Chapter 10.36
STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
Sections:
10.36.010 Obstruction of traffic.
10.36.030 Parking for certain purposes prohibited.
10.36.040 Adjacent to schools.
10.36.060 Near hazardous or congested places.
10.36.065 Dangerous or unsanitary parking prohibited.
10.36.070 Proximity to curb and prohibited parking in specific places.
10.36.080 Angle parking – Street determination.
10.36.090 Angle parking – Obedience.
10.36.100 Loading or unloading at an angle to the curb.
10.36.110 Extended parking and certain vehicles prohibited.
10.36.120 Chain parking unlawful.
10.36.130 Expired or improper license plates – Parking prohibited.
10.36.140 Stopping, standing and parking – Violations – Penalty.
10.36.010 Obstruction of traffic.
No person shall park any vehicle upon a street, other than an alley, in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than eight feet of the width of the roadway in each direction of travel for a total of 16 feet for free movement of vehicular traffic. (Ord. 2700 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1522 § 72, 1963).
10.36.020 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. 1522 § 73, 1963).
10.36.030 Parking for certain purposes prohibited.
No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of:
(1) Displaying such vehicle for sale or for advertising services for vehicles;
(2) Washing, greasing, or repairing such vehicle except repairs necessitated by an emergency. (Ord. 1522 § 74, 1968).
10.36.040 Adjacent to schools.
(1) The city manager is authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon either or both sides of any street adjacent to any school property when such parking would, in his opinion, interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation.
(2) When official signs are erected indicating no parking upon that side of a street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place. (Ord. 1522 § 75, 1968).
10.36.050 On narrow streets.
(1) The city manager is authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon both sides of a street when the width of the improved roadway does not exceed 26 feet, or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs when the width of an improved roadway is between 26 and 34 feet.
(2) When official signs prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow streets as authorized herein, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign. (Ord. 1595 § 1, 1972; Ord. 1522 § 76, 1968).
10.36.060 Near hazardous or congested places.
(1) The city manager is authorized to determine and designate by proper signs, places not exceeding 200 feet in length in which the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles would create an especially hazardous condition or would cause unusual delay to traffic.
(2) When official signs are erected as hazardous or congested places as authorized herein, no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any such designated place. (Ord. 2624 § 1, 1999; Ord. 1522 § 77, 1968).
10.36.065 Dangerous or unsanitary parking prohibited.
Parking shall be restricted and shall not be allowed in any manner that is dangerous or unsanitary. Dangerous and/or unsanitary parking is defined as “any vehicle parked in a manner that is causing or contributing to dangerous, unsanitary, unhealthy, or nuisance conditions including, but not limited to, the nuisance and illicit behaviors and conditions described in Chapter 6.08 PMC, Nuisances, and Chapter 21.11 PMC, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination.” In addition to the penalties contained in this chapter, this section may also be enforced as provided in Chapter 5.80 PMC and/or RCW 46.55.113. (Ord. 3289 § 1, 2023).
10.36.070 Proximity to curb and prohibited parking in specific places.
(1) No person shall stand or park a vehicle in a roadway other than parallel with the edge of the roadway headed in the direction of lawful traffic movement and with the wheels of the vehicle on that side which is consistent with the lawful movement of traffic within 12 inches of the curb or edge of the roadway except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(2) Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, or when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions 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) In the area between roadways of a divided highway including crossovers; or
(j) At any place where official signs prohibit stopping.
(3) Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter or in compliance with the directions of a police officer, no person shall stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers:
(a) In front of a public or private driveway or within five feet of the end of the curb radius leading thereto;
(b) Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;
(c) Within 20 feet of a crosswalk;
(d) Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway;
(e) Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of said entrance when properly signposted; or
(f) At any place where official signs prohibit standing.
(4) Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter or in compliance with the directions of a police officer, park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers:
(a) Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing; or
(b) At any place where official signs prohibit parking.
(5) No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his or her control into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such a distance as is unlawful. (Ord. 3014 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1522 § 68, 1968).
10.36.080 Angle parking – Street determination.
The city manager shall determine upon what streets other than those forming a part of the primary or secondary state highways angle parking shall be permitted. (Ord. 1522 § 69, 1968).
10.36.090 Angle parking – Obedience.
Upon those streets which have been signed or marked for angle parking, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such signs or markings. (Ord. 1522 § 70, 1968).
10.36.100 Loading or unloading at an angle to the curb.
The city manager is authorized to issue special permits to permit the backing of a vehicle to the curb for the purpose of loading or unloading merchandise or materials subject to the terms and conditions of such permit. Such permits may be issued either to the owner or lessee of real property or to the owner of the vehicle and shall grant to such person the privilege as therein stated and authorized herein, and it is unlawful for any permittee or other person to violate any of the special terms or conditions of any such permit; provided, however, that no permit issued hereunder shall be exclusive. (Ord. 1522 § 71, 1968).
10.36.110 Extended parking and certain vehicles prohibited.
It is unlawful to park upon the public streets of the city for more than 72 consecutive hours any vehicle or motor vehicle. In addition, no person shall park a vehicle on any street or alley, except in an industrial zone, as defined in the zoning code of the city at any time except while actually loading or unloading if the vehicle is a truck and/or trailer or other conveyance which is over 84 inches wide. For the purposes of this section, “vehicle” means and includes every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, and the term “motor vehicle” means every vehicle which is self-propelled. (Ord. 2119 § 1, 1987; Ord. 2048 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1953 § 1, 1982).
10.36.120 Chain parking unlawful.
It shall be an infraction for any person to move and repark a vehicle parked on the street within two blocks of the original parking space in order to avoid a parking time limit regulation. It shall be an infraction for any person to move and repark a vehicle parked in a parking lot to another space within the same parking lot in order to avoid a parking time regulation. For the purposes of this section, a block shall be defined as a city street or alley section located between consecutive intersections. A violation of this section shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of $50.00. In the event that the initial fine is not paid within 30 days of the date of issuance of the infraction, the fine shall increase to $90.00. (Ord. 2700 § 1, 2001; Ord. 2281 § 1, 1991).
10.36.130 Expired or improper license plates – Parking prohibited.
No person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle on any street or alley, or in any garage, parking area or other property owned by the city, without first having displayed current and proper vehicle license plates thereon as provided in Chapter 46.16 RCW. The vehicle license plates shall be attached conspicuously in the manner required by RCW 46.16.240. (Ord. 2700 § 2, 2001).
10.36.140 Stopping, standing and parking – Violations – Penalty.
Unless otherwise provided, a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of $35.00. In the event that a person fails to respond to a notice of a violation issued pursuant to this chapter or fails to pay a fine imposed pursuant to this chapter within 30 days of the date of issuance of the infraction or imposition of the fine, a $25.00 penalty shall be added to the initial fine. (Ord. 3005 § 1, 2012; Ord. 2990 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2700 § 3, 2001).