Chapter 12A
VEHICLE PARKING REGULATIONS, CIVIL PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT

Sections:

12A-1.    Applicability of provisions and definitions.

12A-2.    Alley – Blocking prohibited.

12A-3.    All night parking prohibited on certain streets.

12A-4.    Angle parking prohibited.

12A-5.    Parking away from curb prohibited.

12A-6.    Double parking prohibited.

12A-7.    Business district – Two-hour parking limit.

12A-8.    Bus zones.

12A-9.    Crosswalk parking prohibited.

12A-10.    Curb zones.

12A-11.    Designated streets and properties – Parking prohibited.

12A-12.    Expired registration or license plate tabs – Parking prohibited.

12A-13.    Disabled parking.

12A-14.    Driveways – Blocking prohibited.

12A-15.    Exemption for disabled.

12A-16.    Fire hydrant – Parking near prohibited.

12A-17.    Fire lane – Parking prohibited.

12A-18.    Fire station – Parking near prohibited.

12A-19.    Parking for display prohibited.

12A-20.    Intersections – Prohibited parking.

12A-21.    Parking upon or near railroad track.

12A-22.    Parking space markings.

12A-23.    Peddlers and vendors – No parking.

12A-24.    Repairs in street prohibited.

12A-25.    Safety zone – No parking.

12A-26.    Schools – No parking adjacent to.

12A-27.    Sidewalk access ramp – No parking near.

12A-28.    Sidewalks – No parking.

12A-29.    State highways – No parking.

12A-30.    Freeways – No parking.

12A-31.    Bridges or overpasses – No parking.

12A-32.    Street parking over one hundred twenty hours prohibited.

12A-33.    Temporary parking prohibitions.

12A-34.    Truck trailers – Prohibited parking.

12A-35.    Unattended vehicle – Prohibited parking.

12A-36.    Unattended locked vehicle – Person inside.

12A-37.    Washing vehicle in street – For profit.

12A-38.    Enforcement of parking violations.

12A-39.    Civil penalties.

12A-40.    Payment procedures.

12A-41.    Procedures for notice – Processing or appeal of parking violations.

12A-42.    Constitutionality and conflicts.

12A-1 Applicability of provisions and definitions.

(a)  The provisions of this chapter prohibiting and regulating the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times herein specified, 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 or signal.

(b)  For purposes of this chapter, “vehicle” shall mean a vehicle as defined at Vehicle Code Section 670; “street” shall mean any public right-of-way, street, road, roadway, highway or alley located in the county, including any street designated as a state or county highway; “sheriff” shall mean the Colusa County sheriff or his or her designee; “road commissioner” shall mean the Colusa County road commissioner or his or her designee; “issuing agency” shall mean the California Highway Patrol or the Colusa County sheriff’s department; “processing agency” shall mean the Colusa County collector; “bus” shall mean any motor bus, school bus, motor coach or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers; and, “safety zone” shall mean a safety zone as defined at Vehicle Code Section 540. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-2 Alley – Blocking prohibited.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle for any purpose, other than the loading or unloading of persons or material for a period of time not to exceed three minutes, in any alley. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-3 All night parking prohibited on certain streets.

When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on that street for a period of time longer than ten minutes between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m. of any day, except Sundays and holidays. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-4 Angle parking prohibited.

Angle parking of vehicles is prohibited within the county, except where approved by the sheriff and lines have been placed to mark the spaces allowed. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-5 Parking away from curb prohibited.

(a)  Every vehicle stopped or parked on a street where there are adjacent curbs shall be stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel with and within eighteen inches of the right-hand curb, except that motorcycles shall be parked with at least one wheel touching the right-hand curb. Where no curbs or barriers bound the street, right-hand parallel parking is required and the right-hand wheels of the vehicle, or one wheel of a motorcycle, must be within eighteen inches of the edge of the pavement, unless otherwise indicated by appropriate signs or official traffic-control devices.

(b)  Upon a one-way street, vehicles may be stopped or parked adjacent to curbs and pavement edges as designated in subsection (a), except that the left side of the street may also be used. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-6 Double parking prohibited.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing a vehicle on the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, parked, or standing at the curb or edge of the roadway, except for a school bus when stopped to load or unload pupils. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-7 Business district – Two-hour parking limit.

When signs have been placed by the road commissioner pursuant to a resolution of the board of supervisors, giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on any of the street for a period of time longer than two hours at any time between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. of any day, except Sundays and holidays. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-8 Bus zones.

(a)  The road commissioner, pursuant to resolution by the board of supervisors, shall establish bus zones opposite curb space for the loading and unloading of busses, and to determine the location thereof, subject to the standards and limitations set forth herein.

(b)  No bus zone shall exceed eighty feet in length, except, that when satisfactory evidence has been presented to the road commissioner showing the necessity therefor, the road commissioner may extend a bus zone not to exceed a total length of one hundred twenty-five feet.

(c)  The road commissioner shall cause a red line to be painted with a stencil and white letters reading “NO STANDING,” together with the words, “BUS ZONE,” upon the top or side of all curbs and places specified as a bus zone.

