Chowchilla Municipal Code Ch. 10.28 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 herein specified, 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 or the ordinances of this city prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-60)

A. The city administrator shall designate established no-stopping zones by placing and maintaining appropriate signs indicating that stopping of vehicles is prohibited and indicating the hours and days when stopping is prohibited.

B. During the hours and on the days designated on the signs, it is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to stop said vehicle on any of the streets or parts of streets established by resolution of the council as no-stopping zones.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-78)

A. The city administrator is authorized to maintain, by appropriate signs or by paint upon the curb surface, all no-stopping zones, no- parking areas and restricted parking areas, as defined and described in this title.

B. When said curb markings or signs are in place no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park such vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking or sign in violation of any of the provisions of this title.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-61)

A. Green curb marking shall mean no standing or parking for a period of time longer than twenty-four minutes at any time between nine a.m. and six p.m. on any day, except Sundays and holidays.

B. When authorized signs and curb markings have been determined by the city administrator to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park said vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb markings or sign in violation thereof.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-71)

When authorized signs or curb markings have been determined by the city administrator to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park said vehicle between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays, for a period of time longer than forty minutes.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-72)

When authorized signs or curb markings have been determined by the city administrator to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park said vehicle between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays, for a period of time longer than one hour.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-73)

When authorized signs or curb markings have been determined by the city administrator to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park said vehicle between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays for a period of time longer than two hours.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-74)

A. Whenever the city administrator shall determine 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 administrator 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 administrator 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 administrator 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.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-69)

A. The city administrator is authorized to erect signs restricting pupil/student parking upon 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 prohibiting parking upon a street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-66)

A. On any of the streets or portions of streets established by resolution of the council as diagonal parking zones, when signs or pavement markings are in place indicating such diagonal parking, it is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to park said vehicle except:

1. At the angle to the curb indicated by signs or pavement markings allotting space to parked vehicles and entirely within the limits of said allotted space;

2. With the front wheel nearest the curb within six inches of said curb.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply when such vehicle is actually engaged in the process of loading or unloading passengers, freight or goods, in which event the provisions applicable in Section 10.28.110 shall be complied with.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-76)

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 administrator 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 imposed by 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 such 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.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-75)

A. The city administrator 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 on 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. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-77)

A. The city administrator is authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this title, to place, and when required herein shall place, the following curb markings to indicate parking or standing regulations, and said 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, 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 between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays for any purpose other than the loading and unloading of passengers or materials, provided that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than three minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than twenty minutes.

3. White shall mean 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 shall not exceed three minutes, and such restrictions shall apply between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays and except as follows:

a. When such zone is in front of a hotel 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. Blue curb markings shall mean no standing or parking for other than vehicles which display a distinguishing license plate or a placard issued to disabled persons or veterans. Such parking shall be indicated by blue paint on the curb or edge of the paved portion of the street adjacent to the space.

B. When the city administrator, as authorized under this ordinance has caused curb markings and/or signs to be placed, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb markings and/or signs in violation of any of the provisions of this section.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-83)

No operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, park or leave standing such vehicle in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or other authorized officer, or traffic sign or signal:

A. Within any divisional island unless authorized and clearly indicated with appropriate signs or markings;

B. On either side of any street between the projected property lines of any public walk, public steps, street, or thoroughfare terminating at such street, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;

C. In any area where the city administrator determines that the parking or stopping of a vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property, when such area is indicated by appropriate designs or by red paint upon the curb surface;

D. In any area established by resolution of the council as a no-parking area, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;

E. Upon, along or across any railway track in such manner as to hinder, delay or obstruct the movement of any car traveling upon such track;

F. In any area where the parking or stopping of any vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property;

G. On any street or highway where the use of such street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for the cleaning, repair or construction of the street or highway or the installation of underground utilities, or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is authorized for a purpose other than the normal flow of traffic or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is necessary for the movement of equipment, articles or structures of unusual size, and the parking of such vehicle would prohibit or interfere with such use or movement; provided, that signs giving notice of such no-parking are erected or placed at least twenty-four hours prior to the effective time of such no-parking;

H. At any place within twenty feet of a point on the curb immediately opposite the mid-block end of a safety zone, when such place is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;

I. At any place within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection when such place is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface, except that a bus may stop at a designated bus stop;

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

K. No person shall leave a vehicle parked on private property when the owner or person in lawful possession of such private property has properly displayed in plain view on the property a sign prohibiting public parking and containing the telephone number of the police department.

