Chico Municipal Code Ch. 10.55 Enforcement

All city peace officers and any other regular, salaried city employee engaged in directing traffic or enforcing traffic laws and regulations may cause a vehicle to be removed from a public street, public parking lot or other public way or place only when authorized to remove such vehicle by the Vehicle Code, including, but not limited to, Section 22651 of the Vehicle Code. When a vehicle is so removed from a public street, parking lot or other public way or place, the vehicle shall be towed to a storage place, stored, and eventually returned to the vehicle owner or otherwise disposed of in the manner provided for by Article 3, Chapter 10, Division 11 of the Vehicle Code (commencing with Section 22850).

In the event a portion of a city parking lot or other city property is leased for private parking, lessees thereof shall also be authorized to cause the removal of unauthorized vehicles parked on such property in the manner authorized by the Vehicle Code if the property is properly signed and such removal is carried out in the manner provided for by the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 2119)

Where a vehicle is abandoned on or within any public street, public parking lot or other public way or place, or on any private property within the city without the consent or acquiescence of the owner of such property or other person in lawful possession thereof, the chief of police may cause such vehicle to be removed from such property, stored and disposed of in the manner provided for by Article 2, Chapter 10, Division 11 of the Vehicle Code (commencing with Section 22700).

However, where a vehicle is abandoned on private property within the city with the consent or acquiescence of the owner of such property or other person in lawful possession thereof and constitutes a public nuisance, such vehicle shall be removed and disposed of by the city building official in the manner provided in Title 1 of this code for the abatement of public nuisances.

(Ord. 2119)

Except as otherwise hereinafter provided in this chapter, any violation of the vehicle and traffic regulations adopted by this title shall be an infraction punishable by a fine in an amount provided for by Section 1505 of the Charter of the City of Chico.

(Ord. 2119, Ord. 2136 §8)

A knowing and willful violation of the prohibition on the use of a preferential parking area permit or preferential parking area guest pass adopted by this chapter shall be a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, or by both.

(Ord. 2119)

Any person violating a parking regulation adopted by or pursuant to this title or the Vehicle Code shall be assessed a civil penalty for such violation in the manner provided for by Article 3, Chapter 1, Division 17 of the Vehicle Code (commencing with Section 40200) which penalty shall be in an amount now or hereafter established by resolution of the city council. In addition, any person failing to pay such civil penalty within the time required by a notice of delinquent parking violation issued in the manner provided for by the foregoing provisions of the Vehicle Code shall be assessed delinquency fees, also in an amount established by resolution of the city council. The penalties and fees provided for by this section for violations of the parking regulations shall be in lieu of any other criminal penalties provided for by this code.

(Ord. 2119)