Grass Valley Municipal Code Ch. 10.32 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 this title, except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic, or is in compliance with the direction 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 or resolutions of this city prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8)

The director of public works or his designee is hereby authorized to maintain, by appropriate signs or by paint upon the curb surface, or both, all no-stopping zones, no-parking areas, and restricted parking areas, as defined and described in this title.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.1)

A. 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 or as otherwise provided herein:

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

2. 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;

3. In any area where the city engineer 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 signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;

4. 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;

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

6. 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 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 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;

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

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

9. On all unimproved public property of the city where the city engineer has by appropriate signs so indicated the area to be a no-parking area;

10. On any alley for any purpose other than the loading and unloading of persons or materials;

11. There shall be no parking on public or private property designated and posted for a fire lane pursuant to the provisions of the Uniform Fire Code as adopted by the city.

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. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.2)

There shall be no parking on public or private property designated and posted for a fire lane pursuant to the provisions of the Uniform Fire Code as adopted by the city.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.3 (part))

No person shall construct or cause to be constructed, repair or cause to be repaired, change motor oil or cause to have said motor oil changed, grease or caused 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. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.4)

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 services.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.5)

A. The city 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 or her opinion, interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation.

B. When official signs are erected prohibiting parking upon that side of a street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.6)

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway when upon any grade exceeding three percent within any business or residential district without blocking the wheels of such vehicle by turning them against the curb, by physically blocking the wheels and taking whatever other measures may be appropriate.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.7)

A. Whenever the city engineer shall determine that an emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings, or functions, or from increased seasonal traffic, or for other reasons, the city engineer shall have the power and authority to order temporary signs to be erected or posted indicating that the operation, parking, or standing of vehicles is prohibited, restricted, limited, or re-routed on such streets and alleys as the city 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, or increased seasonal traffic, and the city 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 direction and provisions of such signs.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.8)

Every motor truck vehicle having an unladen weight of four tons or more, and every truck or tractor irrespective of weight when operated upon any street or highway during darkness 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 California Highway Patrol. When any vehicle mentioned above or trailer or semitrailer is disabled upon streets or highways outside of any business or residence district within this city and upon which street or highway there is insufficient street lighting to reveal a vehicle at a distance of two hundred feet during darkness, 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 1 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 above can be placed in the required locations. The warning signals herein mentioned shall be displayed continuously during darkness while such vehicle remains disabled upon such street or highway.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.9)

When parking stalls are indicated by painted lines, plastic markers, or any other marking upon the street-indicating parallel, angle or other types of parking, it is unlawful to stand or park a vehicle other than wholly within the stalls so indicated.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.10)

The city engineer is hereby authorized, subject to the directions of council and the provisions and limitations of this chapter, 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 herein set forth. It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking in violation thereof.

A. 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.

B. Yellow shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for any purpose other than the loading or 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.

C. 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 mail box, which shall not exceed three minutes and such restrictions shall apply between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and except as follows:

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

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

D. Blue shall mean handicapped parking zone. Such designation shall also be made by posting immediately adjacent to, and visible from, each stall or space, a sign consisting of a profile view of a wheelchair with occupant in white on a blue background. No vehicle shall park in any such place unless the vehicle displays a distinguishing license plate or placard issued to disabled persons pursuant to the vehicle code.

E. Green 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.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.11)

A. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 22507(a), the city manager may restrict the stopping, parking, or standing of vehicles on city streets during all or certain hours of the day. The city shall place signs or curb markings to give notice of any such restrictions.

B. It is unlawful for any person to park a vehicle or cause, allow, or permit a vehicle to be parked, on any city street in violation of signs or curb markings established pursuant to this section.

C. For any violation of this section, the police department may issue notices to appear or citations in the usual form and manner as provided in the Vehicle Code and other applicable law.