(Ord. 309-80 § 2, 1980; Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-62)

A. Whenever the city administrator 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, the city administrator shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted indicating the parking of vehicles 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 stop, stand or park any vehicle contrary to the directions or provisions of such signs.

C. Any member of the police department authorized by the police chief may remove, in the manner provided by and subject to the requirements of the vehicle code for removal of a vehicle from a highway, any vehicle stopped, left standing or parked in violation of this section.

(Ord. 347-84 § 1, 1984)

A. The city administrator is authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed twenty-five 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 herein, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign or marking.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-67)

A. No motor vehicle, motorcycle, tractor, trailer, camper or other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored on required front yard or side yard, lawn, grass or landscaped areas except on a permanent driveway or parking place specifically and properly designed for the purpose of parking vehicles and constructed of asphalt blacktop, concrete, cement, paver blocks or other approved all-weather surface.

B. Any motor vehicle, motorcycle, tractor, trailer, camper or other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, parked on a street or public way in a manner such that one or more wheels rest in a yard, lot or lawn more than twelve inches from the curb or pavement edge shall be deemed to be in violation of this section.

C. It shall be presumed that the owner of the property, the person or entity occupying the property, and the registered owner of the motor vehicle, motorcycle, tractor, trailer, camper or other mode of transportation found in violation of this section authorized the parking in violation of this section. The property owner, occupant and registered owner of the vehicle may all be held responsible for violation of this section and shall each be responsible for the prompt removal of said motor vehicle, motorcycle, tractor, trailer, camper or other mode of transportation from the front yard, lawn, grass or landscaped area of the property.

D. Violations of this section shall be presumed when parking as described in subsections A, B and C of this section exceeds four hours from the time the resident, registered owner or person in control of the property is notified in person or via telephone or notice left on the vehicle, or if the same vehicle is found parked in the same front yard of the same residence on the same day after four hours has elapsed, irregardless of whether the vehicle was moved during that time period.

Where a resident within the city has a visitor from an area other than the city, and that visitor(s) are attending a legitimate function at the residence, that visitor may park in the front yard area for not more than twenty-four hours provided that the city building department or police department is notified in person or by telephone before four p.m. no later than the last business day prior to the function.

(Ord. 435-06 § 1, 2006)

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 this 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, ice cream or other articles of food are sold or offered for sale, without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the city administrator 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 city administrator 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 city administrator upon the filing of the record of such conviction with such officer, and no permit shall thereafter be issued to such person until six months have elapsed from the date of such revocation.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-68)

No commercial dealer shall park said vehicle upon any street in this city for the purpose of advertising or displaying it for sale unless authorized by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-63)

No person shall construct or cause to be constructed, repair or cause to be repaired, grease or cause to be greased, dismantle or cause to be dismantled any vehicle or any part thereof upon any public street in this city. Temporary emergency repairs may be made upon a public street.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-64)

No person shall wash or cause to be washed, polish or cause to be polished any vehicle or any part thereof upon any public street in this city, when a charge is made for such service.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-65)

When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand, or park any vehicle in excess of twenty feet in length on any street or portion thereof designated by ordinance or resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-70)

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.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-86)

A. A person may park a recreational vehicle, as defined in Title 18 of this code, upon any street for a period of seventy-two hours or less, for the purpose of loading, unloading or preparing the vehicle for use, or to carry out emergency repair for a period of twenty-four hours or less; provided, such person shall notify either in person or by telephone the police department of the city before parking the recreational vehicle.