(d)  No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle, except a bus, in a bus zone. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-9 Crosswalk parking prohibited.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on or within a crosswalk, except that a bus may stop in an unmarked crosswalk to load or unload passengers. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-10 Curb zones.

(See county code section 12-18.) When curb markings have been placed, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking in violation of any provision thereof. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-11 Designated streets and properties – Parking prohibited.

(a)  The designated portions of streets and properties where parking is prohibited under this section are the following:

(1)  At any place within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection in any business district, except that a bus may stop at a designated bus zone.

(2)  On the east side of Fifth Street and between the south side of King Street and the south side of Amanda Street in the town of Arbuckle between the hours of six a.m. and six p.m., except on Sundays and holidays.

(3)  On Putnam Way, in Arbuckle, beginning at the northerly curb return located in the northwest corner with its intersection with Freeway Undercrossing Road (a.k.a. extension of Salt Creek Drive), and thence northerly eighty feet.

(4)  When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall park or leave standing a vehicle on any county-owned parking lot in violation of such notice.

(5)  At any other place when the board of supervisors, by resolution, determines that it is necessary in order to eliminate a traffic hazard.

(b)  The road commissioner may post signs prohibiting parking at any of the above-named locations. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part); Ord. No. 780, § 2.)

12A-12 Expired registration or license plate tabs – Parking prohibited.

No person shall park or leave standing on a county street or in a county-owned parking lot a vehicle that is unregistered, has an expired registration or expired or missing license plate tab in violation of California Vehicle Code Sections 4000(a)(1)(2)(A) and 5204. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-13 Disabled parking.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle in a parking stall or space designated for disabled persons, unless the vehicle displays either a distinguishing license plate or placard issued pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 5007 or Section 22511.55. This applies to both publicly and privately owned property where such spaces have been designated. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-14 Driveways – Blocking prohibited.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle in front of a public or private driveway, except that a bus or taxicab may stop to load and unload passengers. Where the entrance of a private driveway is not delineated by an opening in a curb, so much of the surface of the ground as is paved, surfaced, or otherwise plainly marked by vehicle use as a private driveway entrance, shall constitute the driveway. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-15 Exemption for disabled.

Any disabled driver whose vehicle displays a special identification license plate or placard issued under Vehicle Code Section 5007 or Section 23511.55 shall be allowed to park for unlimited periods in any otherwise restricted zone, except for any zone which absolutely by ordinance or statute prohibits the stopping, standing or parking of all vehicles or which by ordinance or statute reserves the zone for a special class of vehicle. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-16 Fire hydrant – Parking near prohibited.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, except as follows: (1) if the vehicle remains attended by a licensed driver who can immediately move such vehicle if necessary; or (2) if the vehicle is owned and operated by a fire department and is clearly marked as a fire department vehicle. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-17 Fire lane – Parking prohibited.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle along the edge of any street, curb or any location, whether on private or public property, designated as a fire lane. The fire lane designation shall be indicated by: (1) a sign posted immediately adjacent to and visible from the designated place clearly stating in letters not less than one inch in height that the place is a fire lane, (2) outlining or painting the place in and, in a contrasting color, marking the place with the words “FIRE LANE,” which are clearly visible from a vehicle, or (3) a red curb or red paint on the edge of the street which is clearly marked with the words “FIRE LANE.” (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-18 Fire station – Parking near prohibited.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle within fifteen feet of the driveway to a fire station. This does not apply to any vehicle owned and operated by a fire department and clearly marked as a fire department vehicle. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-19 Parking for display prohibited.

No person shall park a vehicle on any street for the principal purpose of advertising the vehicle for sale. The presence of signs in vehicle windows in violation of Vehicle Code view obstruction standards (see Vehicle Code Section 26708) is prima facie evidence of “advertising the vehicle for sale.” (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-20 Intersections – Prohibited parking.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle within any street intersection. It is unlawful to park or leave standing in the curb lane or on the roadway shoulder any vehicle within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, and within thirty feet of a stop sign, yield sign, signal or beacon. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-21 Parking upon or near railroad track.

No person shall park a vehicle upon any railroad track or within seven and one-half feet of the nearest rail. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-22 Parking space markings.

(a)  The road commissioner is authorized to cause to be installed and maintained, parking space markings in and along streets to indicate parking spaces adjacent to curbs where authorized parking is permitted.

(b)  Where lines have been placed to delineate parking spaces, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle across or out of the designated space lines, so as to cause adjacent spaces to be unusable. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-23 Peddlers and vendors – No parking.

(a)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle, wagon or pushcart, from which goods, wares, merchandise, fruits, vegetables or foodstuffs are sold, displayed, solicited or offered for sale or bartered or exchanged, or any lunch wagon or eating car or vehicle on any portion of any street; except, that such vehicles, wagons or pushcarts may stand or park only at file request of a bona fide purchaser for a period of time not to exceed ten minutes at any one place. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to persons delivering such articles upon order of, or by agreement with, a customer from a store or other fixed place of business or distribution.

