PART FOUR — TRAFFIC CODE
Title VII — Parking
Chapter 451 — Parking Generally
Complete to June 30, 2010
CROSS REFERENCES
See sectional histories for similar State law.
Parking waste collection vehicles restricted,CO 203.08
Parking commercial vehicles in residential districts,CO 349.13
Downtown area parking,CO 403.04
Parking near stopped fire apparatus,CO 431.27
Lights on parked or stopped vehicles,CO 437.09
Restrictions on driving and parking in parks,CO 559.60
Airport parking areas,CO 571.37et seq.
Abandoned vehicles prohibited at airports,CO 571.40
Placing handbills' on vehicles,CO 613.12
451.01Officer May Remove Ignition Key
A law enforcement officer may remove the ignition key left in the ignition switch of an unlocked and unattended motor vehicle parked on a street or highway, or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking. The officer removing such key shall place notification upon the vehicle detailing his name and badge number, the place where such key may be reclaimed and the procedure for reclaiming such key. The key shall be returned to the owner of the motor vehicle upon presentation of proof of ownership. /hc/(RC 4549.05; Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
451.02Prima-Facie Evidence of Unlawful Parking
In any hearing of the Municipal Court on a charge of unlawful stopping, standing or parking of a motor vehicle, testimony that a vehicle bearing a certain license was found to be unlawfully stopping, standing or parking in violation of any of the provisions of the Traffic Code, and further testimony that the records of the Ohio Registrar or the Deputy Registrar of Motor Vehicles show that such license plate was issued to the defendant shall be prima-facie evidence that the vehicle which was so stopping, standing or parking was operated by the defendant at the time of the violation. A certified copy showing such fact of registration from the Registrar or Deputy Registrar or a computer printout from the Law Enforcement Automated Data System shall be proof of such ownership.
(Ord. No. 3038-78. Passed 4-30-79, eff. 5-1-79)
451.03Statutory Prohibited Standing or Parking Places
No person shall stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to comply with the provisions of this Traffic Code, or while obeying the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device, in any of the following places:
(a) On a sidewalk, except a bicycle;
(b) In front of a public or private driveway or within 2 1/2 feet (30 inches);
(c) Within an intersection;
(d) Within ten feet of a fire hydrant;
(e) On a crosswalk;
(f) Within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection or within twenty feet of a crosswalk located within the block where a school is located during regular school hours;
(g) Within thirty feet of, and upon the approach to, any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control device;
(h) Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the end of a safety zone, unless a different length is indicated by a traffic control device;
(i) Within fifty feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;
(j) Within twenty feet of a driveway entrance to any fire station and, on the side of the street opposite the entrance to any fire station, within seventy-five feet of the entrance when it is properly posted with signs;
(k) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such standing or parking would obstruct traffic;
(l) Alongside any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;
(m) Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a street, or within a street tunnel;
(n) At any place where signs prohibit stopping, standing or parking, or at any place in excess of the maximum time limited by signs;
(o) Within one foot of another parked vehicle;
(p) On the roadway portion of a freeway, expressway, thruway or controlled-access highway.
(RC 4511.68; Ord. No. 2468-83. Passed 6-11-84, eff. 6-15-84)
451.04Manner of Parallel Parking
(a) Every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway where there is an adjacent curb shall be stopped or parked with the curb side wheels of such vehicle parallel with and not more than twelve inches from the curb, unless it is impossible to approach so close to the curb; in such case the stop shall be as close to the curb as possible and only for the time necessary to discharge and receive passengers or to load or unload merchandise.
(b) This section does not apply to streets or parts thereof where angle parking is lawfully permitted. However, no angle parking shall be permitted on a State Route unless an unoccupied roadway width of not less than twenty-five feet is available for free-moving traffic.
(c) No vehicle shall be stopped or parked on a road or street with the vehicle facing in a direction other than the direction of travel on that side of the road or street.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code or any rule, air compressors, tractors, trucks and other equipment, while being used in the construction, reconstruction, installation, repair or removal of facilities near, on, over or under a street, may stop, stand or park where necessary in order to perform such work, provided a flagman is on duty, or warning signs or lights are displayed as may be prescribed by the Ohio Director of Transportation.
