[HISTORY: Adopted as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Abandoned vehicles — See Ch. 190.
[Adopted by the STM 10-25-1999[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This resolution also repealed former Art.
I, Parking During Snow Emergencies, adopted by the STM 5-18-1981.
A.
Authority to adopt rules, regulations and restrictions. The Traffic
Authority is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt such rules,
regulations and restrictions relative to the routing of traffic and
the parking of vehicles not inconsistent with the statutes of the
State of Connecticut or this section which, in its judgment, may be
deemed necessary for the proper regulation and control of vehicular
traffic upon town roads and on town owned or operated property within
the town and for the safety and convenience of the public.
B.
Erection and maintenance of signs. The Traffic Authority is further
authorized and empowered to erect and maintain signs in each town
road and on town owned or operated property designating the time or
terms of such regulations or restrictions on any town road or town
owned or operated property coming under the jurisdiction of the town
and the Traffic Authority.
C.
Authority to remove abandoned vehicles. The Traffic Authority is
further authorized and empowered to cause the removal from any town
road or town owned or operated property any abandoned or unregistered
motor vehicles or motor vehicles which are a menace to traffic or
public health or safety. In doing so, the procedure for such removal
is as set forth in Section 14-145 or Section 14-150 of the Connecticut
General Statutes, as applicable.
D.
Authority to adopt and amend schedule of fines. The Traffic Authority
is further authorized and empowered to adopt and amend, as necessary,
a schedule of fines for violations of the provisions of this section
and/or the rules, regulations or restrictions adopted by the Traffic
Authority pursuant to this section. In adopting said schedule of fines,
the Board of Selectmen shall give due consideration to the gravity
of the violation and the danger posed thereby to public safety. No
fine shall be less than $5 nor more than $99 for any single violation.
E.
Filing and publishing schedule of fines and rules, regulations and
restriction. The Traffic Authority shall file with the Town Clerk
any schedule of fines, rules, regulations and restrictions adopted
or amended pursuant to this section and shall publish same in a newspaper
having a substantial circulation in the town. Said fines, rules, regulations
and restrictions shall become effective on the date they are filed
with the Town Clerk.
Unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, the
following words and phrases, as used in this article, shall have the
following meanings:
Includes any vehicle designed or used for the transportation
of merchandise or freight in excess of 12,000 pounds.
That portion of a highway ordinarily included within the
prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections,
or any portion of a highway distinctly indicated as a crossing for
pedestrians by lines or other markings on the surface.
Includes the boundary of the traveled portion of any highway,
whether marked by a curbstone or not so marked.
An area designated for use by emergency vehicles only.
Includes any public road or place (and the attendant sidewalks
or walkways) under the control of the Town of Bethany dedicated, appropriated
or opened to public travel or other use, including parking lots and
areas open for public parking which are owned or are under the authority,
control or operation of the town and any of its various departments
or agencies.
The area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral
curblines of two or more highways which join one another at an angle,
whether or not one such highway crosses the other.
Any device for conveyance, drawing or other transportation
of any person or property, including any automobile, truck or motorcycle
powered by gasoline or diesel engine or electric battery.
Any person, firm, corporation or association holding title
to a motor vehicle or having legal right to register the same, including
purchasers under conditional bills of sale.
A motor vehicle, occupied or not, in a stationary position
within the limits of a town owned or operated property, other than
those vehicles stopped temporarily for the purposes of and while actually
engaged in receiving or discharging passengers or loading or unloading
merchandise or stopped for any traffic regulations, traffic signs
or signals.
The number assigned by the state to a motor vehicle, whether
or not such number includes a letter or letters.
That portion of a highway immediately adjacent and contiguous
to the travel lanes or main traveled portion of the roadway.
Includes all municipal buildings and facilities and parking
areas adjacent thereto or serving those buildings and facilities;
all municipal recreation areas; and all school and related buildings,
facilities, parking lots and parking areas, playing fields and recreation
areas.
No vehicle shall be permitted to remain stationary on any highway
or town owned or operated property within the Town of Bethany in any
of the following places:
A.
Within 15 feet of any pressure fire hydrant, dry hydrant or any water
source marked by the fire department.
B.
Upon the traveled portion of any highway, except upon the right-hand
side of such highway in the direction in which such vehicle is headed.
C.
Within an intersection.
D.
Within 25 feet of an intersection.
E.
Within 25 feet of a marked crosswalk.
F.
Within 25 feet of a stop sign caused to be erected in accordance
with the provisions of § 14-301 of the Connecticut General
Statues.
G.
On the wrong side of the street.
H.
Double parked.
I.
In front of or so as to obstruct or interfere with the ingress or
egress from any private driveway without the permission of the owner
of such driveway. (Such parking or stationary position of any vehicle
with such permission shall be subject to existing parking regulations.)
J.
Upon any public sidewalk or walkway except to cross such sidewalk
or walkway to enter or leave adjacent areas or to perform necessary
sidewalk construction, maintenance or snow removal.
K.
