CHAPTER 10.50
PARKING REGULATIONS

Sections:

10.50.005    Scope and application.

10.50.010    On-street parking.

10.50.020    General parking prohibitions.

10.50.030    Unattended vehicle.

10.50.040    Additional parking regulations.

10.50.050    Parking time limits.

10.50.060    Interference with disabled parking.

10.50.070    Parking prohibited to enable the City to conduct snow removal operations and regular street maintenance – Violation – Towing.

10.50.080    Removal of vehicles by law enforcement officers.

10.50.090    Presumption of ownership.

10.50.100    Penalties.

10.50.005 Scope and application.

A. Intent. This chapter is an exercise of the police power of the City in order to maintain the peace, good government and welfare of the City, its residents and visitors.

B. Definitions.

1. "Alley" means a street not designed or maintained for general travel and used primarily as a means of access to the rear of residences and business establishments.

2. "Street" means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way maintained by the City when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

3. "Mayor" shall include an officer or employee designated by the Mayor.

4. Otherwise, it is intended that the terms used in this chapter shall assume their ordinary meaning. Otherwise, the definitions set out in Chapter 46.04 RCW, relating to motor vehicles and the Model Traffic Ordinance, are adopted.

C. Whenever more than one section in this chapter addresses restrictions to be placed on parking in an area in the City, the most restrictive provisions of this chapter for the area in question shall apply. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.010 On-street parking.

A. Parallel Parking. Except for angle parking, vehicles shall stop or park on streets in the direction of the traffic, with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within twelve inches of the right-hand curb or as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder.

B. Angle Parking.

1. "Angle parking" means the parking of motor vehicles that are less than twenty feet in length in such a manner as to place the right front wheel of the vehicle against the curb, or in the case of a street with no curb, as close as practicable to the edge of the shoulder so that the angle between the right side of the vehicle and the curbline or shoulder to the right side of the vehicle shall approximate an angle of thirty degrees.

2. 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 street as indicated by such signs or markings. The right front wheel of the vehicle shall be no more than twelve inches away from the curb or, in the case of a shoulder with no curb, as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder.

3. No person shall back a vehicle, other than a motorcycle, into a space signed or marked for angle parking.

4. The following streets are designated for angle parking:

a. On the west side of the following streets:

i. First Avenue Southwest from Division Street to "F" Street S.W.,

ii. Central Avenue South from Division Street to "E" Street S.E.,

iii. First Avenue Southeast from Division Street to "H" Street Southeast except from "E" Street Southeast to "F" Street Southeast,

iv. Second Avenue Southeast from Division Street to "D" Street Southeast,

v. Third Avenue Southeast between Highway 28 and the first alley, and

vi. Second Avenue Southeast between "A" Street Southeast and "B" street Southeast;

b. On the east side of the following streets:

i. Second Avenue Southeast from "D" Street Southeast to "E" Street Southeast; and

ii. First Avenue Southwest from "L" Street Southwest to "M" Street Southwest; and

iii. First Ave Southeast from "B" Street Southeast to the approach of the B-C Alley;

c. On the north side of the following streets:

i. Division Street,

ii. "A" Street South,

iii. "B" Street Southwest from Central Avenue South to First Avenue Southwest,

iv. "C" Street Southwest from Central Avenue South to 120 feet west of First Avenue Southwest,

v. "D" Street Southwest from Central Avenue South to North/South Alley,

vi. "E" Street Southeast from Central Avenue South to Second Avenue Southeast, and

vii. On the South side of "L" Street Southwest between Central Avenue South and First Avenue Southwest; and

d. On the south side of the following streets:

i. B Street Southeast from Central Avenue to First Avenue Southeast, and

ii. D Street Southeast from Central Avenue to First Avenue Southeast. (Ord 17-497 §1; Ord 16-476 §1 (Ex A); Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.020 General parking prohibitions.

Except 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 in the following circumstances, which circumstances shall not require signage to be effective:

A. Stop, stand or park a vehicle:

1. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;

2. On a sidewalk or street planting strip;

3. Within an intersection;

4. On a crosswalk;

5. Within an alley in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than eight feet of width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic, or to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property;

6. Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless signs or markings installed by the City indicate a different no-parking area opposite the ends of a safety zone;

7. Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic;

8. On any railroad tracks;

9. At any place where signs or markings installed by the City prohibit stopping, standing or parking.

B. Stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied:

1. In front of a public or private driveway or within five feet of the end of the curb radius leading thereto;

2. Within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant;

3. Within twenty feet of a crosswalk;

4. Within thirty feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic-control signal located at the side of a street;

5. Within twenty feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within seventy-five feet of the entrance when properly signposted;

