Chapter 13.20
STOPPING AND PARKING
Sections:
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)