Rohnert Park Municipal Code Ch. 10.40 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 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.

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

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10), 1965)

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

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.1), 1965)

The city traffic engineer 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 title.

When such 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. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.2), 1965)

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 or other authorized officer, of traffic sign or signal:

A. Within any divisional island 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 city traffic 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;

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 twenty-four hours prior to the effective time of such no parking;

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

I. At any place within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection in the central traffic district or 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;

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

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.3), 1965)

The city council may designate, by resolution, certain streets or roadways within the city upon which stopping, parking, or standing is prohibited or restricted.

(Ord. 621 § 2, 1996)

The city council may designate, by resolution, the type of vehicle, by size, height, weight, length, horsepower, type of tires utilized, or any combination(s) thereof, which is restricted from stopping, parking, or standing on such designated streets.

(Ord. 621, § 3, 1996)

The city council may designate, by resolution, the hours of the day during which such stopping, parking, or standing shall be prohibited. For the purpose of this section, the phrase "hours of the day" shall include the hours between six a.m. and eight p.m.

(Ord. 621 § 4, 1996)

The city council may designate, by resolution, that the city traffic engineer be authorized to issue exemptions to the stopping, parking, or standing requirements by the issuance of preferential parking privileges to residents and merchants adjacent to any street designated as a street upon which stopping, parking, or standing is prohibited.

Preferential privileges for some parking shall be given, in the order of priority to (1) residents, (2) merchants, (3) customers of merchants, (4) guests of residents, (5) other persons who live or work in the area and are entitled to special consideration because of their status or a special condition, i.e., vehicles for handicapped, emergency vehicles, vehicles on official government business, etc.

The length of time a resident or merchant or his or her guest may park shall be governed by the following criteria:

A. The age of the resident or merchant. (Senior citizens shall be entitled to additional consideration.)

B. Special need of the resident or merchant such as a physical handicap, type of job or employment, need for the service furnished (in the case of merchants), etc.

C. Length of time during the day and time of day that the resident and/or merchant requires preferential stopping, parking, or standing privileges.

(Ord. 621 § 5, 1996)

No designation of any intersection, street, or highway or portion thereof for prohibited stopping, parking or standing shall be effective until the city has placed signs at regular intervals not exceeding two hundred feet, which clearly state that the street or area has been designated pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22507 as a street or area upon which stopping, parking, or standing is prohibited.

(Ord. 621 § 6, 1996)

The city council may determine, by resolution, the criteria and standards for issuing an exemption to the prohibition of the stopping, parking, or standing on designated streets. The city council may designate, by resolution, the number and criteria for issuance of special permits for guests of residents or customers or providers of service to merchants on any street or area designated as a preferential parking street or area.

(Ord. 621 § 7, 1996)

No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for a consecutive period of seventy-two hours. For purposes of this section, a vehicle shall be deemed to be parked on a street or alley when it has not moved at least 1/10 of a mile within a consecutive seventy-two hour period. Any such vehicle so parked may be removed by the Department of Public Safety in accordance with Sections 22651 and 22669 of the Vehicle Code of the State of California.

(Ord. 763 § 1, 2006)

No operator of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street in this city for the principal purpose of advertising or displaying it for sale, unless authorized by resolution of the council.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.5), 1965)

No person shall construct or cause to be constructed, repair or cause to be repaired, grease or cause 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. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.6), 1965)

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. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.7), 1965)

A. The city traffic 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 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. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.8), 1965)

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 feet, or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed thirty 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. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.9), 1965)

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

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.10), 1965)

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall stand or park any vehicle, wagon or pushcart from which goods, wares, merchandise, fruits, vegetables or foodstuffs are sold, displayed, solicited or offered for sale or bartered or exchanged, or any lunch wagon or eating car or vehicle, on any portion of any street within this city except that such vehicles, wagons or pushcarts may stand or park only at the request of a bona fide purchase for a period of time not to exceed ten minutes at any one place. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to persons delivering such articles upon order of, or by agreement with a customer from a store or other fixed place of business or distribution.

