El Centro Municipal Code Div. 1 Generally

The city engineer may prohibit parking of any vehicles at any location or class of locations in the city and shall prescribe that such location or class of locations be marked by painting the curb red and/or by the placing of other signs or markings at or adjacent to such location or class of locations and it shall be unlawful for any person to park or cause to be parked any vehicle in said location.

(Ord. No. 288, § I; Ord. No. 388, § I; Ord. No. 676, § 1; Ord. No. 96-6, § 2)

The city engineer may designate certain areas on the streets of the city as marked parking zones wherein the parking of motor vehicles shall be for a limited purpose and/or limited time. Such marked parking zones shall be designated by the following colored curb markings and parking therein shall be for the purpose and/or times hereinafter stated.

(a) Green: Motor vehicles may be parked for a period not to exceed ten (10) minutes.

(b) Yellow: Motor vehicles may be parked for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or freight only for such time as may be reasonably necessary therefor.

(c) White: Motor vehicles may be parked for the purpose of loading or unloading of passengers only for a period reasonably necessary therefor.

(d) Blue: Parking restricted and limited exclusively to the vehicles of physically handicapped persons.

(Ord. No. 645, § 6; Ord. No. 78-12, § 1; Ord. No. 96-6, § 2)

Editor's note— Section 1 of Ord. No. 93-6, repealed § 17-86, which pertained to parking position in city and derived from Ord. No. 656, § 1.

The city engineer may designate the positions in which motor vehicles shall park or stand on streets in the city and provide for such markings and/or signs as may be necessary to indicate the positions in which motor vehicles shall stand or be parked.

(Ord. No. 656, § 3; Ord. No. 96-6, § 2)

(a) Generally. It shall be unlawful for any person to paint, post, or in any manner display, at any place in this city, any sign or notice indicating or intended to indicate that parking is not allowed at such place, except where parking is prohibited by this chapter.

(b) Emergencies. In cases of emergency, such a sign or notice may be displayed under the direction of the police department.

(Ord. No. 288, § II)

(a) Driving or parking on property without consent. It is unlawful for any person to drive upon or across or to park or leave standing or to cause or permit to be driven, parked or left standing, any vehicle upon any property in the city without the consent of the owner or person in control of such property.

(b) Removal of illegally parked vehicles. The owner or person in control of any public or private property upon which a vehicle has been parked or left standing may remove or cause the removal of such vehicle to the nearest public street or highway upon which vehicle parking is otherwise permitted.

(c) Posting property. The owner or person in control of any property may post the same with signs in number, form, size, wording and locations approved by the chief of police giving notice that vehicles parked or left standing upon the property without consent will be towed away. When any property has been so posted, the owner or person in control or any officer of the police department of the city shall be authorized to remove, or cause the removal of, any vehicle parked or left standing upon the property, without consent, by public or private tow-car to a public garage or storage facility located in the city. When any vehicle is so removed from premises to a garage or storage facility, prompt notification of such fact shall be given to the city police department. The owner or person having the right to possession of such vehicle shall pay all such removal, towing and storage charges before he shall be entitled to regain possession of such vehicle.

(d) Citation and arrest for violations. Any police officer of the city is authorized to make arrests or issue citations for violations of this section.

(Code 1962, § 17-6; Ord. No. 75-7, §§ 1—3)

It shall be unlawful for any person to park or cause to be parked on any street in the city any automobile, auto truck or other motor propelled vehicle for the purpose of selling the same or of offering the same for sale.

(Ord. No. 193, § 1)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 81-25, § 1, enacted Nov. 4, 1981, repealed § 17-91. Said section formerly concerned parking of vehicles exceeding three tons and derived from Ord. No. 64-3, § 3 and Ord. No. 72-1, § 3.

It shall be unlawful for any person to park or cause to be parked any motor vehicle exceeding twenty (20) feet in length in any area in which angle parking is permitted.

(Ord. No. 334, § I; Ord. No. 411, § I; Ord. No. 673, § 3)

(a) As used in this section, "alley" means any street having a roadway not exceeding twenty-five (25) feet in width which is primarily used for access to the rear or side entrances of abutting property.

(b) No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of materials in any alley in this city.

(c) No person who shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for the purpose of loading or unloading in any alley in the city shall leave the same unattended; but, at all times, the driver shall be available to move the vehicle in order that the alley may be kept open for traffic in any emergency.