6. Within or adjacent to any area designated by signage erected or painting applied by the City;

7. Within ten feet of a mail receptacle except temporarily for the purpose of and while engaged in the delivery or pickup of postal items;

8. At any place where barricades are placed by the City or its contractors.

C. Park a vehicle, whether occupied, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers:

1. Within fifty feet of the nearest rail or a railroad crossing;

2. At any place where official signs prohibit parking;

3. Displaying the vehicle for sale;

4. Washing, greasing or repairing for hire the vehicle, except repairs necessitated by an emergency;

5. Only passenger vehicles may be parked in a street. Any other vehicle, or item associated with vehicles, such as, for example, boats, campers, recreational vehicles, snow mobiles or utility trailers may be parked on private property but must be set back ten feet from the street and inside the property. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.030 Unattended vehicle.

A. No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key and effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any perceptible grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the street.

B. The most recent driver of a motor vehicle which the driver has left standing unattended, who learns that the vehicle has become set in motion and has struck another vehicle or property, or has caused injury to any person, shall comply with the requirements of:

1. RCW 46.52.010 if their vehicle strikes an unattended vehicle or property adjacent to a street; or

2. RCW 46.52.020 if their vehicle causes damage to an attended vehicle or other property or injury to any person.

C. Any person failing to comply with subsection (B)(2) of this section shall be subject to the sanctions set forth in RCW 46.52.020. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.040 Additional parking regulations.

A. The Mayor may exercise the powers and duties of traffic engineer as authorized pursuant to Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 308-330-265 and 308-330-270, and may establish regulations governing the parking of vehicles on streets, including, but not limited to, regulations:

1. Designating either or both sides of any street, or any portion thereof, as a "no parking zone";

2. Prescribing limits on the length of time any vehicle may be parked on any street, or any portion thereof;

3. Determining upon which streets or portions thereof vehicles shall be angle parked, as distinguished from parallel parked, and the direction in which vehicles shall be so angle parked; and

4. Establishing the issuance of permits for residential parking.

B. Any regulation adopted pursuant to the authority of subsection (A) of this section shall be effective upon the installation of signs or markings that provide notice of the regulation. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.050 Parking time limits.

A. Vehicles may not be parked or stood at any time on any day between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. for a longer continuous time than two hours on any of the following streets:

1. Central Avenue S. between C Street and F Street;

2. C Street between 1st Avenue SW and Central Avenue S;

3. D Street between 1st Avenue SW and 1st Avenue SE;

4. E Street between Central Avenue S. and 1st Avenue SE.

B. Vehicles may not be parked upon any street for a period exceeding two hundred forty hours, regardless of any other regulation then in effect. When any vehicle is parked or stands for a period exceeding two hundred forty hours, the vehicle shall be deemed to constitute a hazard or obstruction to traffic or an abandoned vehicle and may be impounded. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.060 Interference with disabled parking.

The provisions of RCW 46.61.581 through 46.61.583, relating to parking for persons with disabilities, and as the same may be amended, is adopted by this reference. No person may stop, stand or park a vehicle in a space as designated for disabled persons, unless the vehicle is clearly designated with the international symbol of access, as described under RCW 70.92.120. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.070 Parking prohibited to enable the City to conduct snow removal operations and regular street maintenance – Violation – Towing.

A. Parking Prohibited – Duration.

1. Whenever the Mayor finds, on the basis of falling snow, sleet or freezing rain, or on the basis of a forecast by the U.S. Weather Bureau of snow, sleet or freezing rain, that weather conditions will make it necessary that vehicle traffic be expedited and that parking on City streets be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing and other purposes, the Mayor may put into effect a parking prohibition on parts of or all streets as necessary by declaring it in a manner prescribed by this section.

2. While the prohibition of this subsection is in effect, no person shall park or allow to remain parked any vehicle on any portion of a street to which it applies. Once in effect, a parking prohibition under this subsection shall remain in effect until terminated by announcement by the Mayor in accordance with this section, except that any street area which has become substantially clear of snow and ice from curb to curb for the entire length of the block shall be automatically excluded therefrom. However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit parking at any time or place where it is prohibited by any other provision of law.

B. Parking Prohibition – Declaration Required.

1. To implement the parking prohibitions set out in subsection (A) of this section, the Mayor shall cause a declaration to be publicly announced by means of radio broadcast from all local stations with a normal operating range covering the City, and to cause such declaration to be further announced in newspapers of general circulation when feasible, and in any other manner deemed reasonable in the Mayor’s discretion. Each announcement shall describe the action taken by the City, including the time it became or will become effective, and shall specify the streets or areas affected. A parking prohibition declared by the Mayor shall not go into effect until at least four hours after it has been announced at least three times at thirty minute intervals between six a.m. and eleven p.m. in accordance with this section.