B. No person shall park or stand on any street any lunch wagon, eating cart or vehicle, or pushcart from which tamales, peanuts, popcorn, candy, ice cream or other articles of food are sold or offered for sale without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the city traffic engineer which shall designate the specific location in which such cart shall stand.

C. No person shall park or stand any vehicle or wagon used or intended to be used in the transportation of property for hire on any street while awaiting patronage for such vehicle or wagon without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the city traffic engineer which shall designate the specific location where such vehicle may stand.

D. Whenever any permit is granted under the provisions of this section and a particular location to park or stand is specified therein, no person shall park or stand any vehicle, wagon, or pushcart on any location other than as designated in such permit. In the event that the holder of any such permit is convicted in any court of competent jurisdiction for violating any of the provisions of this section, such permit shall be forthwith revoked by the city traffic engineer upon the filing of the record of such conviction with such officer and no permit shall thereafter be issued to such person until six months have elapsed from the date of such revocation.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.11), 1965)

A. Whenever the city traffic engineer determines 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 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 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 city traffic 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 directions and provisions of such signs.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.12), 1965)

Every motor truck having an unladen weight of four thousand 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 above mentioned 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 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 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 herein mentioned shall be displayed continuously during darkness while such vehicle remains disabled upon such street or highway.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 10.13), 1965)

Green curb marking 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 Sunday(s) and holidays.

When authorized signs, parking meters or curb markings have been determined by the city traffic engineer to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park said vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking or sign or parking meter in violation thereof.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 11), 1965)

When authorized signs, parking meters or curb markings have been determined by the city traffic engineer to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park said vehicle between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sunday(s) and holidays, for a period of time longer than forty minutes.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 11.1), 1965)

When authorized signs, parking meters or curb markings have been determined by the city traffic engineer to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park said vehicle between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sunday(s) and holidays for a period of time longer than one hour.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 11.2), 1965)

When authorized signs, parking meters or curb markings have been determined by the city traffic engineer to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park said vehicle between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sunday(s) and holidays for a period of time longer than two hours.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 11.3), 1965)

A. Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within eighteen 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 or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one 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 or more separate roadways and shall erect signs giving notice thereof.

D. The requirement of parallel parking imposed by this section 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 such vehicle may be backed up to the curb, provided that such vehicle does not extend beyond the center line of the street and does not block traffic thereby.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 11.4), 1965)

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 said vehicle except:

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

B. With the front wheel nearest the curb within six inches of said 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, in which event the provisions applicable in Section 10.20.190 shall be complied with.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 11.5), 1965)

The city traffic engineer is authorized to install and maintain parking space markings on city streets to indicate parking spaces adjacent to curbs where authorized parking is permitted.

When such parking space markings are placed on the highway, subject to other and more restrictive limitations, no vehicle shall be stopped, left standing or parked other than within a single space.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 11.6), 1965)

(Ord. No. 982, § 1, 10-24-2023)

The city traffic engineer shall designate established no stopping zones by placing and maintaining appropriate signs indicating that stopping of vehicles is prohibited and indicating the hours and days when stopping is prohibited.

During the hours and on the days designated on the signs, it is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to stop said vehicle on any of the streets or parts of streets established by resolution of the council as no stopping zones.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 11.7), 1965)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on any street for a period of time longer than thirty minutes between the hours of two a.m. and four a.m. of any day, provided that this section shall not apply to a vehicle of any regularly licensed physician when actually engaged in making professional calls.

(Ord. 55 (Uni. Traf. Ord. § 11.8), 1965)

It is unlawful to park, stand, or otherwise leave unattended any commercial vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or more upon any public street within a residential district within the city except during the loading or unloading thereof. For purposes of this section, a "commercial vehicle" is a vehicle of a type required to be registered and used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit, or designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property, as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 260.

(Ord. 655 § 2, 2000: Ord. 15 § 1, 1962)

Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof is subject to the fines, penalties and other provisions of Chapter 1.16 of this Code.

(Ord. 288 § 1, 1975: Ord. 15 § 1, 1962)