(d) In order to make the provisions of this section more effective, the director of public works is hereby authorized and directed to procure and have erected at locations approved by the chief of police, signs reading:"No parking in this alley. Loading and unloading permitted by order of police department or city Code, section 17-93."

(Ord. No. 480, §§ 1—3)

(a) Generally. No person shall leave any vehicle standing or parked upon any street, highway, or other public place in the city for one hundred twenty (120) or more consecutive hours.

(b) Removal. Any vehicle parked or left standing upon any street, highway, or public place in the city for one hundred twenty (120) or more consecutive hours may be removed from such place to the nearest garage or other place of safety or to a garage designated or maintained by the city by any regularly employed or salaried officer of the police department.

(Ord. No. 58-3, §§ 1, 2)

All vehicles are prohibited from parking on the following streets, or portions thereof, as indicated:

Adams Avenue on the north side within seventy-five (75) feet east of the east curb line of all city streets intersecting the north side of Adams Avenue from Fifth Street, to and including Wilson Avenue as extended; and on the south side for a distance of seventy-five (75) feet west of the west curb line of all city streets intersecting the south side of Adams Avenue from Imperial Avenue to Fifth Street.

Fourth Street on the west side within seventy-five (75) feet of the north curb line of all city streets intersecting the west side of Fourth Street from Park Avenue to the south city limits; and on the east side for a distance of seventy-five (75) feet south of the south curb line of all city streets intersecting the east side of Fourth Street from the south city limits to Park Avenue.

Main Street, on the north side within seventy-five (75) feet east of the east curb line of all city streets intersecting the north side of Main Street from the east city limits to Fourth Street; and on the south side for a distance of seventy-five (75) feet west of the west curb line of all city streets intersecting the south side of Main Street from Fourth Street to the east city limits.

(Code 1962, §§ 17-3—17-5; Ord. No. 65-9, § 1; Ord. No. 69-6, § 1)

(a) No person shall park, leave standing, stop, load or unload any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. of any day except Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays in any of the following places:

Aurora Avenue, twenty-two hundred block, north and south sides between the west line of 22nd Street to the end of the cul-de-sac.

Holt Avenue, north side, between the west line of Tenth Street and twenty-four (24) feet east of the east line of 12th Street.

Tenth Street, west side, between the south line of Brighton and the north line of Holt Avenue.

Twenty-second Street, east and west sides between the north line of Ocotillo Avenue and the north line of Pepper Court.

(b) In order to effectuate the provisions of this section, the city engineer is authorized and directed to have erected at locations specified in this section signs reading: "No stopping any time" and "No student loading or unloading".

(Ord. No. 534, § 1; Ord. No. 595, §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 82-12, § 1; Ord. No. 82-30, § 1; Ord. No. 88-6, § 1; Ord. No. 93-6, § 2; Ord. No. 05-06, § 1)

(a) The parking of commercial trucks having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or more or any vehicle with hazardous materials is prohibited from parking at any time on the streets within all residential areas of the City of El Centro.

(b) For the purposes of this section a residential area shall be as described in Chapter 29, Zoning, Division 1 through 4.5 inclusive in the City Code of the City of El Centro.

(c) For the purposes of this section hazardous materials are as defined by the United States Department of Transportation Code 49 CFR "Hazardous Materials Transportation."

(d) For the proper administration of this section, notices shall be posted at all major entrances to the city.

(e) For the purposes of this section, it is presumed that a commercial vehicle is a vehicle of a type used or maintained for the sole purpose of commercial hire, compensation, or profit or designated, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of goods.

(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to vehicles owned or operated by the city or its contractors, garbage and trash trucks licensed by the city, passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission while parked at authorized and posted bus stops, school buses, moving vans, any vehicle owned by a public entity while necessary in construction, installation or repair of any public utility, vehicles servicing persons or firms located within the area and recreational vehicles.

(Ord. No. 507, §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 647, § 1; Ord. No. 85-10, § 1; Ord. No. 86-2, § 1; Ord. No. 93-6, § 3)

(a) For the purposes of maintaining the city streets in a clean and sanitary condition, the city council is hereby authorized and empowered to determine from time to time by resolution, streets in the city upon which parking by any automobile, truck, or other vehicle shall be prohibited between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on such days of the week as is specified in such resolution.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to park or cause to be parked any automobile, truck, or other vehicle between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. of every day in the following streets in the city:

Broadway, between Fourth Street and Eighth Street.