Within the limits of a public highway or on town owned or operated
property in such a manner as to constitute a menace to traffic or
public health or safety or obstruct free movement of traffic thereon
or otherwise interfere with the use and enjoyment of such highway
or town owned or operated property; however, a vehicle which becomes
disabled to such an extent that it is impossible or impractical to
remove it may be permitted to remain for a reasonable time for the
purpose of making repairs thereto or of obtaining sufficient assistance
to remove it.
L.
In a marked handicapped parking space without a proper identification
card or license plate.
M.
In a marked loading zone.
N.
In a fire lane.
O.
In any area which is posted "No Parking" or in any highway or town
owned or operated property where parking is not permitted.
P.
If such highway is curbed, further away than 12 inches from the curb,
unless safety requires otherwise.
Q.
If it is a commercial vehicle or truck, except for the purpose of
delivery, service or service calls, in a residential zone.
R.
In any area where the Traffic Authority has determined by regulation
that the keeping of a vehicle stationary is dangerous to the public
safety and a sign has been posted.
S.
In violation of any pavement marking or parking restrictions or reservations
posted and applicable to a given highway or town owned or operated
property or the parking spaces located there.
T.
In temporary snow removal areas.
U.
In other than a highway or other town owned or operated property
where parking is permitted.
V.
In any manner which is dangerous to the public safety.
W.
Parking at Veterans Park facility without the Town of Bethany-issued
sticker; fine amount to be established by the Board of Selectmen.
[Amended 7-27-2017 STM]
A.
No vehicle may stand or park on any highway within the town or on
town owned or operated property in such a manner as to constitute
a menace to traffic or public health or safety or be an obstacle to
the convenient clearing of any parking lot during the time of falling
snow, sleet or freezing rain, flooding conditions or other dangerous
weather conditions or to hamper or interfere with the effective removal
or plowing of snow or removal of ice from said highway or the sanding
of ice on said highway.
B.
Any vehicle violating the provisions of Subsection A above is hereby declared to be a menace to traffic and to public health and safety and dangerous to the general welfare of the public. However, any vehicle properly standing or parked in any town owned or operated parking lot during normal business hours, including during any regularly scheduled or town authorized nighttime or weekend meetings, may remain until the termination of such business hours or such meeting. If, however, the building serviced by the town owned or operated parking lot is closed early by virtue of a declared snow emergency or shortened business hours instituted to respond to falling snow, sleet, freezing rain, flooding or other dangerous weather condition, all vehicles must be promptly removed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
C.
In any prosecution or proceeding under the provision of this section,
the registered owner of any such vehicle shall, prime facie, be presumed
to have parked or to have authorized the parking of said vehicle in
violation of this section.
D.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall,
upon conviction, pay a fine as set forth on the schedule of fines
adopted by the Traffic Authority.
E.
In addition to the foregoing penalty, such vehicle left standing
on the highway in violation of this section may be removed in accordance
with Section 14-150 of Connecticut General Statutes.
A.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to emergency vehicles
or maintenance vehicles displaying flashing lights.
B.
The provisions of this article do not prohibit a vehicle from stopping
or being held stationary at the direction or with the permission of
a town official or officer having control, jurisdiction or responsibility
for the particular highway or town owned or operated property.
C.
The provisions of this article shall be suspended as necessary in
an emergency to avoid an accident or, in the event of an accident,
when necessary to give a right-of-way to any vehicle or pedestrian.
A.
Fines and penalties.
(1)
Whenever any vehicle shall be found parked in violation of this article
or the regulations made pursuant to this article, any person authorized
to issue tickets, summons or infractions under the authority of the
Connecticut General Statutes may issue such ticket, summons or infraction
for such violation.
(2)
A fine (noted on the ticket) shall be payable to the Town of Bethany
and remitted to the Town of Bethany within seven calendar days of
the ticket date. If any fine is not paid within seven calendar days,
a penalty in an amount equal to the fine shall immediately become
due and payable in addition to the original fine and a warrant may
be issued for the arrest of the violator.
(3)
The registered owner of any vehicle parked in violation of this article
shall be presumed to be its operator at the time of the issuance of
a ticket.
(4)
The adoption of this article shall not preclude the enforcement,
by properly authorized officials, of the like provisions of the Connecticut
General Statutes.
B.
Towing and impoundment. The town may cause the removal and impoundment
of any vehicle from any highway or town owned or operated property
when such vehicle is parked in violation of any regulation of the
State Traffic Commission or any town rule, regulations, order or ordinance.
The expense and cost of such removal and impoundment shall be borne
by the owner of the vehicle and shall be a lien upon the vehicle,
payment of which will not release the owner of liability for the underlying
violation.
C.
Hearing procedure for parking violations. The hearing procedure for parking violations, as set forth in Section 7-152b of the Connecticut General Statutes, is hereby adopted by the town as its hearing procedure. The Traffic Authority is hereby directed to implement and follow said procedure in the enforcement of § 194-3. However, the procedure set forth in § 194-1C concerning abandonment or unregistered motor vehicles and motor vehicles, which are a menace to traffic or public health or safety, shall be utilized specifically for those violations.
D.
The Board of Selectmen shall be permitted to establish a parking
ticket fine collection procedure through the Central Infraction Bureau
of the State of Connecticut.
[Added 7-27-2017 STM]