(b)  No person shall stop, park or leave standing on any street any lunch wagon, eating cart or vehicle, or push cart from which goods, wares, merchandise, fruits, vegetables, or foodstuffs are sold, displayed, solicited or offered for sale without first obtaining a county business license. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-24 Repairs in street prohibited.

No person shall repair, service or otherwise maintain any vehicle parked in a street, except as may be necessitated in case of an emergency and when the vehicle cannot be moved to a safer location. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-25 Safety zone – No parking.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle 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. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-26 Schools – No parking adjacent to.

Upon resolution of the board of supervisors, the road commissioner is authorized to erect signs indicating limited or no parking upon that side of the street adjacent to any school property when such parking would interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation. When official signs are erected, no person shall stop, park or leave standing a vehicle in such designated area. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-27 Sidewalk access ramp – No parking near.

(a)  No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle in front of that portion of a curb which has been cut down, lowered, or constructed to provide wheelchair accessibility to the sidewalk.

(b)  No person shall park a vehicle within three feet of any sidewalk access ramp constructed adjacent to a crosswalk so as to be accessible to and usable by the physically disabled, if the area adjoining the ramp is designated by either a sign or red paint. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-28 Sidewalks – No parking.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on any sidewalk. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-29 State highways – No parking.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle upon a state highway pursuant to CVC 22505 or its successor. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-30 Freeways – No parking.

No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle upon a freeway which has full control of access and no crossings at grade pursuant to CVC 22520 or its successor. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-31 Bridges or overpasses – No parking.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle upon a bridge or overpass except vehicles used in the repair of such bridge or overpass. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-32 Street parking over one hundred twenty hours prohibited.

No person who owns or has possession or control of any vehicle shall stop, park or leave standing such vehicle upon any street for a consecutive period of more than one hundred twenty hours. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-33 Temporary parking prohibitions.

(a)  Whenever the sheriff determines that an emergency traffic congestion situation is or may be likely to result from the holding of public, or private assemblages, gatherings or functions, or for other reasons, the sheriff shall have the authority to order temporary signs to be posted indicating that the operation, parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on such streets as the sheriff shall direct during the existence of such situation and the sheriff shall cause such temporary signs to be removed promptly thereafter.

(b)  When such signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall operate, stop, park or leave standing any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of such temporary signs. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-34 Truck trailers – Prohibited parking.

(a)  No person shall stop, park or leave standing any truck, truck-tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or semitrailer trailer unit of a truck tractor-trailer, truck tractor-semitrailer, or truck-tractor semitrailer-trailer combination, having a capacity in excess of twelve thousand pounds (six tons) gross vehicle weight (GVW) on any street signed no parking by resolution of the board of supervisors.

(b)  “Truck-tractor,” as used in this section, shall mean the non-cargo carrying power unit that operates in combination with a semitrailer, trailer, or semitrailer and trailer.

(c)  The road commissioner, pursuant to resolution of the board of supervisors, shall cause to be erected and maintained, appropriate signs indicating the streets affected. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-35 Unattended vehicle – Prohibited parking.

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on any street without first setting the parking brake and stopping the motor of the vehicle. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-36 Unattended locked vehicle – Person inside.

No person shall park or leave standing a locked vehicle in which there is inside any person who cannot readily escape from the vehicle. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-37 Washing vehicle in street – For profit.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on a street for purposes of washing, waxing or polishing the vehicle, for profit. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-38 Enforcement of parking violations.

The Colusa County sheriff’s department and the California Highway Patrol are the issuing and enforcement agencies. Enforcement is by notice of violation pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 40202. In a situation deemed to be an emergency, the enforcement agency may have the offending vehicle towed and impounded. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-39 Civil penalties.

The board of supervisors shall adopt, and may amend from time to time, a resolution establishing a schedule of civil penalties for vehicle parking violations under this Code, and related late payment penalties, administrative fees, and other related charges (which may include process service fees, failure to pay parking fee, late fee and fees and costs related to civil debt collection). The schedule of penalties shall also include the criminal justice facilities and court construction assessments due the county of Colusa pursuant to California Government Code title 8, chapter 12 (commencing with Section 76000). A current copy of the resolution shall be maintained by the county clerk’s office, the county collector’s office, the parking program hearing officer(s) and the sheriff’s department, and shall be made available upon request to any member of the public. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-40 Payment procedures.

Vehicle parking violations shall be paid in person by cash, personal check or money order at the Colusa County collector’s office, or by deposit in the deposit box at the county collector’s office, or by mailing a certified check or money order. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-41 Procedures for notice – Processing or appeal of parking violations.

Processing or Appeal of Parking Violations. The procedures to be followed for processing, contesting or appealing violations are those set forth in California Vehicle Code Sections 40200, 40200.8, 40202, 40203, 40204, 40205, 40206, 40206.5, 40207, 40208, 40209, 40210, 40211, 40215, 40220, 40221, 40222, 40224 and 40230 or their successors and said procedures are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)

12A-42 Constitutionality and conflicts.

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of the ordinance codified in this chapter is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of such ordinance. Headings are informative only and are not to be construed as a part of this Code. If any section of this chapter is in conflict with any other section of the County Code, the section in this chapter shall prevail. (Ord. No. 605, § 4 (part).)