Main Street, between Second Street and Imperial Avenue.

State Street, between Fourth Street and Eighth Street.

Fourth Street, between Commercial Avenue and Orange Avenue.

Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Streets, between Commercial and State Streets.

Eighth Street, between Commercial Avenue and State Street.

Other streets and alleys, that part of the city lying west of the Inter-California Railroad, north of Olive Avenue, east of Eighth Street and south of Commercial Avenue.

(c) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished for the first offense by a fine not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) or by imprisonment in the city jail not to exceed two (2) days, and for each succeeding offense committed within one year from the date of the first offense by a fine not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) or by imprisonment in the city jail not to exceed ten (10) days or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(d) A parking charge of one dollar ($1.00) is hereby fixed for each vehicle parked unlawfully under the provisions of this section, payment of which must be made to the city at the police station in the city within forty-eight (48) hours after such unlawful parking.

(Ord. No. 288, § I; Ord. No. 388, § I; Ord. No. 542, §§ 1, 4; Ord. No. 656, § 9; Ord. No. 673, § 1; Ord. No. 57-5, § 1)

(a) Restrictions. It shall be unlawful to park or cause or permit to be parked more than one truck over three-quarters of a ton on any lot or parcel of property within that area zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, or R-4 by the zoning chapter of this Code of Ordinances, in the City of El Centro.

(b) Exception. The parking of more than one truck over three-quarters (¾) ton may be permitted on any lot or parcel of land described by paragraph (a) of this section upon the owner of such property first obtaining from the city council a permit to do so.

(Ord. No. 663, § 1; Ord. No. 666, § 1)

(a) For the purpose of regulating the use of lots, streets and traffic thereon and as a deterrent to the abuse of parking privileges provided in this Code, a fee shall be charged for overtime or illegal parking in any parking lot or in any space adjacent to any parking meter, which fee shall be in the amount of fifty cents ($0.50) for each hour or portion thereof during which the violation continues; provided, the same is paid in the manner provided in this section. Any overtime parking violation on any municipal parking lot or parking meter zone which continues for a longer period of time than the maximum period of time shown on the meter shall be deemed to be a continuing violation, and each complete period of time, plus any remaining fraction of the period, shall be deemed to be a separate violation. Such fee shall be placed in the envelope furnished with such notice, and such envelope and fee shall be deposited at or before 9:00 a.m. of the second day following that on which the parking violation occurs and shall be deposited in any courtesy box furnished by the city for that purpose on any parking lot, in any parking meter zone or at the city hall or at the police station at or before such time. In the event that the second day following such violation falls upon a Sunday or legal holiday, then the time within which such payment is required to be made is extended to 9:00 a.m. of the next business day immediately following such Sunday or legal holiday.

(b) City employees charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions of this Code relating to time limitations in parking lots and parking meter zones shall, when any vehicle is unlawfully parked overtime as prohibited in this Code, issue a written notice thereof stating the meter number, the state vehicle license number, the make of such vehicle, the time and date of such vehicle parking, a reference to the sections of this Code so violated and a time and place of appearance by the person committing such violation to answer such notice. Such notice shall be attached to the vehicle in such conspicuous place on such vehicle as can be easily observed by the person in charge of such vehicle upon his return thereto. Such notice shall be in the form prescribed by the city attorney.

(c) Should any such fee not be paid and deposited as provided herein, then the registered owner or person committing such violation shall be subject to the penalties provided in this Code and in the Vehicle Code and other laws of the state applicable to traffic violations within the city, and necessary proceedings shall be instituted in the municipal court by the city employee charged with the enforcement of parking meter regulations as provided in sections 41102 and 41103 of the Vehicle Code of the State.

(Code 1962, § 17-1; Ord. No. 64-4, § 1)

Upon the streets and off-street parking facilities included in Ordinance No. 65-6, parking of vehicles shall be in the manner designated by the city council by resolution or resolutions adopted from time to time. When parking place markings are placed upon the streets or off-street facilities, 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. No. 65-6, § 5; Ord. No. 69-10, § 1)

It shall be the primary duty of the chief of police and of such of his subordinates as may from time to time be assigned to such duty to patrol and enforce all laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of parking lots and of parking meters in parking meter zones.

