Town of Clinton, CT Parking

This article establishes the regulations concerning the parking of vehicles in the Town of Clinton and the enforcement thereof. The policy of this article is to provide for the convenience, comfort and welfare of people who live, work and otherwise travel in and to the Town, to permit traffic safety and efficiency while minimizing or reducing traffic congestion, pollution and nuisance arising out of the unregulated parking of vehicles.

§ 500-7 Authority.

This article is enacted pursuant to the Town's general power so to do, in particular, C.G.S. § 7-148(b), as amended. The Board of Police Commissioners constitutes the Traffic Authority of the Town as defined in C.G.S. § 14-297(6), as amended.

§ 500-8 Powers of Traffic Authority.

[Amended 8-5-2009]

Pursuant to C.G.S. § 14-307, as amended, the Board of Police Commissioners as Traffic Authority shall have the power to prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles and to erect and maintain signs designating the time or terms of such prohibition or restriction on any highway or thoroughfare coming under the jurisdiction of the Town of Clinton.

§ 500-9 Duties of police officers.

Members of the Police Department are hereby authorized to direct all traffic in accordance with the provisions of this article and the statutes of the State of Connecticut, or in emergencies as public safety or convenience may require, and it shall be unlawful for any person to fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order, signal or direction of a policeman.

§ 500-10 Failure to obey traffic signs and signals.

[Amended 8-5-2009]

It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to disobey the instructions of any traffic sign or signal placed in view by the Traffic Authority or in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut except as directed by a policeman as provided for in § 500-9.

§ 500-11 Temporary rules.

The Traffic Authority may from time to time, as the need arises, make temporary rules for the regulation of the parking of vehicles in the Town of Clinton. They shall be posted pursuant to § 500-15 of this article. The violation of such temporary rules shall be a violation of this article.

§ 500-12 Parking or standing prohibited in certain areas.

At any time it shall be unlawful to permit any vehicle to park or stand in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a policeman or traffic control device:

In any intersection.

In a crosswalk.

In a marked fire lane.

Within 25 feet of any intersection or crosswalk.

Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.

At any place where the vehicle would block the use of any driveway.

Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any Fire Department station.

On any sidewalk.

At any place where official signs prohibit parking.

In any parking space designated for the use of handicapped persons if the vehicle and the person operating the vehicle do not comply with the provisions of C.G.S. § 14-253a, as amended.

§ 500-13 On-street parking.

No vehicle shall be parked with the left side of such vehicle next to the curb except on one-way streets, and it shall be unlawful to stand or park any vehicle in a street other than:

Parallel to the curb.

With the two curbside wheels of the vehicle within 12 inches of the regularly established curblines.

Within the lines demarcating a curbside parking space if so marked.

§ 500-14 Parking on private property.

It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle on any private property without the consent of the owner of the property.

§ 500-15 Posting of signs.

[Amended 8-5-2009]

The Traffic Authority shall cause signs to be posted in all areas where parking is limited, restricted or prohibited indicating such limitations, restrictions or prohibitions.

§ 500-16 Enforcement; penalties for offenses.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any provisions of this article shall be fined in accordance with Subsection C following. The fact that an automobile which is illegally parked is registered in the name of a person shall be considered prima facie proof that such person was in control of the automobile at the time of such parking, except to the extent the liability of a lessee under C.G.S. § 14-107, as amended, shall apply.

Any police officer may attach to any vehicle found in violation of this article a notice to the owner or operator that such a vehicle has been parked in violation of law, which notice shall indicate the nature of the violation and instruct such owner or operator to pay the penalty for such violation at the Town of Clinton Police Department headquarters in person or by mailing such notice of violation, with the amount of the penalty, to the Town of Clinton Police Department.

The penalty to be paid pursuant to Subsections A and B above for the violation of any provision of this article shall be set by the Board of Police Commissioners. The highest fine per violation is $25.

§ 500-17 Towing and storage of vehicles.

Any motor vehicle found parked in violation of any state statute or Town of Clinton ordinance shall be towed, if such vehicle has previously been issued six or more Town of Clinton parking tickets which have not been paid.

The vehicle shall be towed under the direction of a member of the Town of Clinton Police Department to a public garage in the Town of Clinton.

Before a vehicle is released to the owner, towing and storage charges shall be paid, and all parking tickets to the Town of Clinton Police Department shall also be paid.