Chapter 10.44
STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING—PLACES
Sections:
10.44.010 Markings and signs—Generally.
10.44.020 Markings and signs—Temporary.
10.44.030 Prohibited areas designated.
10.44.040 Marked spaces.
10.44.050 No-stopping zones.
10.44.060 Parking for disabled persons.
10.44.065 Residential exemption.
10.44.070 Bicycle parking.
10.44.080 Parking on narrow streets.
10.44.090 Parking on one-way streets.
10.44.100 Diagonal parking.
10.44.110 Parking on grades.
10.44.120 Grade separations.
10.44.130 Parkways.
10.44.140 Parking near schools.
10.44.150 City property.
10.44.160 Private property—Permission of owner.
10.44.170 Private property—Posting.
10.44.010 Markings and signs—Generally.
A. 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 park areas, as defined and described in this chapter.
B. When the 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. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.020 Markings and signs—Temporary.
A. Whenever the city traffic engineer or chief of police 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 traffic engineer or 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 traffic engineer or chief of police 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 traffic engineer or 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. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.030 Prohibited areas designated.
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 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 midblock 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 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;
K. On any property where access thereto can be obtained only by driving across or upon any curb or sidewalk and there is not provided a permanently constructed driveway. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.040 Marked spaces.
A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to install and maintain parking space markings to indicate parking spaces adjacent to curbings where authorized parking is permitted.
B. 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 unless the size or shape of such vehicle makes compliance impossible. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.050 No-stopping zones.
A. 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. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.060 Parking for disabled persons.
A. In accordance with the provisions of Section 22507.8 of the Vehicle Code of the state, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any public parking lot or structure within a stall or space designated for physically handicapped persons if, immediately adjacent to and visible from such stall or space, there is posted a sign consisting of a profile view of a wheelchair with an occupant in white on a blue background, unless the vehicle displays either one of the distinguishing license plates or a placard issued pursuant to Section 22511.5 of the Vehicle Code of the state or to disabled persons as specified in Section 9105 of the Vehicle Code.
B. A disabled person is entitled to certain parking privileges upon display of disabled person license plates and/or a disabled person parking placard issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Placards are issued for a disabled person’s use only and when the disabled person is using or being transported in the vehicle in which the placard is displayed. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
C. Display of the placard on the driver’s side of the dashboard or the display of disabled person plates on the vehicle permits a person to park in spaces reserved for the disabled in metered zones without payment of fees, or in limited-time zones without payment or observing the time limit. (Vehicle Code Section 22511.5(b), “Unlimited Parking.”) Neither the license plates nor the placard authorize a person to park in red zones where all vehicles are prohibited from stopping or parking. A person may stop long enough to load or unload passengers in a white zone and freight and passengers in a yellow zone but is not authorized to park in either a white or yellow zone. A blue zone is reserved for vehicles displaying either a set of disabled person plates or a disabled person parking placard. (Ord. 388 § 1, 1984)
10.44.065 Residential exemption.
The city council may, by resolution, identify specific areas in which residents may be exempted from posted parking restrictions if they obtain and display a permit or decal in a form approved by the city. The city council may also establish a fee for the issuance of such permits or decals. (Ord. 545 § 1, 1992)
10.44.070 Bicycle parking.
When the city traffic engineer determines that the establishment of a bicycle parking zone is reasonably necessary or desirable for the regulation of traffic or to provide facilities for the temporary parking of bicycles being operated upon public streets, or to safeguard life or property, he is authorized to set aside a space on the street not more than thirty-six feet in length for the parking of bicycles during such hours of such days as are found by him to be best suited for the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in this section. When a bicycle parking zone is so established, the traffic engineer shall cause appropriate signs to be posted thereat during such hours, giving notice that parking of other vehicles is prohibited. No person shall stop, stand or park any other vehicle in front of such zone while such signs are in place. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.080 Parking on narrow streets.
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 in this section, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign or marking. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.090 Parking on one-way streets.
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 centerline of the street and does not block traffic thereby. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.100 Diagonal parking.
A. 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 the vehicle except:
1. At the angle to the curb indicated by signs or pavement markings allotting space to parked vehicles and entirely within the limits of the allotted space;
2. With the front wheel nearest the curb within six inches of the curb.
B. 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 10.44.090 shall be complied with. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.110 Parking on grades.
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 the vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.120 Grade separations.
A. No operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park the vehicle in or upon any grade separation, except in the event of an emergency, or when necessary to avoid injury or damage to persons or property, or in compliance with the direction of a member of the police department or other authorized person, or with the direction of a sign or signal.
B. When any vehicle in or on any grade separation is stopped for any reason and is obstructing or may obstruct the flow of traffic, any member of the police department may move such vehicle or have such vehicle moved to the nearest terminus of the grade separation and beyond to a place of safety. The registered owner or owners and the operator of such vehicle shall be responsible for all reasonable charges for the moving services. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.130 Parkways.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.140 Parking near schools.
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. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.150 City property.
A. Whenever the city traffic engineer determines that the orderly, efficient conduct of the city’s business requires that parking or standing of vehicles on city property be prohibited, limited or restricted, the traffic engineer shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted indicating that the parking of vehicles is thus prohibited, limited or restricted.
B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place, giving notice thereof, no person shall park or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions or provisions of such signs. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.160 Private property—Permission of owner.
No person shall operate or drive or leave any vehicle in, over or upon any private property without express or implied permission of the owner thereof, for the time being, or the authorized agent of either, except that this section shall not apply to public or private parking lots. (Ord. 230 § 1 (part), 1965)
10.44.170 Private property—Posting.
Pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22658, the owner or person in lawful possession of private property may cause the removal of a vehicle parked on the property to the nearest public garage if there is displayed, in plain view at all entrances to the property, a sign or signs not less than twenty-four inches wide and not less than eighteen inches in height indicating that public parking is prohibited and that vehicles will be removed at the owner’s expense. The sign(s) shall also include the phone number of the Palos Verdes Estates Police. (Ord. 394 § 2, 1984)