Taft Municipal Code Ch. 9 Stopping, Standing or Parking 1

(A) The provisions of this title prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times specified in this title, 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 the city prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

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 officer or other authorized officer, or 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 an area duly established as a no parking area, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;

(D) In any area where the parking or stopping of any vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property;

(E) 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 of movement, provided that signs giving notice of such no parking are erected or placed at least twenty four (24) hours prior to the effective time of such no parking;

(F) At any place within twenty feet (20') 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;

(G) At any place within twenty feet (20') 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;

(H) Within twenty feet (20') of the approach to any traffic signal, boulevard stop sign, or official electric flashing device; (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

(I) Within five feet (5') on either side of a fire hydrant when measured along the curb or edge of the street when such distance is indicated by signs or marking except as follows:

1. If the 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.

2. If the vehicle is owned or operated by a fire department or police department or sheriff's department and is clearly marked as a fire, police, or sheriff's department vehicle. (Ord. 672-99, 10-5-1999)

Vehicles shall not be parked in public alleys; provided, that commercial vehicles may be parked in public alleys not longer than necessary to load and unload, and when so parked, such vehicle shall be as close to one side of such alley as possible so as to permit other vehicles to pass. Double-parking is hereby prohibited on any alley 1 . (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

No person shall stop, stand, or park any vehicle on any publicly owned property where stopping, standing, or parking in any such area is prohibited or restricted by resolution of the city council. The city council may from time to time by resolution determine when stopping, standing, or parking of any vehicle on any publicly owned property is prohibited. The director of public works shall erect and maintain signs as provided by law in such areas and for such hours where stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle is prohibited or restricted by resolution. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

The city council may, from time to time, by resolution of the majority of the entire council, designate limited-time parking on any street and on any public property of the city. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle or any recreational vehicle or any recreational trailer shall park or leave such vehicle standing upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of seventy two (72) hours except as provided in subsection (D) of this section or for a cumulative total of more than ninety six (96) hours in any thirty (30) consecutive day period.

The driving or moving of any vehicle or any recreational vehicle or any recreational trailer from one parking space to another in the same time-restricted street, alley or portion thereof, or other street or alley in the city within two thousand feet (2,000') of the location where the vehicle had been parked shall not be deemed a defense to the time limitations imposed by this code. This section is intended to prevent persons who own or have possession, custody or control of any vehicle or any recreational vehicle or any recreational trailer from periodically moving the vehicle from space to space on the same street or alley, or to a space on a street or alley within a two thousand foot (2,000') radius of where the vehicle or recreational vehicle or recreational trailer had been parked or standing, thus defeating the purpose and intent of the timed parking restrictions in this code, which are to prevent the long-term storage of vehicles on streets and alleys within the city.

(A) No vehicle or "recreational vehicle" or "recreational trailer", as defined in this section, shall be parked or left standing upon a city street for seventy two (72) or more consecutive hours except as provided in subsection (D) of this section or for a cumulative total of more than ninety six (96) hours in any thirty (30) consecutive day period. The city police are hereafter authorized to cite any vehicle or recreational vehicle or recreational trailer parked or left standing in violation hereof to carry out the provisions of and the intent of this section.

In the event that a vehicle is not moved within seventy two (72) hours after notice has been given by the police department to move the vehicle, the police department may tow and store the vehicle at the expense of the owner of said vehicle pursuant to section 22651(k) of the California Vehicle Code.

(B) "Recreational vehicle" means any vehicle maintained for the use as a conveyance upon the highway, capable of being propelled, carried or towed from one place to another, so designed and constructed as to permit the use thereof as a temporary dwelling or sleeping place for one or more persons, with built-in cooking facilities, having no foundation other than wheels, jacks or temporary supports. "Recreational vehicle" includes pickups with self-contained or slide-on campers, but does not include pickups with mounted camper shells.

(C) "Recreational trailer" means any camping trailer and any trailer designed for transporting boats, motorcycles, horses or other livestock, tents and any other recreational equipment.

(D) Where a resident within the city has a visitor from an area other than the city, and that visitor arrives with a recreational vehicle or recreational trailer, the visitor may park the recreational vehicle or recreational trailer in the street adjacent to the host residence for not more than seven (7) consecutive days, providing that the parking room is available there, that parking the recreational vehicle or trailer does not constitute a safety hazard, and that the police department has been notified.

(E) Should notification not be provided to the police department as set forth in subsection (D) of this section, then the recreational vehicle shall comply with the provisions of subsection (A) of this section. (Ord. 683-01, 3-20-2001)

No operator of any vehicle shall park the vehicle upon any street in the city for the principal purpose of advertising or displaying it for sale, unless authorized by resolution of the Council. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

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 the City except for minor repairs such as changing tires and changing spark plugs. Temporary emergency repairs may be made upon a public street.