(Code 1962, § 17-2; Ord. No. 64-4, § 1)

(a) It is unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle in a stall or space designated for physically handicapped persons in an off-street parking facility owned or operated by the state or owned or operated by the city or a school district or other district or local agency, if immediately adjacent to and visible from such stall or space, there is posted a sign consisting of a profile view of a wheelchair with occupant in white on a blue background, unless the vehicle displays either one of the distinguishing license plates or a placard issued pursuant to Section 22511.5 or to disabled veterans, as specified in Section 9105, all of the California State Vehicle Code.

(b) It is unlawful and a violation of vehicle code Section 22507.8 for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle in a stall or space designated for physically handicapped persons in a privately owned and maintained off-street parking facility which has been declared by resolution of the city council adopted pursuant to the provisions of vehicle code Section 21107.8 to be held open for use of the public for purposes of vehicular parking when the owner or operator of such facility has caused to be posted in a conspicuous place at each entrance to such off-street parking facility a notice not less than seventeen by twenty-two inches in size with lettering not less than one inch in height, to the effect that such off-street parking facility is subject to public traffic regulations and control. The provisions of this subsection (b) shall not apply unless there is posted immediately adjacent to and visible from such stall or space a sign consisting of a profile view of a wheelchair with occupant in white on a blue background. The provisions of this subsection (b) shall not apply to a vehicle which displays either one of the distinguishing license plates or a placard issued pursuant to Section 22511.5 of the vehicle code, or issued to disabled veterans as specified in Section 9105 of the vehicle code.

(Ord. No. 81-19, § 1, 7-15-81)

Whenever the following words and phrases are used in article IV of this chapter, unless otherwise defined herein, they shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section:

Camper shall mean a structure designed to be mounted upon a motor vehicle and to provide facilities for human habitation or camping purposes. A camper having one axle shall not be considered a vehicle.

Camp trailer shall mean any vehicle designed to be used on a highway, capable of human habitation for camping or recreational purposes that does not exceed sixteen (16) feet in overall length from the foremost point of the trailer hitch to the rear extremity of the trailer body and does not exceed ninety-six (96) inches in width and includes any tent trailer. Where a trailer telescopes for travel, the size shall apply to the trailer as fully extended. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a camp trailer shall not be deemed to be a trailer coach.

Fifth-wheel travel trailer shall mean a vehicle designed for recreational purposes to carry persons or property on its own structure and so constructed as to be drawn by a motor vehicle by means of a kingpin-connecting device.

Mobile home shall mean a trailer coach, which is in excess of one hundred two (102) inches in width, or in excess of forty (40) feet in overall length measured from the foremost point of the trailer hitched to the rear extremity of the trailer.

Motor home shall mean a noncommercial passenger vehicle commonly referred to as a recreational vehicle.

Recreational vehicle (RV) shall mean any motorized vehicle, including boats and jet skies, used for recreational activities or domicile. This does not include automobiles or motorcycles properly licensed to operate on public streets and highways.

Semi trailer shall mean a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property, used in conjunction with a motor vehicle, and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon, or is carried by, another vehicle.

Trailer shall mean a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon any other vehicle.

Trailer bus shall mean a trailer or semi trailer designed, used, or maintained for the transportation of more than fifteen (15) persons, including the driver, and includes a connected towing motor vehicle that is a motor truck, truck tractor, or bus.

Trailer coach shall mean a vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, designed for human habitation or human occupancy for industrial, professional, or commercial purposes, for carrying property on its own structure, and for being drawn by a motor vehicle.

Vehicle shall mean a device by which any person or property my be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

(Ord. No. 07-18, § 1)

(a) Vehicles listed in subsection (b) below shall be parked or stored entirely on the vehicle owner's property. If parked in front of the house, it must be parked on a paved surface. Parking adjacent to the house or in the rear of the residence need not be paved. (Corner lots would require a paved parking surface when adjacent to the house that faces the side street.) Access to the parking area from the street, must be through a curb cut and driveway approach pursuant to permit obtained from the city's public works/engineering department.

(b) In no instance shall a recreational vehicle, bus, camper, camp trailer, semi trailer, trailer, trailer bus, fifth-wheel travel trailer, motor home, mobile home, be parked or left standing upon any street, highway, or public place in the city for more than a consecutive period of forty-eight (48) hours, unless exempt by permit issued by the city.

