Richmond Municipal Code Ch. 14.40 Stopping, Standing and Parking for Certain Purposes or in Certain Places

(a) The provisions of this chapter prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times specified in this chapter, 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 chapter 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 California Vehicle Code or the laws of this City prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

The Director of Public Works 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 chapter.

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 chapter.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

No operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, park, or leave standing such vehicle in any of the following places, except where 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 islands 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 Director of Public Works 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;

(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 24 hours prior to the effective time of such no parking;

(h) At any place within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection in any business district 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.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 31-77 N.S.; Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

(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 72 consecutive hours.

(b) Any person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of a vehicle shall be in violation of this section if such vehicle has been parked on a street or alley and has not moved under its own power during the previous 72 hours.

(c) No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any commercial trailer or semitrailer shall park such trailer or semitrailer upon any street or alley unless the trailer or semitrailer is, at all times while so parked, and attached to a vehicle capable of moving the trailer or semitrailer in a normal manner upon the street or alley.

(d) Any vehicle found in violation of this section may be towed away.

(e) Fines and Penalties. Violators of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the following fines and penalties:

(1) For violations of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, in addition to any criminal penalties imposed by Section 1.04.100 and the towing and storage charges assessed under Chapters 7.72 and 7.74, the owner of any vehicle towed away pursuant to subsection (d) and subsections (a) or (b) of this section, shall be required to pay an administrative charge of $50.00 for the release of said owner's towed away vehicle.

(2) For violations of subsection (c) of this section, in lieu of the criminal penalties imposed by Section 1.04.100, the violators of subsection (c) of this section, shall pay a fine of $250.00 for the first infraction violation and $500.00 for any subsequent violation within any 12-consecutive-month period. Any citation issued after the issuance of a third citation for violation of the same subsection (c) of this section within any 12-consecutive-month period may be charged as a misdemeanor pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.04.100 of this Code. In addition to the criminal penalties imposed by this section, the owner of any vehicle towed away pursuant to subsection (d) and subsection (c) of this section, shall be obligated to pay the towing and storage charges assessed under Chapters 7.72 and 7.74 and shall be required to pay an administrative charge of $50.00 for the release of such owner's towed away vehicle.

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 285 N.S., 16-86 N.S. and 3-98 N.S.; Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

Unless otherwise exempted, no person shall stop, stand, park or leave standing in any place or location any vehicle whose gross weight is in excess of the posted weight limit, established pursuant to Section 14.52.050 of this Code, on any street which necessarily must have been used to gain access to the place where such vehicle is located. Any police officer may enter upon private property for the purpose of issuing a citation under this section.

(Added by Ordinance No. 11-81 N.S.; Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

No motor vehicle dealer, salesman, or leasing agency, nor any employee, agent or servant of such dealer, salesman or leasing agency shall park any motor vehicle under the custody and control of such motor vehicle dealership, or leasing agency, on any city street for a period longer than one hour between the hours of 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. of any day.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 12-75 N.S.; Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

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

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

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. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

(a) The Director of Public Works is authorized to erect signs indicating no parking, or limited parking during school hours, upon that side of 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 indicating no parking, or limited parking during school hours, upon that side of a street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in violation of such signs.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

(a) The Director of Public Works is authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed 20 feet, or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed 30 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. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway when upon any grade exceeding three percent without blocking the wheels of said vehicles by turning them against the curb or by other means.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

(a) No person shall stand or park any business stand, lunch wagon, pushcart or vehicle from which goods, merchandise or articles of food are sold, displayed, solicited or offered for sale or bartered or exchanged on any portion of any street or sidewalk within the City without first obtaining from the Chief of Police a written permit which shall designate the specific location where such business stand, wagon, cart or vehicle shall stand or park. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any persons who:

(1) Stands or parks such wagon, cart or vehicle at the request of a bona fide purchaser for a period of time not to exceed 30 minutes at any one place; or

(2) Delivers such articles upon order of, or by agreement with, a customer from a store or other fixed place of business or distribution.

(b) The Chief of Police may refuse to issue a permit or may revoke or suspend any permit issued pursuant to this section if he determines that:

(1) The applicant or permittee is engaging or has engaged in any conduct which violates any provision of this Code or any law of the state of California; or

(2) The activities of the applicant or permittee are interfering or will interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic on any street or sidewalk, or such activities are or will become detrimental to the health and welfare of the public.