B. Where a resident within the city has a visitor from an area other than the city, and that visitor arrives with a recreational vehicle the visitor may park the recreational vehicle in the street adjacent to the host residence for not more than fourteen days; provided, that parking room is available there, that parking the recreational vehicle does not constitute a safety hazard, and that the city building department of the city is notified, in person or by telephone, before five p.m. on the first business day the recreational vehicle is so parked.

A citation may be issued for every violation of this section. A separate citation will be issued for each continuing twenty-four-hour period, or portion thereof, during which the violation persists.

(Ord. 365-89 § 3, 1989)

A. For the purposes of this section, "commercial vehicle" is any commercial vehicle, commercial truck and/or commercial trailer having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating as defined in the Vehicle Code greater than six thousand pounds.

B. No person shall park any commercial vehicle on the streets of the city between two a.m. and six a.m., except:

1. While loading or unloading property and it is necessary to do so between these restricted hours, in which case the parking of such trucks shall not continue for more than sixty minutes.

2. When such vehicle is parked in connection with, and in aid of the performance of a service to or on a property in the block in which such vehicle is parked and additional time in excess of the sixty minutes is reasonably necessary to complete such service.

(Ord. 362-88 § 2, 1988; Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-80)

A. When authorized signs are in place giving notice of such restriction, no person shall park any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight of three tons on any public city street or alley for a period of time longer than four hours, except when loading or unloading property or when such vehicle is parked in connection with and in aid of the performance of a service to or on a property in the block in which the vehicle is parked.

B. The provisions of subdivision A. shall apply to any private street when both of the following conditions are met: 1) The owner/owners of the street request in writing that the city enforce [the provisions of this] section on their private street, and 2) the city consents by resolution of the city council to enforce the provisions of this section on the private street as requested.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-81)

(Ord. No. 465-13, § 1, 9-10-2013)

A. Upon the passage of a resolution by the city council the city administrator is authorized to determine and to mark loading zones and passenger loading zones as follows:

1. At any place in the 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 yellow paint upon the top of all curbs in said zones.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-82)

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, 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 pick-up 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. Within the total time limits above specified, 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. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-84)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any yellow loading zone for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers for such time as is specified in Section 10.28.250.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-85)

A. The city administrator 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.

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

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. The city administrator shall paint a red line stencil, with white letters "NO STANDING," together with the words "BUS ZONE" upon the top of all curbs and places specified as a bus zone.

E. No person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle except a bus in a bus zone.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-87)

The city administrator may determine that certain streets should be temporarily or permanently closed to vehicular traffic after review of traffic studies or reports which reflect such necessity for closing the street.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-79)

A. No person shall park any vehicle which is six feet or more in height, including any load thereon, on Robertson Boulevard within one hundred feet east or west of intersection where signs giving notice of such restriction are posted. This section is adopted pursuant to Sections 22506 and 22507 of the Vehicle Code of the state of California.

B. The city administrator may determine that parking restrictions should apply to any other designated street. When signs authorized by the city administrator are in place giving notice of such restrictions, no person shall park any commercial vehicle which has a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating greater than six thousand pounds or six feet or more in height, including any load thereon on the street.

(Ord. 396-95 § 1, 1995: Ord. 362-88 § 1, 1988)

Any violation of any regulation governing the standing or parking of a vehicle under the California Vehicle Code, under any federal statute or regulation, or under this code is subject to a civil penalty. The enforcement of those civil penalties shall be governed by the civil administrative procedures as set forth in Section 40200 et seq. of the California Vehicle Code. The schedule of parking penalties for parking violations, late payment penalties, administrative fees and other related charges for parking violations shall be established by resolution duly adopted by the Chowchilla city council.

(Ord. 386-94 § 1, 1994)