Chapter 11.23
PARKING

Sections:

11.23.005    Purpose.

11.23.007    Parking restricted – General.

11.23.010    Parking restricted – Specified streets – Residential permit parking zones.

11.23.015    Traffic engineer – Authority.

11.23.020    Parking over 24 hours prohibited.

11.23.022    Time limit zones.

11.23.025    Stopping, standing or parking.

11.23.026    For hire vehicle stopping, standing, parking.

11.23.030    When vehicle may be impounded.

11.23.035    Parking on municipal property.

11.23.040    Penalties.

11.23.005 Purpose. Share

The provisions of this chapter regulate parking, standing and stopping of vehicles upon streets and ways open to the public within the city and provide for the establishment of residential parking zones and restrictions thereto. Pursuant to Chapters 11.80 and 11.82 BCC, the city has adopted by reference sections of certain state statutes, including sections of the Model Traffic Ordinance, which provide for regulation of parking in addition to the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 5176 § 1, 1999; Ord. 4611 § 3, 1993.)

11.23.007 Parking restricted – General. Share

General parking restrictions are adopted to regulate parking with respect to common concerns found on city streets and ways and are generally applied. General parking restrictions include, but are not limited to, parking setback distances from driveways, intersections, fire hydrants, crosswalks, stop signs, yield signs, signals, and railroad crossings. General parking restrictions also prohibit the parking of any vehicle on a sidewalk, crosswalk, within an intersection, on a bridge, within a tunnel, on railroad tracks, or in roadway medians. General parking restrictions are adopted by the city council in the Model Traffic Ordinance, Chapter 11.80 BCC, which contains a complete description of these parking restrictions as well as additional restrictions placed on the stopping or standing of vehicles. (Ord. 5176 § 2, 1999.)

11.23.010 Parking restricted – Specified streets – Residential permit parking zones. Share

The city council may by ordinance establish parking restrictions, including but not limited to no parking anytime, time of day restrictions, and time limits on all or portions of specified streets. A copy of such parking restrictions adopted by the city council, in the form in which they were adopted and suitably marked to indicate amendments, additions, deletions or exceptions, shall be authenticated and filed in the office of the city clerk. In addition, copies thereof shall be available for use and examination by the public during regular business hours. Such parking restrictions for specified streets may also carry restrictions on the stopping or standing of a vehicle.

The city council may also by ordinance establish residential permit parking zones which restrict parking on specified streets except by permits issued to area residents. Such zones allow for time-limited parking or time of day restrictions for vehicles without a permit. A copy of such ordinance establishing a residential permit parking zone and restrictions applicable thereto shall be authenticated and filed in the office of the city clerk. In addition, copies thereof shall be available for use and examination by the public during regular business hours. (Ord. 5176 § 3, 1999; Ord. 4611 § 4, 1993.)

11.23.015 Traffic engineer – Authority. Share

The city manager or his/her designee is authorized to exercise the powers and duties of traffic engineer as authorized pursuant to RCW 46.90.260 and 46.90.270, and Chapter 308-330 WAC, the Model Traffic Ordinance, all as now or hereafter amended.

WAC 308-330-265(13) of the Model Traffic Ordinance is modified to read as follows:

The City Manager or his/her designee is authorized to determine and designate by proper traffic control signs zones not exceeding 300 feet in length for no parking, stopping, or standing of vehicles where the primary basis of such zone is safety or spill over parking concerns.

(Ord. 5176 § 4, 1999; Ord. 4611 § 5, 1993.)

11.23.020 Parking over 24 hours prohibited. Share

No person having control over a vehicle may park such vehicle upon any public street or public way or leave such vehicle in the same public place for a period exceeding 24 hours. (Ord. 4611 § 6, 1993.)

11.23.022 Time limit zones. Share

No person having control over a vehicle may park such vehicle beyond the time limit permitted by official signs.

Where a time limit is established by official signs, no person having control over a vehicle may repark that vehicle on either side of the same street in order to extend the vehicle’s parking time beyond the time limits established. For purposes of this section, a vehicle shall be deemed to be reparked and in violation of this section despite any movement of the vehicle unless the vehicle is moved to a street with a different street name than the street the vehicle was originally parked upon. (Ord. 5176 § 5, 1999.)

11.23.025 Stopping, standing or parking. Share

A. In addition to provisions of the Washington Model Traffic Ordinance adopted by Chapters 11.80 or 11.82 BCC, no person may park or leave any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the traveled portion of the roadway in such a manner as to block or obstruct the flow of vehicular traffic.

1. Subsection A of this section does not apply to the driver of any vehicle which is disabled in such a manner and to such extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving the vehicle in such a position. The driver shall nonetheless arrange for the prompt removal of the vehicle as required by subsection B of this section.

2. Subsection A of this section does not apply to the driver of a public transit vehicle who temporarily stops the vehicle upon the roadway for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers at a marked transit vehicle stop zone, or to the driver of a vehicle when actually engaged in the collection of solid waste, recyclables, or yard waste under authority of the city, so long as the vehicle is not parked or left for a longer time than reasonably necessary.

