La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 12.28 Stopping, Standing and Parking

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.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

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 regulations of this city prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway paralleled by curbs or any parkway designated by the city traffic engineer as an area for no standing, stopping or parking and posted accordingly.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

A. No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of seventy-two (72) hours.

B. In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street in excess of a consecutive period of seventy-two (72) hours any member of the police department authorized by the chief of police may remove the vehicle from the street in the manner and subject to the requirements of the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of:

A. Displaying such vehicle for sale as a business; or

B. Washing, waxing, wiping, greasing or repairing such vehicle except repairs necessitated by an emergency.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

A. Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within eighteen (18) 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 (2) or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one (1) 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 traffic engineer 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 (2) or more separate roadways and shall establish signs or markings giving notice thereof.

D. The requirement of parallel parking 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 that 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. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

A. The city traffic engineer shall recommend upon what streets angle parking shall be permitted and shall mark and sign such streets when appropriately so ordered by the city council. Such angle parking shall not be permitted on any state highway or upon any other street or roadway that is not of sufficient width to permit and not interfere with the free movement of traffic.

B. When signs or markings are in place indicating angle parking as provided in this section, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such signs or markings.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

Pursuant to Section 22503 of the California Vehicle Code, the following streets and portions of streets are designated as areas where angle parking shall be permitted:

A. Calle Estado. In the center portion of the divided roadway of Calle Estado between Avenida Bermudas and Desert Club Drive, in such locations and spaces as shall be determined and appropriately indicated by markings or signs by the city traffic engineer.

B. Calle La Fonda. In the center portion of the divided roadway of Calle La Fonda between Avenida Bermudas and Desert Club Drive, in such locations and spaces as shall be determined and appropriately indicated by markings or signs by the city traffic engineer.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 25 § 1, 1983; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to cause to be installed, signs indicating no parking upon any street adjacent to any school property when such parking would, in his/her opinion, interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation.

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

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed twenty (20) feet, or upon one (1) side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed thirty (30) feet.

B. When official signs or markings prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow streets as authorized in this section, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign or marking.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

No person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle from which merchandise or foodstuffs are displayed, offered for sale or sold, upon any portion of any street within this city except in compliance with all the following:

A. Stopping to Sell—Time Limit. Such vehicle shall stand or park only at the request of a bona fide customer or purchaser and for a period of time not exceeding ten (10) minutes at any one (1) place. The vehicle may not stop within three hundred (300) yards of any school property.

B. Weight Limit. Such vehicles at all times shall each have a gross weight of less than five thousand (5,000) pounds.

C. Length of Vehicle. Such vehicles at all times shall have an overall length not exceeding eighteen (18) feet.

D. Days, Hours of Operation. Such vehicles shall not so operate on Sundays or holidays, nor before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. on other days.

E. Position on Street. Such vehicles, during the time they are stopped, standing or parked, shall be at the extreme right of the roadway, entirely off the paved, improved and main traveled portion of the roadway.

F. Purpose of Vehicles. Such vehicles shall be used for display, offering for sale, and sale of merchandise and foodstuffs other than fresh meat, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables.

G. Noise-Making Devices. Noise emanating from such devices shall not exceed a duration of four (4) seconds nor an intensity of seventy (70) decibels. Record players or other continuous noise-making devices are prohibited.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 257 § 1, 1994; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

A. Whenever the city traffic engineer, chief of police or their designated representatives 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 traffic engineer, chief of police or their designated representatives, 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 traffic engineer, chief of police or their designated representatives 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 person causing their placement 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. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

A. Every motor truck having an unladen weight of four thousand pounds (4,000) or more, and every truck tractor irrespective of weight when operated upon any street or highway during the time specified in Section 618 of the Vehicle Code shall be equipped with and carry at least two (2) flares or two (2) red lanterns, or two (2) warning lights or reflectors, which reflectors shall be of a type approved by the Department of California Highway Patrol.

B. When any vehicle mentioned in subsection A of this section or any 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 (200) feet during any time mentioned in Section 618 of the Vehicle Code, a warning signal of the character indicated in subsection A of this section shall be immediately placed at a distance of approximately one hundred (100) feet in advance of, and one hundred (100) feet to the rear of, such disabled vehicle by the driver thereof. The continuous flashing of at least four (4) approved-type Class A-Type 1 turn signal lamps, at least two (2) toward the front end and at least two (2) toward the rear of the vehicle, shall be considered to meet the requirements of this section until the devices mentioned in this section can be placed in the required locations. The warning signals mentioned in this section shall be displayed continuously during the time mentioned in Section 618, while such vehicles remain disabled upon such street or highway.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

A. No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on private property or business premises without the express or implied consent of the owner, authorized agent of the owner, person in lawful possession of such premises or property, or other person in charge thereof.

B. No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on private property or business premises at a time, or at a place thereon, or for a period of time, or in any manner otherwise, which is unauthorized by the owner, authorized agent of the owner, person in lawful possession of such premises or property, or other person in charge thereof.