For the purposes of this Section, an "emergency repair" is defined as the minimum repair necessary to cause a disabled vehicle to be removed from the right of way under its own power without endangering the safety of the driver, passengers or members of the public, and without creating a danger of further damage to the vehicle. In all instances, disabled vehicles shall be removed from the right of way within twenty four (24) hours. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway when upon any grade exceeding three percent (3%) within any business or residence district without blocking the wheels of the vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

Every motor truck having an unladen weight of four thousand (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 (2) flares or two (2) red lanterns or two (2) warning lights or reflectors. The reflectors shall be a type approved by the Department of California Highway Patrol. When any such vehicle or any trailer or semi-trailer is disabled upon streets or highways outside of any business or residence district within the City and upon which street or highway there is insufficient street lighting to reveal a vehicle at a distance of two hundred feet (200') during darkness, a warning signal of the character indicated in this Section shall be immediately placed at a distance of approximately one hundred feet (100') in advance of, and one hundred feet (100') to the rear of, such disabled vehicle by the driver thereof. The continuous flashing of at least four (4) approved class A-type I turn signal lamps, at least two (2) toward the front 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 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. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

When 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 unless the size or shape of such vehicle makes compliance impossible. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

The City Engineer is authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this Title, to place, and when required herein shall place, the following curb markings to indicate parking or standing regulations, and the curb markings shall have the meanings as set forth in this Section:

(A) Red means no stopping, standing or parking at any time except as permitted by the Vehicle Code, and except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone.

(B) Yellow means no stopping, standing or parking at any time between nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. and six o'clock (6:00) P.M. of any day except Sundays and holidays for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or materials; provided that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than three (3) minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than twenty (20) minutes.

(C) White means no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers, or for the purpose of depositing mail in an adjacent mail box, which shall not exceed three (3) minutes and such restrictions shall apply between nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. and six o'clock (6:00) P.M. of any day except Sundays and holidays and except as follows:

1. When such zone is in front of a hotel or in front of a mailbox the restrictions shall apply at all times;

2. When such zone is in front of a theater the restrictions shall apply at all times except when such theater is closed.

(D) Green curb marking means no standing or parking for a period of time longer than twenty four (24) minutes at any time between nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. and six o'clock (6:00) P.M. on any day except Sundays and holidays. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

(A) Permission granted in this Chapter to stop or stand a vehicle for purposes of loading or unloading of materials applies only to commercial vehicles and does not extend beyond the time necessary therefor, and in no event for more than twenty (20) minutes.

(B) The loading or unloading of materials applies only to commercial deliveries, also the delivery or pickup of express and parcel post packages and United States mail.

(C) Permission granted in this Chapter to stop or park for purposes of loading or unloading passengers includes the loading or unloading of personal baggage but does not extend beyond the time necessary therefor and in no event for more than three (3) minutes.

(D) Within the total time limits specified in this Section the provisions of this Section shall be enforced so as to accommodate necessary and reasonable loading or unloading but without permitting abuse of the privileges hereby granted. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any yellow loading zone for any purpose other than loading or unloading passengers or material for such time as is permitted in subsection 9-9-13(B) of this Chapter. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any passenger loading zone for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers for such time as is specified in subsection 9-9-13(C) of this Chapter. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of persons or materials in any alley 1 . (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

When authorized signs or curb markings are in place giving notice that parking in a given area is restricted to a limited period of time, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park said vehicle between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. and six o'clock (6:00) P.M. of any day except Sundays and holidays, for a period of time longer than that designated. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

(A) Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within eighteen inches (18") 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 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 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. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

On any of the streets or portions of streets established by resolution of the Council as angle parking zones, when signs or pavement markings are in place indicating such angle 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 (6") 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 9-9-13 of this chapter shall be complied with. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

When authorized signs are in place giving notice that stopping of vehicles is prohibited in a designated area and indicating the hours and days when stopping is prohibited, it is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to stop the vehicle in any such area during the hours and days designated on such signs. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

No person shall park a vehicle on any street within the central traffic district between the hours of two thirty o'clock (2:30) A.M. and five thirty o'clock (5:30) A.M. of any day, where indicated by appropriate signs. (Ord. 651-97, 2-18-1997)

Notwithstanding the provisions under section 9-9-7 of this chapter, no person shall park or leave standing any commercial vehicle, having a gross vehicle weight rating of eleven thousand five hundred (11,500) pounds or more, in or adjacent to any of the streets within the city, except on Supply Row, between 6th Street and 10th Street. The provisions of this section shall not be effective with respect to: a) any commercial vehicle making a pick up or delivery of goods, wares, to or from residential areas; or b) delivery of merchandise from or to any property, building or structure located in the city for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure; or c) any recreational vehicle or any recreational trailer.

Notwithstanding section 9-9-7 of this chapter, no person shall stop, stand or park a commercial trailer or semitrailer which is uncoupled from a motor vehicle, except when actively loading or unloading the trailer, and where unloading requires uncoupling of the motor vehicle. (Ord. 706-03, 8-19-2003)