Chapter 10.24
STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
Sections:
10.24.010 Prohibited in specified places.
10.24.020 Obstruction of traffic prohibited – Exception.
10.24.040 Parking for certain purposes prohibited.
10.24.050 Parking prohibited on narrow streets.
10.24.060 Angle parking prohibited.
10.24.070 One-way and two-way road parking regulations – State parking signs.
10.24.080 Notices on illegally parked vehicles.
10.24.090 Failure to comply with notice attached to parked vehicle.
10.24.100 Presumption in reference to illegal parking.
10.24.110 Impoundment and removal of illegally stopped or parked vehicle.
10.24.010 Prohibited in specified places.
Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the direction of a police officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle:
A. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;
B. On a sidewalk or street planting strip;
C. Within an intersection;
D. On a crosswalk;
E. Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless official signs or markings indicate a different no-parking area opposite the ends of a safety zone;
F. Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic;
G. Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel;
H. On any railroad tracks;
I. At any place where official signs prohibit stopping;
J. Directly adjacent to curbside, clearly visible, residential mailboxes between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on all days of scheduled mail delivery by the United States Postal Service;
K. In any parking place or area designated as handicapped parking by displaying the international blue and white handicapped symbol of a wheelchair; provided, that it shall not be a violation of this chapter to stand, stop or park a vehicle in a place or area so designated when the vehicle clearly displays the handicapped symbol on a license plate, window decal or card as provided by RCW 46.16.830.
A person charged with a violation hereof shall not be determined to have committed a violation if he produces in court or prior to the court appearance the special plate, special card or special decal required hereunder or demonstrates he was entitled to the same at the time of being ticketed. (Ord. 368 § 1, 1990).
10.24.020 Obstruction of traffic prohibited – Exception.
No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the main traveled part of any street or highway; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the driver of any vehicle which is disabled while on such main portion of such street or highway, in such manner and to such extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving such disabled vehicle in such position. (Ord. 368 § 2, 1990).
10.24.030 Parking in alleys.
No person shall park a vehicle within an alley in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than eight feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic, and no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle within an alley in such position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property. (Ord. 368 § 3, 1990).
10.24.040 Parking for certain purposes prohibited.
No person shall park a vehicle upon a roadway for the principal purpose of:
A. Displaying such vehicle for sale or for advertising services for vehicles;
B. Washing, greasing or repairing such vehicle except repairs necessitated by emergency. (Ord. 368 § 4, 1990).
10.24.050 Parking prohibited on narrow streets.
A. When the width of an improved roadway does not exceed 20 feet, the department of public works is authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon both sides of such street. When the width of the improved roadway is between 20 and 28 feet, the department of public works is authorized to erect a sign indicating no parking upon one side of the street.
B. When official signs prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow streets as provided in this section, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any sign. (Ord. 368 § 5, 1990).
10.24.060 Angle parking prohibited.
Angle parking on all county roads is prohibited.
For the purpose of this section, “angle parking” is defined as any manner of parking on a county road or right-of-way in a position other than substantially parallel to the curb, shoulder or other road extremity. (Ord. 368 § 6, 1990).
10.24.070 One-way and two-way road parking regulations – State parking signs.
A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a two-way roadway shall be so stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within 12 inches of the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
B. Except when otherwise provided in this section, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a one-way roadway shall be so stopped or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway, in the direction of authorized traffic movement, with its right-hand wheels within 12 inches of the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, or its left-hand wheels within 12 inches of the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
C. The State Highway Commission with respect to highways under its jurisdiction may place signs prohibiting or restricting the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles on any highway where, in its opinion, as evidenced by resolution or order, such stopping, standing or parking is dangerous to those using the highway or where the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles would unduly interfere with the free movement of traffic thereon. Such signs shall be official signs and no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle in violation of the restriction stated on such signs. (Ord. 368 § 7, 1990).
10.24.080 Notices on illegally parked vehicles.
Whenever any motor vehicle without operator is found parked, angle-parked or stopped in violation of any of the restrictions imposed in this chapter, the officer finding such vehicle shall record its license number and may take any other information displayed on the vehicle which may identify its operator or owner, and shall conspicuously affix to such vehicle notice in writing for the operator or owner to answer to the charge against him within 15 days at a place specified in the notice. The officer shall deposit the complaint and the abstract of court record copy of such traffic complaint and citation with the municipal court of the city. (Ord. 368 § 8, 1990).
10.24.090 Failure to comply with notice attached to parked vehicle.
If the operator or owner in violation of the restriction on stopping, standing or parking does not appear in response to a notice affixed to such motor vehicle within a period of 15 days, the clerk of the court shall send to the operator or owner of the motor vehicle to which the notice was affixed a letter informing him of the violations and warning him that in the event such a letter is disregarded for a period of 14 days, a warrant of arrest will be issued. The court shall issue the warrant for the arrest of any defendant who has failed to appear before the court either in person or by counsel in answer to such notice and letter within 15 days from the date of mailing. (Ord. 368 § 9, 1990).
10.24.100 Presumption in reference to illegal parking.
A. In any prosecution charging a violation of any law or regulation governing the standing or parking of a vehicle, proof that the particular vehicle described in the complaint was parked in violation of any such law or regulation, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was at the time of such parking a registered owner of such vehicle, shall constitute prima facie evidence that the registered owner of such vehicle was the person who parked or placed such vehicle at the point where, and for the time during which, such violation occurred.
B. The presumption stated in subsection A of this section shall apply only when the procedure prescribed in YMC 10.24.080 has been followed. (Ord. 368 § 10, 1990).
10.24.110 Impoundment and removal of illegally stopped or parked vehicle.
A. Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle standing upon a highway in violation of any of the provisions of YMC 10.24.010, such officer is authorized to move such vehicle, or require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move the same, to a position of the main traveled part of such highway.
B. Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle unattended upon any bridge or causeway or in any location where such vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic, such officer is authorized to provide for the removal of such vehicle to the nearest garage or other place of safety.
C. The charge for removal of a vehicle as authorized in subsections A and B of this section shall be fixed by the police chief of the city. The police chief may perform the removal service directly or through a private firm. A private firm providing such removal services shall post the authorized charges therefor prominently at its place of business. The costs incurred in the removal of such a vehicle shall be paid by the vehicle’s owner and shall be a lien upon the vehicle until paid. (Ord. 368 § 11, 1990).