Lakewood Municipal Code Part 5 Stopping, Standing, Loading and Parking

The provisions of this part 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. The provisions of this part imposing a time limit on standing or parking shall not relieve any person from the duty of observing other and more restrictive provisions of the Vehicle Code.

[Amended by Ord. 76-5]

The City Administrator or his authorized agent is hereby authorized to maintain by appropriate signs or by curb painting all No Stopping zones, No Parking zones and restrictive parking areas as defined and described in this part or the Vehicle Code of the State of California. Except where otherwise provided in this chapter, when said curb marking or signs are in place no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, or park such vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb markings or signs in violation of any of the provisions of this Part, or Resolution of the City Council.

Whenever the City Council has by Resolution determined that the parking or standing of vehicles on certain streets or highways or portions thereof should be prohibited or restricted, no person shall stop or park or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended on any such street or highway or portion thereof during those times specified in the Resolution. With the exception of alleys and any resolution prohibiting or restricting the parking or standing of vehicles on certain streets or highways or portions thereof between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., no such resolution or regulation shall apply unless indicated by curb marking or sign as provided in the previous Section. No person shall stop, stand or parka vehicle, whether attended or unattended in violation of said regulation as follows:

A. In a "No Parking" zone indicated by red curb marking or posting, except that a bus may stop in a zone marked or sign posted as a bus loading zone.

B. In a "Loading Zone" indicated by yellow curb marking or posting, except for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or freight for not more than 20 minutes between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sundays and holidays excepted.

C. In a "Passenger Loading Zone" indicated by a white curb marking or posting, except for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers for not more than 3 minutes between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sundays and holidays excepted.

D. In a "Limited Parking Zone" indicated by a green curb marking for longer than 20 minutes between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sundays and holidays excepted.

E. In any other "Limited Parking Zone" for any time in excess of that designated by resolution of the City Council.

F. In a "physically handicapped persons designated parking space" indicated by blue paint on the curb or edge of the paved portion of the street adjacent to the space, unless said vehicle displays either one of the distinguishing license plates issued to disabled persons pursuant to the Vehicle Code, or to disabled veterans.

[Added by Ord. 76-12]

It is hereby found and determined that the purpose of this section is to place in one code provision all existing regulations on limited or prohibited parking established by resolution of the City Council. All existing parking regulations marked and posted on the date of the ordinance adopting this section, as well as any regulation adopted by resolution restricting parking in alleys, or in certain streets or portions thereof, between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., or any fraction of that time, are hereby reaffirmed until repealed by resolution of the City Council, and any such reference in any such resolution to any other section of this Code shall be deemed reference to this section.

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 directions of a police officer or authorized officer, or traffic sign or signal:

A. Within any parkway or on a sidewalk unless designated and maintained as an off-street parking area.

B. In any alley.

C. Upon any highway where the roadway is bordered by adjacent curbs, or upon any private street which is open to the public, whether bordered by curbs or not, unless not less than 8 feet of the width of the paved or improved or main traveled portion of such highway or private street opposite such vehicle is left clear and unobstructed for the free passage of other vehicles.

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

E. 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 sign or by red paint upon the curb surface.

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

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

H. Within 100 feet of an intersection if marked.

I. Along the curb within 50 feet of either end of a safety zone.

J. Within 50 feet of the entrance of any police or law enforcement agency or fire station if marked, in front of any entrance to any garage, or in front of any driveway, in a private driveway or on private property without the actual or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of such driveway or property.

K. Where a "No Parking" or "No Standing" zone has been designated and posted or marked by the Director of Community Safety at any of the following locations:

1. At any place within 20 feet of a crosswalk.

2. At any place within an intersection.

3. Within 15 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station.

4. Along the side or opposite any street or highway excavation.

5. Where necessary as an emergency measure in order to relieve traffic congestion likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblies, gatherings or functions, or for other or unusual and extraordinary reasons, and where as a temporary measure for short durations.

