Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 16.220 Loading Zones

A. Authority to Establish Loading Zones.

1. The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to determine and to mark loading zones and passenger loading zones as follows:

a. At any place in the central traffic district or any business district.

b. Elsewhere in front of the entrance to any place of business or in front of any hall or place used for the purpose of public assembly.

2. In no event shall more than one-half of the total curb length in any block be reserved for loading zone purposes.

3. Loading zones shall be indicated by yellow paint upon the top of all curbs within such zones and with markings indicating the time and days in effect.

4. Passenger loading zones shall be indicated by white paint upon the top of all curbs in said zones and with markings indicating the time and days in effect.

B. Curb Markings to Indicate No-Stopping and Parking Regulations.

1. The city traffic engineer, with the approval of the city manager, is hereby authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this chapter, to place, and when required herein, shall place, the following curb markings to indicate parking and standing regulations, and said curb markings shall have the meanings as herein set forth:

a. “Red zones” shall mean 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 zones” shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at certain posted hours 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 minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than 20 minutes. Loading zones are in effect only for posted or marked hours as determined by the city traffic engineer, with the approval of the city manager.

c. “White zones” shall mean 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 mailbox, which shall not exceed three minutes. White zones are in effect only for posted or marked hours as determined by the city traffic engineer, with the approval of the city manager of any day except Sundays and holidays and except as follows:

i. When such zone is in front of a hotel, the restrictions shall apply at all times.

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

d. “Blue zones” shall mean no stopping, standing, or parking at any time, except for the handicapped, as defined and permitted by the Vehicle Code.

e. When the city traffic engineer, as authorized under this section, has caused curb markings to be placed, no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle adjacent to such legible curb markings in violation of any of the provisions in this section.

C. Effect of Permission to Load or Unload.

1. Permission herein granted to stop or stand a vehicle for purposes of loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial vehicles and shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor, and in no event for more than 20 minutes.

2. The loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial deliveries, also the delivery or pickup of express and parcel post packages and United States mail.

3. Permission herein granted to stop or park for purposes of loading or unloading passengers shall include the loading of personal baggage but shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor and in no event for more than three minutes.

4. Within the total time limits above specified, 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. (Code 1971, § 7241; Ord. No. 2009-002, § 6, 1-12-09)

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 Section 16.220.010(B)(1)(b). (Code 1971, § 7242)

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 Section 16.220.010(B)(1)(c). (Code 1971, § 7243)

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. (Code 1971, § 7244)

A. City Traffic Engineer to Designate Public Carrier Stops and Stands. The city traffic engineer, with the approval of the city manager, is hereby authorized and required to establish bus stops, bus stands, taxicab stands or other passenger common-carrier motor vehicle stands on such public streets in such places and in such number as the traffic engineer shall determine to be of the greatest benefit and convenience to the public, and every such bus stop, bus stand, taxicab stand, or other stand shall be designated by appropriate signs.

B. Stopping, Standing and Parking of Buses and Taxicabs Regulated.

1. The operator of a bus shall not stand or park such vehicle upon any street at any place other than a bus stand so designated as provided herein.

2. The operator of a bus shall not stop such vehicle upon any street at any place for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or their baggage other than at a bus stop, bus stand, or passenger loading zone so designated as provided herein except in case of emergency.

3. The operator of a bus shall enter a bus stop, bus stand or passenger loading zone on a public street in such a manner that the bus when stopped to load or unload passenger or baggage shall be in a position with the right front wheel of such vehicle not farther than 18 inches from the curb and the bus approximately parallel to the curb so as not to unduly impede the movement of other vehicular traffic.

4. The operator of a taxicab shall not stand or park such vehicle upon any street at any place other than a taxicab stand so designated as provided herein. This provision shall not prevent the operator of a taxicab from temporarily stopping in accordance with other stopping or parking regulations at any place for the purpose of and while actually engaged in the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers.

C. Restricted Use of Bus and Taxicab Stands. No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle other than a bus in a bus stop, or other than a taxicab in a taxicab stand, when any such stop or stand has been officially designated and appropriately signed except that the driver of a passenger vehicle may temporarily stop therein for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers when such stopping does not interfere with any bus or taxicab waiting to enter or about to enter such zone. (Code 1971, § 7245)

A. The city traffic engineer may permit valet parking stands to use public streets in such places and in such a manner as they shall determine and approve. Valet parking may be permitted only when the permittee demonstrates availability and control of sufficient off-street parking to meet projected demand. A fee shall be charged in an amount determined by the city council.

B. Appropriate signs approved by the city traffic engineer shall identify each valet parking stand. The signs shall be posted during operation hours at each location where they take possession of vehicles. The sign shall identify the name, address and telephone number of the operator, the rate charged and hours of operation. In addition, the permittee shall be responsible for the cost of regulatory signage determined to be necessary by the city traffic engineer.

C. The valet parking operator shall, upon receipt of each motor vehicle accepted for valet parking, give a claim check to the owner. The claim check shall explicitly state the terms and conditions under which the vehicle is being accepted. The valet parking operator shall not disclaim the responsibilities of a bailee.

D. The city traffic engineer, police chief, or fire chief, or their designee, may suspend valet parking operations, without prior notice or hearing, when it may interfere with public safety efforts or programs, street improvement activities, special events, construction activities, cleaning efforts or with the health, welfare or safety of the public. (Ord. No. 2009-002, § 7, 1-12-09)