(c) Exception. This section shall not apply to a commercial truck (as established by a current registration with the state department of motor vehicles):

(1) While such truck is being loaded or unloaded and such additional time is reasonable required for such loading and unloading operations; or

(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 on which such vehicle is parked for a period reasonably necessary to complete such service.

(d) In no instance shall any vehicle listed in subsection (b) above be parked or stored where any portion of the vehicle blocks or overhangs the sidewalk within the public right-of-way.

(e) A vehicle listed in subsection (b) above shall not be parked or stored where such parking or storage constitutes a clear and demonstrable traffic hazard and threat to public health and safety.

(f) No vehicle listed in subsection (b) above shall be parked on a public street if it is within fifty (50) feet of any intersection or within fifty (50) feet of any crosswalk.

(g) No second driveways or driveway approaches may be created or used for the purposes of parking or storing a vehicle listed in subsection (b) above except where the lot is one hundred (100) feet wide or except where the second driveway would be on the side of a corner lot where there is no existing driveway or driveway approach. The construction of a second driveway requires a building permit and encroachment permit.

(h) A vehicle listed in subsection (b) above is not to be occupied or used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes while parked or stored; provided, however, nonpaying guests of the property may occupy said vehicle when permitted to do so as per sub-paragraph "m" below.

(i) Electrical hookups are prohibited when parked on the street except during loading and unloading or for the charging of batteries. Sewer hookups are prohibited at all times.

(j) All vehicles listed in subsection (b) above when parked or stored on residential properties must display current vehicle registration tags. Those vehicles not displaying current registration tags will be considered in-operable and must be removed from the public view which includes streets, sidewalks and adjacent properties.

(k) Any vehicle parked or left standing upon any street, highway, alley, or public place in the city for more than a consecutive period of forty-eight (48) hours may be removed from such place to the nearest garage or other place of safety or to a garage designated or maintained by the city by any regularly employed or salaried officer of the police department, or civilian employee of the city who is engaged in the direction of traffic or enforcement of parking regulations when designated by the chief of police.

(l) The minimum fine for any violation of this section shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(m) Trailer and RV parking permit.

(1) Purpose. The purpose of authorizing the issuance of a permit is to give an owner a vehicle referred to in subsection (b) the ability to park the subject vehicles for purposes of loading or unloading such vehicle, and to allow an out of town visitor to park on a street adjacent to the residence which the out of town visitor is visiting. This also will allow the issuance of a permit to a handicapped person, whether or not such person has a handicapped license plate, to park a vehicle on a highway in the city. In the instance that a handicapped person's license plate is not available, a handicapped placard, issued by a department of motor vehicles, shall be displayed in a prominent area.

(2) The police chief, or designee, shall issue permits authorized by this section.

(3) Persons holding a valid permit issued pursuant to this section may park permitted vehicles on a street in a residential area for a period of time not to exceed five (5) consecutive days, unless a longer period is determined appropriate by the chief of police or designee. Permits may be issued four (4) times per year with thirty (30) days between each permit and will be tracked by license and name in a data base maintained by the police department.

(4) Every person desiring a parking permit or handicap permit must file an application with the police chief, or designee, during regular business hours (Monday through Friday), containing the following:

a. The name, address and phone number of the registered owner and applicant of the vehicle for which a permit is sought;

b. The license number, make and model of the vehicle;

c. The vehicle's current registration and automobile insurance;

d. The dates for which the permit is requested;

e. The dates and duration of any and all permits issued to the applicant within the immediately preceding ninety-day period;

f. Additional information the police chief, or designee, may reasonably require;

g. The applicant must sign an application under penalty of perjury.

(5) Fees. Applicants for permits to be issued pursuant to this section will pay to the city a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) upon filing of their application. The amount of such fees may be modified periodically by city council resolution to sufficiently reimburse the city for all expenses incurred by it in connection with processing permit applications.

(6) Issuance.

a. The chief of police or designee may issue a temporary parking permit as described above when he/she determines the circumstances to be appropriate.

b. Use of any permit issued pursuant to this section will conform to the general permit conditions of this section and such other conditions as may be imposed by the chief of police or designee.

(Ord. No. 07-18, § 1)