6. Where necessary as a temporary "No Parking" or "No Standing" zone on any street or highway in any case where the use of the street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for the cleaning, repair or construction of the street or highway, or the installation of utilities or other facilities, or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is necessary for the movement of equipment, structures or personal property, and the parking of such vehicles would prohibit or interfere with such movement.

L. A person shall not park any trailer or semi-trailer, whether or not attached to a motorized vehicle, upon any highway, street, alley, public way or public place in the City, except with a City permit. Such parking restriction shall not apply to trailers or semi-trailers which are in the process of being loaded or unloaded, nor to any trailer or semi-trailer which is disabled in such a manner and to such an extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporary parking such trailer or semi-trailer. Each daily violation of this Subsection shall constitute a separate infraction, punishable by a fine as set by City Council Resolution. Vehicles falling within the definition of "trailer or semi-trailer" include, but are not limited to, the following:

[Amended by Ord. 2006-5]

1. Camp trailers (CA Vehicle Code [VC] Section 242).

2. Fifth-wheel travel trailers (VC Section 324).

3. House cars (VC Section 362)

4. Trailer coaches (VC Section 635)

5. Boats and/or boat trailers.

6. Trailers used for the transport of equipment, vehicles or animals.

7. Those non-motorized vehicles included in the definition of "Recreational vehicles" (CA Health & Safety Code Section 18010).

8. Folding camping trailers.

M. (Reserved)

N. In any stall or space of an off-street parking facility owned or operated by the City where the City Council has by resolution designated said stall and space for the exclusive use of vehicles which display a distinguishing license plate or placard issued pursuant to the California Vehicle Code to disabled veterans and handicapped persons and where designated in any manner authorized the Vehicle Code, unless such distinguishing license plate or placard is displayed.

[Added by Ord. 76-12; amended by Ord. 77-3; Ord. 83-19]

O. In any stall or space of any privately owned and maintained off-street parking facility where the owner or operator thereof has designated said stall or space for the exclusive use of vehicles which display a distinguishing license plate or placard issued pursuant to the California Vehicle Code to disabled veterans and handicapped persons and where designated in the manner authorized by the California Vehicle Code, unless such distinguishing license plate or placard is displayed.

[Added by Ord. 76-12; amended by Ord. 77-3; Ord. 83-19]

P. In any Fire Lane designated by the Fire Chief except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control device or as otherwise provided by the California Vehicle Code.

[Added by Ord. 83-18]

Q. A person shall not park any motorized recreational vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer whether detached or attached to a motorized vehicle, which vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer is not registered to a Lakewood address not including a post office box, upon any highway, street, alley, public way or public place in the City. Each daily violation of this Subsection shall constitute a separate infraction, punishable by a fine as set by City Council Resolution. Vehicles, trailers or semi-trailers falling within the definitions of "motorized vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer" include, but are not limited to, the following:

[Added by Ord. 2006-7]

1. Camp trailers (CA Vehicle Code Section 242).

2. Fifth-wheel travel trailers (VC Section 324).

3. House cars (VC Section 362).

4. Trailer coaches (VC Section 635).

5. Mobile homes (VC 396).

6. Boats and/or trailers.

7. Trailers used for the transport of equipment, vehicles or animals.

8. Recreation vehicles (CA Health & Safety Code Section 18010).

9. Folding camping trailers.

City staff is hereby authorized and directed to create and implement a system to issue temporary parking permits for short-term needs.

R. A person shall not park any motorized recreational vehicle upon any highway, street, alley, public way or public place in the City, except with a City permit. Such parking restriction shall not apply to motorized recreational vehicles which are in the process of being loaded or unloaded, nor to any motorized recreational vehicle which is disabled in such a manner and to such an extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily parking such motorized recreational vehicle. Each daily violation of this Subsection shall constitute a separate infraction, punishable by a fine as set by City Council Resolution. Vehicles falling within the definition of "motorized recreational vehicle" include, but are not limited to, the following:

[Added by Ord. 2006-6]

1. Mobile homes (VC Section 396)

2. Those motorized vehicles included in the definition of "Recreational vehicles" (CA Health & Safety Code Section 18010)