D. Parking penalties shall be established from time to time by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. No. 804, § 1, 5-26-2021)

Editor's note— Sec. 1 of Ord. No. 804, adopted May 26, 2020, repealed §§ 10.32.130—10.32.150, and enacted a new § 10.32.130 to read as herein set out. Former §§ 10.32.130—10.32.150 pertained to one-, two-, and three-hour parking respectively, and derived from the prior code, Ord. 486, 1992; and Ord. No. 803, adopted May 12, 2020. Sec. 2 of Ord. 804, directed §§ 10.32.160—10.32.200, be renumbered as §§ 10.32.140—10.32.180.

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 such vehicle except:

A. At an angle to the curb indicated by signs or pavement parkings allotting space to parked vehicles and entirely within the limits of such allotted space;

B. With the front wheel nearest the curb within six inches of the curb. 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.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.15; Ord. No. 804, § 2, 5-26-2020)

Editor's note— See editor's note following § 10.32.130.

A. The city engineer is authorized to establish bus zones opposite curb space for the loading or 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.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.16; Ord. No. 804, § 2, 5-26-2020)

Editor's note— See editor's note following § 10.32.130.

The city council may by resolution from time to time establish taxicab stands and determine the locations thereof. The curb surface within each taxicab stand shall be painted white and marked "Taxicab Stand" in red lettering, or shall be designated by signs of a type and size approved by the city engineer.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), 1992; prior code § 13-8.17; Ord. No. 804, § 2, 5-26-2020)

Editor's note— See editor's note following § 10.32.130.

It is unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle to permit it to stand unattended in any public place, or any used or new car lot, or private or public parking lot, without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the ignition key from the vehicle.

The registered owner of the vehicle found in violation of this section shall be held prima facie responsible for any such violation.

(Ord. 634 § 1, 2003; Ord. No. 804, § 2, 5-26-2020)

Editor's note— See editor's note following § 10.32.130.

A. Commercial trailers, semi-trailers and tractor-trailer rigs, as well as large recreational vehicles and travel trailers, whether attached or detached from the vehicle, are prohibited from parking in a residential district.

B. "Commercial or recreational vehicle" includes, but is not limited to, all motorized and nonmotorized tractors, trailers, semi-trailers, vans, trucks, open-bed or flat-bed pickups, mobile equipment, machinery, motor homes, campers, or other vehicles which meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Vehicle or load height exceeds seven feet; or

2. Vehicle or load width exceeds seven and one-half feet, as measured from the widest portion of the vehicle or load, but not including mirrors; or

3. Vehicle or load length exceeds twenty feet (in combination with any attached trailers); or

4. Manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating exceeds ten thousand pounds; or

5. Any nonmotorized vehicle, regardless of its height, width, length or weight when it has been detached from a motor vehicle, that is capable of towing such vehicle.

This definition shall not apply to vehicles which exceed these dimensions solely because of modifications required to accommodate a disability and the vehicle is lawfully displaying a disabled placard or license.

C. "Residential district" of the city in any area of the city which is zoned as residential under the provision of the City of Grass Valley Development Code.

D. Parking of motor homes, trailer coaches, recreational trailers, truck campers, camping trailers or boat trailers designed for personal use are allowed to park for up to seventy-two hours in a residential district as defined in Chapter 10.72 of the Grass Valley Municipal Code.

E. This section does not prohibit the parking of commercial vehicles loading or unloading property; parked to allow the operator (who is in proximity to the vehicle) a break, not to exceed thirty minutes; parked due to a breakdown while waiting for repairs (not to exceed two hours). This prohibition shall not apply to any recreational or commercial vehicle parked in a residential district while making pick-ups or deliveries of goods, wares, or merchandise from or to any building or structure located on the restricted street. This prohibition also shall not apply to any commercial vehicle parked in a residential district for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the repair, alteration, remodeling, or reconstruction of any building or structure for which a building permit has previously been obtained.

F. Any person violating any of the provisions of the ordinance is guilty of an infraction and upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed fifty dollars for the first offense, a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars for the second offense, and a fine not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars for the third offense and every other future violation.

(Ord. No. 694, § 1, 3-11-2008; Ord. No. 804, § 2, 5-26-2020)

Editor's note— See editor's note following § 10.32.130.