B. It is unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to leave the vehicle unattended within the limits of the roadway unless the operator of the vehicle arranges for the prompt removal of the vehicle. (Ord. 4611 § 7, 1993.)

11.23.026 For hire vehicle stopping, standing, parking. Share

The operator of a for hire vehicle shall not stop, stand, or park such vehicle upon any street at any place other than in a designated taxicab stand. This provision shall not prevent the operator of a for hire vehicle from temporarily stopping in accordance with other stopping, standing, and parking regulations at any place for the purpose of and while actually engaged in the expeditious loading and unloading of passengers. This provision does not apply to vehicles or companies that have leases or other such agreements with the city for use of its rights-of-way. (Ord. 6082 § 2, 2012.)

11.23.030 When vehicle may be impounded. Share

Any vehicle parked or used so as to endanger any user or potential user of any street or way open to the public or parked or used in violation of BCC Title 11, any regulation or restriction established thereunder, or any other applicable provision of the Bellevue City Code or of any ordinance, is declared to be a nuisance which may be summarily abated by the impounding and removal of the vehicle as herein provided. Any vehicle which is stolen, or which is required by the police department for evidence or investigation, or which is unoccupied or unattended and in the judgment of any police officer in danger of being stripped or stolen, or any wrecked and unattended vehicle, may be impounded and removed as provided by state law. (Ord. 4927 § 7, 1996; Ord. 4611 § 8, 1993.)

11.23.035 Parking on municipal property. Share

A. Motor vehicle parking or standing on property owned, leased or operated by the city is subject to the following restrictions:

1. Only motor vehicles belonging to persons who work for the city, who are transacting business with the city or who otherwise have specific permission from the city, may be parked upon such property; and

2. Where pavement markings or signs designate parking stalls on such property, all motor vehicles must be parked within such stalls and not elsewhere on such property; and

3. Where pavement markings designate a parking stall or stalls, any motor vehicle parked in a stall must be parked within the designated limits as indicated by the pavement markings; and

4. Where signs or pavement markings prohibit or restrict parking without authority or permission, no motor vehicle may be parked or left standing without such permission.

B. Any motor vehicle parked or standing on such property which is not complying with the restrictions set forth herein is declared to be a nuisance. Such nuisance may be summarily abated by impounding as provided by state law. The impounding of a motor vehicle does not prevent or preclude the institution and prosecution of charges in the district court or other appropriate court for violation of any provision of this chapter. (Ord. 4611 § 9, 1993.)

11.23.040 Penalties. Share

Failure to comply with any parking restriction adopted pursuant to BCC 11.23.007, 11.23.010, 11.23.020, 11.23.022, or 11.23.025 or any other provision of this chapter is a parking infraction and shall be cited under the applicable section of this chapter.

A. Violators are required to respond within 15 days of the date of the issuance of the notice of infraction by:

1. Paying a penalty in the amount set forth in subsection C of this section for each infraction cited on the infraction notice; or

2. Requesting a hearing in the manner described in the notice of infraction.

B. Failure to respond to an infraction notice within 15 days of the date of the infraction shall result in:

1. An additional monetary penalty of $25.00 imposed as a default penalty for each parking infraction cited on the notice; and

2. The loss of the right to a hearing on the parking infraction.

In addition, a criminal charge may be filed against the vehicle owner for failure to respond to a notice of infraction and, consistent with applicable state law, the Department of Licensing may place a hold on the renewal of the vehicle license for the vehicle involved in the violation.

C. The amount of the penalty for all parking infractions shall be $25.00; except, that the penalty for the following specified infractions shall be in the amount indicated:

Violation of a RPZ Restriction (BCC 11.23.010): $35.00;

Parking Too Close to Fire Hydrant (RCW 46.61.570): $35.00;

Parking on Sidewalk (RCW 46.61.570): $35.00;

Parking Too Close to Intersection (RCW 46.61.570): $35.00;

Parking Too Close to Crosswalk (RCW 46.61.570): $35.00;

Parking on Bridge or in Tunnel (RCW 46.61.570): $35.00;

Parking Too Close to Railroad Crossing (RCW 46.61.570): $35.00;

Parking Too Close to Driveway (RCW 46.61.570): $35.00;

Parking Too Close to Stop or Yield Sign (RCW 46.61.570): $35.00;

Parking Too Close to Traffic Control Signal     (RCW 46.61.570): $35.00;

Overtime Parking (BCC 11.23.022): $20.00.

D. The penalties established in subsection C of this section shall be adjusted biennially beginning on January 1, 2000, and on each succeeding January 1st of even-numbered years thereafter by multiplying the rate then in effect times one plus the amount of the Consumer Price Index for all urban customers (Seattle-Everett area) for the previous two-year period and rounding such product to the nearest dollar; provided, that the maximum penalty amount shall not exceed the penalty limit set forth in any applicable state law or court rules. (Ord. 5176 § 6, 1999; Ord. 4611 § 10, 1993.)