C. The following acts of stopping, parking or leaving standing a vehicle shall be included within those which shall be deemed in violation of subsection A or B of this section, whichever is applicable, but other acts not mentioned may also violate either subsection. (The use of the term parking in the following examples shall be deemed also to include collectively acts of stopping and leaving standing):

1. Parking on any vacant lot or unimproved property unless affirmatively so permitted by posted sign(s) or by the authorized person in charge;

2. Parking off-street on any improved private property not held open to use by the general public, unless such parking is by invitation of the occupant(s) or for bona fide business purposes upon the property;

3. Parking in any off-street parking area or lot or facility of an apartment building, hotel or business enterprise which is indicated by sign(s) or other marking(s) to be reserved for use by tenants, residents or employees or others not including the person so parking;

4. Parking in the off-street parking area or lot or facility of an individual parking stall or any area which is indicated by a sign or other marking(s) to be reserved for the exclusive use of a person or persons other than the person so parking;

5. Parking in a shopping center or business parking area or facility for a purpose other than doing business with one (1) or more of the stores or offices at the site, or for a purpose not related to such business operation, or remaining parked for longer than reasonably appropriate to do such business or acts related to such business operations;

6. Utilizing a space or stall which is indicated by sign(s) or other marking(s) to be reserved for use in connection with a particular store, office or business, and parking in the same for a purpose other than that for which it is so reserved;

7. Parking in any stall or space which is indicated by sign(s), blue-painted curbing or other marking(s), to be designated for the exclusive use by physically handicapped persons, of a vehicle not displaying one (1) of the distinguishing license plates or placards issued pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22511.5 or 9105;

8. Parking at any spot where such parking is prohibited, as indicated by sign(s), markings, striping, lettering on pavement, red-painted curbing or by any other means, including (but not limited to) areas and locations within areas reserved for or designated as traffic lanes for movement of vehicles or pedestrians, clear areas at or near building entrances or exits, fire lanes, sidewalks or pedestrian or bicycle lanes, clear areas at or near ramps or other facilities used by or intended for use of handicapped persons, unimproved areas, dangerous areas, areas to be utilized by larger vehicles such as trucks, buses, emergency vehicles or other service vehicles, or areas designated for any other business or special use;

9. Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or by reasons of vehicle disablement or bona fide emergency, parking, standing or waiting at a location within a traffic lane or otherwise, which substantially interferes with the normal movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such location;

10. Parking in violation of the restrictions stated on any other sign or marking(s) not mentioned in the foregoing divisions of this subsection, which has or have been placed on private property or business premises by the owner, authorized agent of the owner, person in lawful possession of such premises or property, or other person in charge thereof;

11. Failure or refusal to remove or move a parked or standing or stopped vehicle from private property or business premises, in compliance with a direction to do so by the owner, person in lawful possession of such premises or property, or other person in charge thereof; or violation of a direction by such person not to park, stop or stand a vehicle upon, or at a particular location upon, such premises or property; provided, that this section shall not apply to an act or failure or refusal to leave property or to noncompliance with a direction to keep off such property, in any of those instances listed in Section 11.08.080 of this code; or

12. Parking on a private street in violation of a prohibition or restriction stated on any sign or marking(s) or notification giving notice thereof, placed or given by or pursuant to authority of the association or person or other entity owning or in charge of such private street.

D. Nothing in this section affects or limits the rights or remedies any person may have pursuant to any other provision of law, such as Section 22658 of the California Vehicle Code, to remove or cause the removal of a vehicle parking upon private property.

E. It shall be the policy of the city council to encourage the posting of signs on shopping center parking facilities similar to the signs mentioned in Section 21107.8 of the California Vehicle Code, to give notice to the public that the parking regulations applicable on the private parking facility are subject to official enforcement by citations and fines and otherwise. This does not, however, authorize signs posted in nonconformance with the city's sign control ordinance or other applicable regulations; and the posting of such signs shall not be deemed a requirement or condition precedent to enforcement of this section.

F. Sections 41102 et seq., of the California Vehicle Code are referred to and incorporated in this section by this reference and shall be applicable in connection with any prosecution for violation of this section, in the same manner and to the same extent as said sections are applicable to prosecutions for parking violations occurring on the public streets.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

No person shall park and leave a vehicle on a public street, alley or public parking facility unless the ignition has been locked; provided, however, that if the driver or passenger remains inside the vehicle after and while it is parked, or if the vehicle is in the custody of an attendant, the ignition need not be locked.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

Whenever a vehicle is illegally parked on a street or highway in violation of any provision of this chapter or of this code, any regularly employed and salaried police officer of the city or deputy of the sheriff's office of Riverside County, or member of the California Highway Patrol, may cause such vehicle to be impounded, driven or towed away and stored, so long as signs are posted giving notice of the removal. Any reasonable costs resulting from such impounding, towing or storage shall be charged to the owner of the vehicle and to the driver who committed the parking violation.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)