(RC 4511.69; Ord. No. 70-87. Passed 3-16-87, eff. 3-20-87)
451.041Physically Handicapped Parking
(a) (1) As used in this section, "handicapped person" means any person who has lost the use of one or both legs, or one or both arms, who is blind, deaf or so severely handicapped as to be unable to move about without the aid of crutches or a wheelchair, or whose mobility is restricted by a permanent cardiovascular, pulmonary or other handicapping condition. (RC 4503.44)
(2) "Special license plates" and "removable windshield placard" mean any license plates or removable windshield placard or temporary removable windshield placard issued under RC 4503.41 or RC 4503.44, and also mean any substantially similar license plates or removable windshield placard or temporary removable windshield placard issued by a state, district, country or sovereignty. (RC 4511.69)
(b) When a motor vehicle is being operated by or for the transport of a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk and is displaying a removable windshield placard or a temporary removable windshield placard or special license plates, or when a motor vehicle is being operated by or for the transport of a handicapped person and is displaying a removable windshield placard or a temporary removable windshield placard or special license plates, the motor vehicle shall be permitted to park for a period of two hours in excess of the legal parking period permitted by ordinances or regulations, except where such ordinances or regulations specifically provided otherwise or where the vehicle is parked in such manner as to be clearly a traffic hazard.
(c) Special off-street parking locations and privileges for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, shall be provided and designated by the City and all agencies and instrumentalities thereof at all offices and facilities, where off-street parking is provided, whether owned, rented or leased, and at all publicly owned parking garages. The locations shall be designated through the posting of an elevated sign, whether permanently affixed or movable, imprinted with the international symbol of access and shall be mounted at a distance from the ground to the top edge of the sign of five feet. Such locations shall be reasonably close to exits, entrances, elevators and ramps.
(d) Special reserved on-street parking locations and privileges for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, shall be provided upon full compliance with the following requirements:
(1) An investigation determining need for proposed reserved on-street parking for the handicapped must be performed through the Division of Traffic Engineering, including verification that the proposed on-street parking location meets the requirements of this section. The Commissioner of Traffic Engineering must approve the on-street parking for practicality and feasibility of traffic operations. Upon completion of the investigation and the approval of the Commissioner of Traffic Engineering, the Director of Public Safety may designate reserved on-street parking for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, in accordance with the requirements of Section 403.03.
(2) When applying for an on-street parking space for the exclusive use by persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, the following information shall be supplied by the applicant to the City and shall be used as criteria for determining the appropriate location for a handicapped parking space:
A. The nature and use of adjacent buildings;
B. The number of on-street parking spaces requested, with the maximum requested spaces not to exceed three (3) adjacent or contiguous spaces;
C. Any other information which the Director of Public Safety or Commissioner of Traffic Engineering may require.
(3) Reserved on-street parking spaces for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, shall not be provided at any location where off-street parking locations and privileges for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, are available in close proximity to the proposed on-street parking location.
(4) Reserved on-street parking spaces for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, shall be located as close as practicable to educational institutions, government buildings, hospitals, medical centers, cultural institutions and recreational facilities.
(5) Reserved on-street parking spaces shall not be provided at any location where parking is prohibited by ordinance.
(6) Reserved on-street parking for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, in residential areas may be provided upon satisfying the requirements found in divisions (d)(1), (2), (3) and (5) of this section.
(e) Any handicapped person as defined in division (a) of this section or any property owner may request that a parking space be designated as reserved for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces. Approval of the property owner adjacent to the proposed parking space must be obtained prior to the handicap designation. All requests for designations shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Traffic Engineering. Following the designation of a parking space as reserved for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, by the Director of Public Safety, the Division of Traffic Engineering shall install a sign or signs indicating that an on-street parking space is reserved for the exclusive use of handicapped persons.
(f) When a motor vehicle is being operated by or for the transport of a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk and is displaying a removable windshield placard or a temporary removable windshield placard or special license plates, or when a motor vehicle is being operated by or for the transport of a handicapped person and is displaying a removable windshield placard or a temporary removable windshield placard or special license plates, the motor vehicle shall be permitted to park in any reserved on-street parking space for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, for a period of two hours in excess of the legal parking period permitted in adjacent parking spaces by ordinances or regulations, except where such ordinance or regulation specifically provides otherwise or where the vehicle is parked in such a manner as to be clearly a traffic hazard.
