission granted by this section 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. Within the total time limits specified above in this section, 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 granted by this section. (Prior code § 17.75)

10.12.270 Standing for loading or unloading only.

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any yellow loading zone for any purpose other than loading or unloading passengers or material for such time as is permitted in Section 10.12.260. (Prior code § 17.76)

10.12.280 Standing in passenger loading zone.

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any passenger loading zone for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers for such time as is specified in Section 10.12.260. (Prior code § 17.77)

10.12.290 Standing in any alley.

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of persons or materials in any alley. (Prior code § 17.78)

10.12.300 Bus zones.

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to establish bus zones opposite curb space for the loading and unloading of buses or common carriers of passengers and to determine the location thereof subject to the directives and limitations set forth in this section.

B. The word “bus,” as used in this section, means any motorbus, motor coach, trackless trolley coach, or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers.

C. No bus zone shall exceed eighty feet in length, except that when satisfactory evidence has been presented to the city traffic engineer showing the necessity therefor, the city traffic engineer may extend bus zones not to exceed a total length of one hundred twenty-five feet.

D. Bus zones shall normally be established on the far side of an intersection.

E. No bus zone shall be established opposite and to the right of a safety zone.

F. The city traffic engineer shall paint a red line stencil with white letters “no standing,” together with the words “bus zone” upon the top or side of all curbs and places specified as a bus zone.

G. No person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle except a bus in a bus zone. (Prior code § 17.79)

10.12.310 Parking time limited on certain streets.

When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle or certain types of vehicles, on certain streets, as provided in Section 10.16.060 of this title for a period of time longer than the time designated by such signs. Such vehicles may be towed provided the signs give notice thereof. (Ord. 05-004 § 4, 2005: prior code § 17.80)

10.12.320 Parking prohibited at all times on certain streets.

When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle or certain types of vehicles, at any time on certain streets, as provided in Section 10.16.070 of this title. Such vehicles may be towed provided the signs give notice thereof. (Ord. 05-004 § 5, 2005: prior code § 17.81)

10.12.330 Special parking permit.

A. Where the chief of police determines that restricted or prohibited parking on public streets within the city creates an undue hardship upon a resident residing upon a street having such restricted or prohibited parking, the chief of police may issue a special parking permit to such resident allowing such resident to park his vehicle or such vehicle as is normally and continuously under his possession or control, in front of or in the vicinity of such person’s place of residence. The permit shall be in the form and upon such terms and conditions as may be designated by the chief of police.

B. Any such permit issued by the chief of police may be revoked without any notice other than a written notice of the revocation thereto sent to the last known address of the permittee. (Ord. 432 §§ 1, 2, 1963: prior code § 17.81(a))

10.12.340 Parking limited for vehicles transporting hazardous materials.

Parking shall be limited to a maximum of one hour for all vehicles transporting or designed for transporting inflammable, corrosive or explosive materials, including liquids and gases, whether loaded or empty, on all public streets or highways within the city. (Prior code § 17.81-1)

10.12.350 Parking space markings.

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to install and maintain parking space markings to indicate parking spaces adjacent to curbings 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. (Prior code § 17.82)

10.12.355 Public parking lot regulations.

A. Whenever the city manager determines that the orderly, efficient conduct of the city’s business requires that parking or standing of vehicles on city property be prohibited, limited or restricted, he shall report and recommend same to the city council; the city council may adopt or modify any or all of such recommendations and, by resolution, order the city public works department to erect or post signs indicating that the parking is thus prohibited, limited or restricted.

B. When signs 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.

C. Any violation of this section shall constitute an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in Section 1.08.020. (Ord. 81-02 § 1, 1981)

II. Designation of No-Parking Areas

10.12.360 Both sides of driveway on westerly side of K-Mart and Safeway stores in South Entrance Project.

A. The city finds and declares that there are privately owned and maintained roads and streets immediately adjacent and westerly of the K-Mart store and Safeway store in the South Entrance Project in the city which are generally held open to the public for the purpose of vehicular travel which connect with highways and the public cannot determine that such roads are not highways; and that the city council further finds and determines that the parking of automobiles along both curblines described above in this subsection constitutes a danger to the health and safety of pedestrians along such street being immediately westerly of the K-Mart and Safeway stores in the city, and that parking along both sides of the curblines of such street abutting K-Mart has caused complaints from the San Pablo fire protection district and has interfered with the proper fire protection and service to the people requiring immediate emergency treatment by the fire district. The city council finds that an emergency exists and the ordinance codified in this section should be adopted as an emergency ordinance.

B. The director of public works shall cause to be posted signs designating such area as a no-parking area and shall cause such curbs to be appropriately marked, and upon signing and marking of the area, no person shall park in violation thereof.

C. Any violation of this section shall constitute an infraction and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed fifty dollars. (Ord. 674 §§ 1—5, 1975)