2. The Mayor shall make or cause to be made a record of each time and date when any declaration is announced to the public in accordance with this section.

C. Termination of Parking Prohibition. Whenever the Mayor finds that some or all of the conditions which give rise to a parking prohibition in effect pursuant to this section no longer exist, the Mayor may declare the prohibition terminated, in whole or in part, in a manner prescribed by this section, effective immediately upon announcement.

D. Permanent Parking Restrictions for Certain Areas. Notwithstanding the contrary provisions of the foregoing subsections, no person may park or stand a vehicle during the following periods: any time on any day between the hours of three a.m. and six a.m. during that period of time beginning November 1st of any year and continuing through the following March 31st of the following year, unless extended by the City Council; or on Fridays between the hours of three a.m. and six a.m. during that period of time between April 1st and October 31st. Said restrictions shall apply to the streets, or portions thereof, listed below:

1. Central Avenue: Hwy 28 to Division Street;

2. D Street SE: Central Avenue to 1st Avenue SE;

3. D Street SW: Central Avenue to 1st Avenue SW;

4. C Street SW: Central Avenue to 1st Avenue SW;

5. E Street SE: Central Avenue to 2nd Avenue SE;

6. H Street SW: 1st Avenue SW to 2nd Avenue SW.

E. Parked Vehicles – Removal by Police – Authorized Procedure.

1. Members of the Police Department are authorized to remove or have removed a motor vehicle from the street as an unauthorized vehicle according to the provisions of Chapter 46.55 RCW, when the motor vehicle is parked on a part of a street on which a parking prohibition is in effect. The violation of any parking prohibition contained in this section shall constitute an obstruction of traffic, and otherwise jeopardizes public safety.

2. Whenever a Police Officer removes or has removed a vehicle from a street, as authorized in this section, and the Police Officer knows or is able to ascertain from the registration records in the vehicle the name and address of the owner thereof, such Police Officer shall immediately give or cause to be given notice orally and/or in writing to such owner of the fact of such removal and the reasons therefor and of the place to which such vehicle has been removed. A copy of such notice shall be given to the proprietor of the place of business where the motor vehicle has been stored.

3. It shall be the duty of the Police Department to keep a record of each motor vehicle removed in accordance with this section. The record shall include a description of the motor vehicle, its license number, the date and time of its removal, where it was removed, its location, the name and address of its owner and last operator, if known, its final disposition, and the parking infraction involved.

4. This section shall be supplemental to any other provisions of law granting members of the Police Department authority to remove motor vehicles. The applicable requirements of Chapter 46.55 RCW are incorporated into this chapter.

F. Payment of Costs of Removal and Storage. In addition to the penalties set out in this chapter, in the event a person has parked or stood a vehicle during the times and at the places set out in this section, the City may cause the vehicle to be towed to a place of keeping, from time to time designated by the Chief of Police, pursuant to the applicable provisions of Chapter 46.55 RCW. The owner of the vehicle desiring to redeem the same shall pay to the keeper thereof reasonable charges for the towing and storage thereof. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.080 Removal of vehicles by law enforcement officers.

The provisions of RCW 46.55.113, authorizing police officers to impound or remove vehicles under certain circumstances, and as the same may be amended, is adopted. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.090 Presumption of ownership.

In any prosecution charging a violation of any law or regulation governing the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle, proof that the particular vehicle described in the complaint was stopping, standing, or parking in violation of any such law or regulation, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was at the time of such violation the registered owner of such vehicle, shall constitute in evidence a prima facie presumption 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. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))

10.50.100 Penalties.

A. Failure to comply with any parking restriction set out in this chapter is an infraction and shall be cited under the applicable section of this chapter, and shall be subject to the following penalties as they are defined in Section 1.01.118:

 

Violation

Penalty

Amount1

1

Parking in a space designated for disabled parking without appropriate (10.50.060)

C-4

$250.00

2

Parking in violation of snow removal instructions (10.50.070)

C-4

$100.00

3

All other violations of Chapter 10.50

C-9

$75.00

1    The penalty amount is shown as of the amount assigned under the penalty schedule in Section 1.01.118 on the effective date of the ordinance adopting this section.

B. Violators shall respond to a Notice of Infraction within fifteen days of the date the Notice of Infraction is issued by:

1. Paying the penalty for each infraction cited on the notice of infraction; or

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

C. If no response or payment is made within fifteen calendar days of the date of the issuance of the notice of infraction, the court shall mail a delinquency notice to the registered owner of the vehicle to which the notice was affixed, informing them of the violation.

D. If no response or payment is made within ten calendar days of the date of mailing of the delinquency notice, the court may attach additional penalties to the infraction including a notice to the Washington State Department of Licensing, and the City may pursue such other remedies as provided by ordinance. (Ord 13-322 §3 (Ex A))