§ 20-31. General restrictions.

(a)

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 traffic and with the right-hand wheels of the vehicle within 12 inches of the edge of the roadway, except as provided in this subsection. Upon a street which has been marked or a sign erected for angle parking, a vehicle shall be parked at the angle to the curb indicated by such mark or sign.

(b)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places:

(1)

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

(2)

On a sidewalk.

(3)

Within an intersection.

(4)

On a crosswalk.

(5)

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 the state department of transportation indicates a different length by signs or markings.

(6)

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

(7)

Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel.

(8)

On any railroad tracks.

(9)

On a bicycle path.

(10)

At any place where official traffic control devices prohibit stopping.

(11)

On the roadway or shoulder of a limited access facility, except as provided by regulation of the state department of transportation, or on the paved portion of a connecting ramp; except that a vehicle which is disabled or in a condition improper to be driven as a result of mechanical failure or crash may be parked on such shoulder for a period not to exceed six hours. This provision is not applicable to a person stopping a vehicle to render aid to an injured person or assistance to a disabled vehicle in obedience to the directions of a law enforcement officer or to a person stopping a vehicle in compliance with applicable traffic laws.

(12)

For the purpose of loading or unloading a passenger on the paved roadway or shoulder of a limited access facility or on the paved portion of any connecting ramp. This provision is not applicable to a person stopping a vehicle to render aid to an injured person or assistance to a disabled vehicle.

(13)

At any place in such a manner so as to block access to commercial refuse containers.

(c)

No person shall stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers:

(1)

In front of a public or private driveway.

(2)

Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

(3)

Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.

(4)

Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.

(5)

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 such entrance (when property signposted).

(6)

On an exclusive bicycle lane.

(7)

At any place where official traffic control devices prohibit standing.

(d)

No person shall park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading merchandise or passengers:

(1)

Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing unless the state department of transportation establishes a different distance due to unusual circumstances.

(2)

At any place where official signs prohibit parking.

(e)

No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his control into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such a distance as is unlawful.

(f)

A law enforcement officer or parking enforcement specialist who discovers a vehicle parked in violation of this section or a municipal or county ordinance may:

(1)

Issue a ticket form as may be used by a political subdivision or municipality to the driver; or

(2)

If the vehicle is unattended, attach such ticket to the vehicle in a conspicuous place, except that the uniform traffic citation prepared by the department pursuant to F.S. § 316.650 may not be issued by being attached to an unattended vehicle.

The uniform traffic citation prepared by the state department of highway safety and motor vehicles pursuant to F.S. § 316.650 may not be issued for violation of a municipal parking ordinance.

(g)

A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in F.S. ch. 318.

(h)

When a sign prohibiting parking is erected upon the approach to a hazardous or congested place, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any such designated place.

(i)

It shall be unlawful for the responsible person as defined in F.S. § 316.1967(1) to neglect to answer the charge set forth in a parking violation notice affixed to a motor vehicle by a police officer or parking enforcement officer.

(j)

A violation of subsection (i) of this section shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation and shall not be construed to be merged with or a part of the original parking violation.

(Code 1991, § 5-26; Ord. of 1-5-1977, §§ A—C; Ord. of 12-13-1983, § 1; Ord. of 1-24-1985, § I)

State law reference

Penalties for certain parking violations, F.S. § 316.008(5); stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places, F.S. § 316.1945; additional parking regulations, F.S. § 316.195; parking for certain purposes prohibited, F.S. § 3116.1951; liability for payment of parking ticket violations, F.S. § 316.1967.