(g) The Chief of Police or his designee, in his discretion, may limit or temporarily suspend any of the parking privileges specified in this section to cover emergencies or special events and may impose any other restriction deemed necessary in the interest of traffic safety and control.
(h) No person shall stop, stand or park any motor vehicle at special parking locations provided for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, under this section or at special, clearly marked, parking locations provided for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicapped parking spaces or disability parking spaces, in or on privately owned parking lots, parking garages or other parking areas, unless the motor vehicle is being operated by or for the transport of a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk and is displaying a removable windshield placard or a temporary removable windshield placard or special license plates, or when a motor vehicle is being operated by or for the transport of a handicapped person and is displaying a removable windshield placard or a temporary removable windshield placard or special license plates.
(Ord. No. 91-96. Passed 3-18-96, eff. 3-26-96)
451.05Manner of Angle Parking
Upon streets where angle parking is permitted, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway as is indicated by appropriate signs or markings and entirely within the limits of a space designated by marked lines.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
451.06Unattended Vehicle: Duty to Stop Engine, Remove Key, Set Brake and Turn Wheels
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 from the ignition, effectively setting the parking brake, and when the motor vehicle is standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.
The requirements of this section relating to the stopping of the engine, locking of the ignition and removing the key from the ignition of a motor vehicle shall not apply to an emergency vehicle or a public safety vehicle.
(RC 4511.661; Ord. No. 1459-78. Passed 11-22-78, eff. 11-30-78)
451.07Opening Vehicle Door on Traffic Side
No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
(RC 4511.70(C); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
451.08Narrow Roadways and Alleys
(a) No person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle upon a street, other than an alley, in such manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic, except that a driver may stop temporarily during the actual loading or unloading of passengers or when necessary in obedience to traffic control devices or signals of a police officer.
(b) No person shall park a vehicle within an alley in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten feet of the width of the roadway for free movement of vehicular traffic.
(c) No person shall stand or park a vehicle on a roadway having less than twenty feet in width.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
451.09Hydrant Side of Street
No person shall stand or park a vehicle upon the side of the street on which fire hydrants are placed, unless the roadway exceeds thirty feet in width, when signs are erected giving notice thereof.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
451.10Hazardous Traffic Obstructions
No person shall stand or park a vehicle within fifty feet of any hazardous or congested place, when such standing, stopping or parking would create or increase such hazard.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
451.11Hospital Grounds
No person shall stand or park a vehicle upon any driveway within the Metropolitan GeneralHospital grounds.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
451.12City Property
No person shall stand or park a vehicle upon any property owned by the City if a sign erected on such property gives notice that such standing or parking is prohibited. In addition, no person shall stand or park a vehicle upon any property owned by the City, even absent any such sign, for more than seventy-two hours.
(Ord. No. 2000-80. Passed 5-18-81, eff. 5-20-81)
451.13Distance from Theaters
No person shall stand or park a vehicle in front of any theater or in front of or within ten feet of any theater exit when such theater is open for business, when signs are erected giving notice thereof.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
451.14Advertising, Displaying for Sale, Washing or Repairing
No person shall stand or park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of:
(a) Advertising.
(b) Displaying such vehicle or any article for sale.
(c) Washing, greasing or repairing such vehicle except repairs necessitated by an emergency.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
451.15Fire Lanes on Public and Private Property
(a) At the request of the Fire Chief, the Director of Public Safety by regulation adopted in the manner provided in Section 403.03 shall designate as fire lanes such streets or parts of streets upon which the standing or parking of vehicles constitutes a hazard or obstruction to the operation of the fire fighting equipment of the City in case of fire. When so designated and upon the erection of signs giving notice thereof, no person, other than members of the safety forces of the City engaged in the performance of duty at a fire, shall stand or park a vehicle within a fire lane.
(b) The Fire Chief shall designate fire lanes on private property open to public use subject to approval of the property owners involved. Signs, approved as to type and location by the Fire Chief, shall be erected at the prorata expense of such property owners. No person shall stand or park a vehicle within a posted fire lane on private property except in an emergency.
(c) No person shall stand or park a vehicle in any private driveway, alleyway or areaway between buildings, when in the opinion of the Fire Chief, such parking constitutes a fire hazard or an obstruction to or interference with operation of the fire fighting equipment of the City and is so posted.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)