Chapter 46.30
STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING

Sections:

46.30.010    Short title.

46.30.020    Definitions.

46.30.030    Purpose.

46.30.040    Regulations not exclusive.

46.30.050    Parking an unlicensed vehicle.

46.30.060    Seventy-two-hour parking limit.

46.30.070    Prohibited parking places.

46.30.080    Parking next to mail boxes.

46.30.085    Enhanced penalties for civil parking infractions.

46.30.090    Miscellaneous crimes.

46.30.010 Short title.

This chapter may be known and cited as the parking ordinance. (Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2012-323 § 1)

46.30.020 Definitions.

(1) The definitions of words and phrases contained in Chapter 46.04 RCW, for the purpose of this chapter, have the same meanings ascribed to the words and phrases therein.

(2) The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, unless where used the context thereof clearly indicates to the contrary:

(a) “Bicycle lane” means the portion of the travel way for the movement of bicycles either designated by pavement markings or signage.

(b) “Street” means and includes streets, avenues, ways, boulevards, drives, highways and all places, except alleys, open to the public for the use of vehicles.

(c) “Collective mail box” means five or more individual mail boxes grouped together in one single location for mail delivery. (Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2012-323 § 1)

46.30.030 Purpose.

The provisions of this chapter prohibiting the standing or parking of vehicles shall apply at all times or at those times specified in this chapter or as indicated on official signs 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, traffic control flagger, or official traffic control device. (Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2012-323 § 1)

46.30.040 Regulations not exclusive.

The provisions of this chapter imposing parking restrictions shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions prohibiting or limiting the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times. (Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2012-323 § 1)

46.30.050 Parking an unlicensed vehicle.

(1) It is a civil infraction to stop, stand or park a vehicle on a street, highway or public property within the City limits of the City unless such vehicle possesses a proper and current vehicle license plate or plates, and such plate or plates are properly mounted thereon in accordance with the State of Washington Department of Licensing rules and regulations.

(2) It is a civil infraction to stop, stand or park a vehicle on a street, highway or public property within the City limits of the City without current, properly displayed month and year license tabs. (Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2015-386 § 1; Ord. O2012-323 § 1)

46.30.060 Seventy-two-hour parking limit.

No person having charge of any vehicle shall permit such vehicle to stand or to be parked in any street in the City for more than 72 hours consecutively. Violation of this section is a civil infraction. (Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2015-386 § 2; Ord. O2012-323 § 1)

46.30.070 Prohibited parking places.

(1) RCW 46.61.570 (Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places – Reserving portion of highway prohibited) and 46.61.575 (Additional parking regulations), as currently adopted and hereinafter amended, are hereby adopted by reference.

(2) No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the travel portion of any street or upon a marked bicycle lane. The travel portion of any street, for the purposes of this section, shall include any street median, center, merge or turn lane.

(a) This subsection (2) does not apply to:

(i) 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.

(ii) The driver of any vehicle that is following the direction of a police officer, traffic control flagger, traffic control sign, traffic control signal, or other official traffic control device.

(iii) The driver of a public transit vehicle who temporarily stops the vehicle upon the street 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.

(iv) The driver of a City-owned or approved vehicle or public utility vehicle that is being used to provide a service for the public.

(v) The driver of an emergency vehicle.

(3) Violation of this section is a civil infraction. The fine for a violation of this section is $71.00. (Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2015-386 § 3; Ord. O2012-323 § 1)

46.30.080 Parking next to mail boxes.

No person shall park directly adjacent to a curbside next to any clearly visible residential mail box between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on any day of scheduled mail delivery by the United States Postal Service.

No owner, driver or other person having charge of any vehicle shall permit such vehicle to be parked within five feet on either side of any clearly visible collective mail box.

Unless otherwise set out in applicable law or court rule, any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction. (Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2012-323 § 1)

46.30.085 Enhanced penalties for civil parking infractions.

Failure to timely respond to a notice of civil infraction for any parking violation within 15 days of receipt of the notice of civil infraction shall result in (1) an additional fine of $25.00 for each separate parking infraction cited on the notice of civil infraction, and (2) the loss of the right to a hearing on the underlying parking infraction or infractions. (Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2015-386 § 4)

46.30.090 Miscellaneous crimes.

The following provisions of the King County Code as presently constituted or hereafter amended are adopted by reference:

KCC

17.04.420(J)    Violation – Civil infraction.

17.04.420(K)    Violation – Civil penalty.

17.04.420(L)    Impoundment.

Except that KCC 17.04.420(J) is amended to read as follows:

J. Violation – Civil infraction. Any person who fails to mark or maintain the marking of a designated fire lane as prescribed in this chapter, or who parks a vehicle in, allows the parking of a vehicle in, obstructs, or allows the obstruction of a designated fire lane commits a civil infraction to which the provisions of Chapter 7.80 RCW shall apply. The penalty for failing to mark or maintain the marking of a designated fire lane shall be one hundred fifty dollars per day. The penalty for parking a vehicle in, allowing the parking of a vehicle in, obstructing, or allowing the obstruction of a designated fire lane shall be two hundred fifty dollars.

(Ord. O2017-451 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2012-323 § 1)