Simi Valley Municipal Code Art. 5 Parking and Standing of Vehicles

The City Council finds and declares as follows:

(a) The establishment of a parking ordinance as imposed by this chapter is reasonable and necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City.

(b) The City is authorized, by virtue of the State Constitution and Sections 21100 et seq., 22500 et seq., and 40200 et seq. of the California Vehicle Code to enact a parking ordinance and regulate the parking and standing of vehicles in the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1141, eff. July 2, 2009)

It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to stop, stand, or park such vehicle in a roadway other than parallel with the curb or right-hand edge of the roadway with the two (2) right-hand wheels of the vehicle, except that motorcycles shall be parked with at least one wheel or fender touching the right-hand curb, within eighteen (18") inches of the regularly established curb line, or where no curb line exists, as near to the right-hand edge of the roadway as practicable.

(§ 1, Ord. 1141, eff. July 2, 2009)

No person shall park, stop, or leave standing any vehicle, trailer, or camper, whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control device in any of the following places:

(a) Within an intersection;

(b) On a crosswalk, except that a bus engaged as a common carrier or a taxicab may stop in an unmarked crosswalk to load or unload passengers;

(c) Between a safety zone and the adjacent right-hand curb or within the area between the zone and the curb as may be indicated by a sign or red paint on the curb;

(d) Within fifteen (15') feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station. This subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned or operated by a fire department and clearly marked as a fire department vehicle;

(e) Within fifteen (15') feet of a fire hydrant, except when such vehicle is attended by a licensed driver who is seated in the front seat and who can immediately move such vehicle in case of necessity. This subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned or operated by a fire department and is clearly marked as a fire department vehicle;

(f) In front of a public or private driveway, except that a bus engaged as a common carrier, school bus, or a taxicab may stop to load or unload passengers;

(g) On any portion of a sidewalk, or with the body of the vehicle extending over any portion of a sidewalk, on a curb, median island, or other parking lot island, except as permitted by ordinance;

(h) Alongside or opposite any street or highway excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing, or parking would obstruct traffic or construction operations;

(i) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, parked, or standing at the curb or edge of a highway, except for a school bus when stopped to load or unload pupils in a business or residence district where the speed limit is twenty-five (25) miles per hour or less;

(j) In any "No Parking" or "No Stopping Any Time Zone" or emergency parking zone determined and designated by the City Engineer; provided, however, such zone shall be designated by red curb painted markings or signs;

(k) On any roadway in such a position as to obstruct the normal movement of traffic or in such a condition as to create a hazard to other traffic upon the street;

(l) Parking in other than a designated space or across or over the lines or defined limits of a parking space. This shall include taking more than one space for parking;

(m) In any lane designated as a Fire Lane by the Ventura County Fire Protection District with such zone being designated by red curb painted markings and signs or white lettering reading "Fire Lane"; or

(n) Upon the driveways, paths, parking facilities, or the grounds of any public school, county park, joint powers agency operating or managing a commuter rail system, and "Park and Ride" facilities, except with the permission of, and subject to any condition or regulation which may be imposed by the City, the governing board or officer of the public school, the Rancho Simi Park District, joint powers agency operating or managing a commuter rail system, or the State agency operating or managing the "Park and Ride" facilities.

(§ 1, Ord. 1141, eff. July 2, 2009)

(a) Determination. The City Engineer shall determine the location of streets, or parts of streets, where angle parking shall be permitted.

(b) Method. When the City Engineer shall determine the location of streets, or parts of streets, where angle parking shall be permitted, it shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand, or park, or cause or permit to be stopped, stood, or parked, any vehicle in any roadway otherwise than at an angle of approximately forty-five (45) degrees with the curb thereof with the nearest wheel not to exceed one foot from such curb.

(c) White lines. The City Engineer shall indicate the proper angle for such parking upon the portions of such street by the painting of white lines upon the surface of the roadway adjacent to the curb line thereof.

(§ 1, Ord. 1141, eff. July 2, 2009)

(a) No person shall abandon a vehicle upon any highway.

(b) No person shall abandon a vehicle upon public or private property without the express or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property.

(c) Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine as prescribed in the Schedule of Parking Citation Fines and shall provide proof that the costs of removal and disposition of the vehicle have been paid.

(§ 1, Ord. 1141, eff. July 2, 2009)

(a) Parking.

(1) It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle, other than a vehicle bearing a distinguishing license plate as defined by the State Vehicle Code, to park or stop such vehicle in a parking zone identified as reserved for disabled or handicapped persons pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.

(2) Physically handicapped parking zones. It shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct, block or otherwise bar access to those parking stalls, spaces, curb cuts or ramps except as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section.

(b) Improper parking in cross hatch section.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person, including disabled persons who may lawfully park in a physically handicapped parking stall, to park a vehicle on or otherwise block or obstruct the blue paint cross hatch section designated for the loading and unloading of vehicles parked in the adjacent physically handicapped stall or space.

(c) Improper display of placard.

(1) It shall be unlawful to fail to, or improperly display, a disabled person's placard.

(2) If a citation is issued for parking or stopping in a zone identified as reserved for disabled persons, the Director of Administrative Services or staff as authorized by the Director of Administrative Services may, in his/her discretion, reduce the charge for violation of subsection (a) of this section to a charge of improper display under this subsection and impose a fine not to exceed the base parking fine.

(d) Space identification.

(1) Such physically handicapped on-street parking zones shall be designated by blue paint on the curb or edge of the paved portion of the street adjacent to the space. In addition to the blue paint, the space shall also be indicated by signs or other suitable means.

(2) Such disabled persons or disabled veterans off-street parking zones, stalls, or spaces shall be indicated by signs, markings, or both as specified in the California Vehicle Code.

(§ 1, Ord. 1141, eff. July 2, 2009)

Any violation of this article and any violation under the California Vehicle Code for the parking or standing of a vehicle on a street, highway, alley, parking lot, or other patrolled area in the City (including any concurrently issued improper vehicle equipment violation) shall be subject to a civil penalty plus the administrative charges or penalties as authorized by the California Vehicle Code.

The various civil penalties for violations of this Chapter shall be in the amounts as set forth in the City's schedule of parking citation fines adopted by resolution.

(§ 1, Ord. 1141, eff. July 2, 2009)

If any citation issued in accordance with this Chapter is contested and administrative review of the citation is requested, the procedures outlined in California Vehicle Code Section 40215 shall control (govern).

(§ 1, Ord. 1141, eff. July 2, 2009)