The Chief of Police shall notify any applicant denied a permit in writing of the denial and the reasons therefor. Prior to the revocation or suspension of any permit, the Chief of Police shall give the permittee ten days' notice of his intention to revoke or suspend the permit and the reasons therefor.

(c) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Chief of Police in granting, denying, revoking or suspending a permit may appeal to the City Council for a hearing within ten days from the date of such decision. Such appeal must be made in writing, delivered to the City Clerk, and the appellant shall set forth all the facts upon which it is claimed that the action of the Chief of Police is improper. After receipt of the written appeal, the City Clerk shall set the matter for hearing before the City Council and he shall give the appellant at least seven days' notice of the time and place of such hearing. Pending the outcome of the appeal, any permit granted under this section shall remain in effect. The Council may affirm, modify or reverse the action of the Chief of Police and its decision shall be final and conclusive.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 38-78 N.S.; Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

(a) Whenever the Chief of Police 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 Chief of Police 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 Chief of Police 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 Chief of Police 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. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

Every motor truck having an unladen weight of 4,000 pounds or more, and every truck 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 Department of California Highway Patrol. When any vehicle abovementioned 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 200 feet during darkness, a warning signal of the character indicated above shall be immediately placed at a distance of approximately 100 feet in advance of, and 100 feet to the rear of, such disabled vehicle by the driver thereof. The continuous flashing of at least four approved class A-Type I 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 mentioned in this section shall be displayed continuously during darkness while such vehicle remains disabled upon such street or highway.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

(a) In City-owned or operated parking lots where parking space markings have been installed by the Director of Public Works, subject to other and more restrictive limitations, no vehicle shall be stopped, left standing or parked other than within a single space except with permission of the Transportation Department pursuant to Richmond Municipal Code Section 14.46.

(b) No vehicle shall be stopped, left standing or parked on any City-owned or operated parking lot for more than 16 consecutive hours except with permission of the Transportation Department.

(c) Any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be considered an obstruction to the normal and safe use of said parking lot and may be cited for violation of this section by city authorized parking enforcement staff or removed by any police department authorized enforcement officer.

(d) By resolution of the City Council, the Director of Public Works may place and maintain signs giving notification of parking limit time restrictions for parking of vehicles in city-owned or operated parking lots. When such signs authorized by the provisions of this section and Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 14.46 are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle for a period of time longer than that indicated on such signs.

(e) By resolution of the City Council, the Director of Public Works may place and maintain signs giving notification that no vehicle shall be stopped, left standing or parked in the City-owned and operated parking lot bordered by: City Auditorium to the east, 25th Street to the west, City parking lot to the north and Nevin Avenue to the south without a permit issued by the Transportation Department of the City of Richmond. When such signs are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle in such parking lots without a permit issued by the Transportation Department of the City of Richmond and displayed on the dash of said vehicle.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 210 N.S., 15-72 N.S. and 27-86 N.S.; Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

For the purpose of this section only, official cars shall be:

(1) Vehicles belonging to the City;

(2) Vehicles used by officers or employees of the City while on official City business; provided, that such last mentioned vehicles shall have in plain view in the driver's compartment a permit signed by the Transportation Department.

It is unlawful for any person to park any vehicle, other than official cars, in any space reserved for official cars.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to leave such vehicle excepting vehicles owned by the City of Richmond and used by the Police Department of the City, standing in areas designated for official police use only.

The provisions of this section shall be further indicated by the erection of appropriate signs.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to leave such vehicle, excepting vehicles owned by the City of Richmond and used by the Fire Department of the City, standing in areas designated for official fire use only.

The provisions of this section shall be further indicated by the erection of appropriate signs.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

It is unlawful for any person to operate or drive or leave any vehicle in, over or upon any private property without express or implied permission of the owner thereof, or the person entitled to the possession thereof for the time being, or the authorized agent of either; except, that this section shall not apply to public or private parking lots.

(Source: Ordinance No. 1753; Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to leave such vehicle standing in areas designated by resolution of the City Council pursuant to Sections 22511.7 or 22511.8 of the California Vehicle Code for the exclusive use of physically handicapped persons, excepting vehicles which display distinguishing license plates issued to disabled persons under Section 22511.5 of said code.

(Added by Ord. No. 36-76 N.S.; Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)

It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to leave such vehicle excepting vehicles that are electric plug in, hybrid plug in, or hybrid gas vehicles with significant low emissions standing in areas designated for energy efficient vehicle parking.

(Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 4, 3-2-2021)