[Added by Ord. 85-8; amended by Ord. 86-2]

No person shall park or leave standing any motor truck, truck trailer, trailer or semi-trailer designed primarily for carrying property, having a maximum overall width in excess of eighty inches upon the following streets, excluding service roads:

South Street from Downey Avenue to the San Gabriel River; Bellflower Boulevard from South Street to the North City Boundary; Woodruff Avenue from Carson Street to the North City Boundary; Pioneer Boulevard from Carson Street to the North City Boundary; Carson Street from its intersection with the San Gabriel River to Pioneer Boulevard; Carson Street from the Railroad Crossing to 1500 feet East of Clubhouse Drive; Cherry Avenue from its intersection with Candlewood Street to Del Amo Boulevard; and Cover Street from its intersection with Cherry Avenue to Paramount Boulevard for a period of time exceeding 30 minutes, except where authorized by a permit issued by the Director of Public Works or where necessary for the purpose of making pick-ups or deliveries of goods, wears and merchandise from or to any building or structure fronting upon any street, or for the delivery of building materials to a building site fronting on any street, but in each instance only while actual loading or unloading operations are in progress. The provisions of this section shall not apply to passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission, any vehicle owned by a public utility while necessarily in use on the construction, installation or repair of any public utility, or to any passenger vehicle, house car, truck to which a camper is attached, mobile home, tractor or semi-trailer designed for carrying persons and used in conjunction with a motor vehicle, trailer coach, vanpool vehicle, or any vehicle having a maximum overall width less than eighty inches.

Where notice thereof has been posted, and containing the name and telephone of the law enforcement agency, vehicles found in violation of this section may be removed from any public street and impounded until such time as they are claimed by the registered owner. Such cost of removal and impounding shall be borne by the registered owner.

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

[Added by Ord. 84-8]

No person, other than a resident displaying a vehicle owned by him in front of a residence occupied by him, shall park or leave standing a vehicle for the purpose of displaying the same for sale or rent on any public street or highway having a width between curbs of less than thirty (30) feet, or within the cul-de-sac or turnaround area thereof regardless of the width thereof at that point.

No person shall wash or cause to be washed, polished 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.

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

On any of the following streets or portions of streets when signs or pavement markings are in place indicating diagonal parking, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to park or leave standing said vehicle except:

[Added by Ord. 80-21]

A. A vehicle transporting a hazardous material or substance identified in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations must be attended at all times by its driver or a qualified representative of the motor carrier that operates it, and shall not be parked on any highway, highway shoulder, street, alley, public way or public place, or within 5 feet of the traveled portion thereof, within a residential zone or within 1,000 feet of any school or within 300 feet of any bridge or tunnel, except for brief periods when mechanical or equipment failure or disablement or malfunctioning of the vehicle, or the necessities of operation require the vehicle to be parked and make it impractical to park the vehicle in any other place.

B. Repair, Maintenance, Refuse, Utility, Termite and Pesticide Vehicles, Fuel Delivery Vehicles, and Vehicles delivering life support and health commodities, while servicing residential areas or schools, are exempt from the provisions of Subdivision A. Additionally, such exempt vehicles need not be attended while the drivers are performing duties that are normally and necessarily performed by the operator of the vehicle or the provider of the service.

C. For purposes of this section:

1. A motor vehicle is attended when the person in charge of the vehicle is in the vehicle, awake, and not in a sleeper berth, or is within 100 feet of the vehicle and has it within his unobstructed field of view.

2. A qualified representative of a motor carrier is a person who:

(a) Has been designated by the carrier to attend the vehicle.

(b) Is aware of the nature of the hazardous material or substance contained in the vehicle he attends.

(c) Has been instructed on the procedures he must follow in emergencies concerning hazardous materials or substances.

(d) Is authorized to move the vehicle and has the means and ability to do so.

D. The rules of this section do not relieve a driver from any obligation imposed by federal, state or local laws relating to the transportation of hazardous materials or explosives, motor carrier safety regulations or the placement of warning signs or devices when a motor vehicle is stopped on a public street or highway.