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City of Aberdeen, MD
Harford County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (11) Index Notes (1)
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Commissioners of the Town of Aberdeen (now Mayor and Council of the City of Aberdeen) 4-9-1990 by Ord. No. 359-90; amended in its entirety by the Mayor and Council of the City of Aberdeen 4-14-1997 by Ord. No. 479-97 (Ch. 134 of the 1990 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Junk vehicles — See Ch. 250.
Littering — See Ch. 344.
Parades — See Ch. 402.
Taxicabs — See Ch. 486.
Fees — See Ch. A550.
The Mayor and Council, through the Department of Public Works, in agreement with the Chief of Police, shall have the following powers pursuant to the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland:
A. 
To regulate or prohibit the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles.
B. 
To regulate traffic by means of police officers or traffic control devices and signals.
C. 
To regulate or prohibit processions or assemblies on highways.
D. 
To designate particular highways or separate roadways as one-way highways and require that all vehicles on them move in one specified direction.
E. 
To regulate the speed and weight of vehicles in public parks.
F. 
To designate any highway as a through highway or designate any intersection as a stop intersection or a yield intersection.
G. 
To restrict the use of highways as provided in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, § 24-201 et seq.
H. 
To regulate the operation of skateboards and bicycles, requiring bicycles to be registered and imposing a registration fee.
I. 
To regulate or prohibit the turning of vehicles or specified types of vehicles at intersections.
J. 
To establish speed limits as provided in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, § 21-801 et seq.
K. 
To regulate through truck traffic and prohibiting trucks from using any highway or alley that is not designated or maintained as a part of extension of the state or federal highway system, provided that an adequate alternate route for diverted truck traffic is designated.
L. 
To adopt any other traffic regulations as specifically authorized in the Maryland Vehicle Law.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: See the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, § 11-101 et seq.
M. 
To designate limited parking areas and parking meters.
N. 
To enforce any other applicable provisions of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
O. 
To designate signage or other traffic control devices consistent with the powers and duties cited above.
A. 
The Director of Public Works shall maintain a list of all current streets regulated within the City.
B. 
The Mayor and Council may adopt rules and regulations regarding that implementation of one-way streets, stop signs and other traffic controls and may order the posting of signs consistent with such designations.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any commercial vehicle over 9,000 pounds gross vehicle weight to travel or to park on streets in the City of Aberdeen which are within a residential district or to be stored or parked on residential properties.
[Amended 9-11-2000 by Ord. No. 573-00]
B. 
This section shall not apply to vehicles traveling on roadways within a residential district for the limited purpose of pickup and delivery, servicing residences or for other short-term service-type purpose; to emergency vehicles as defined in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland; or to vehicles owned or operated by any public service company as defined in the Public Utility Companies Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
The following words shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that:
A. 
Is operable or inoperable and left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours.
B. 
Has remained illegally on public property for more than 48 hours.
C. 
Has remained on private property for more than 48 hours without the consent of the property owner or person in control of the property.
MOTOR HOME
A motor vehicle that is designed and constructed primarily to provide living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use as the term is defined in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
[Added 8-23-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-11]
TRAILER or TRAILER-TYPE VEHICLE
Trailers, boat trailers, camping trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, pole trailers, semitrailers, travel trailers and home trailers as those terms are defined in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
[Added 8-23-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-11]
A. 
Abandonment prohibited. A person may not abandon a vehicle:
(1) 
On any public property; or
(2) 
On any property other than his own without the permission of the owner or lessee of the property.
B. 
Presumption of ownership. The last known registered owner of an abandoned vehicle is considered to be the prima facie owner of the vehicle at the time it was abandoned and the person who abandoned it.
C. 
The Aberdeen Police Department may take any abandoned vehicle into custody. The Police Department is authorized to use any towing facility on the Police Department's towing list and registered under § 13-920 of the Transportation Article.
A. 
General rule. The provisions of this chapter apply except as necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device.
B. 
Stopping, standing or parking in front of public driveway. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle in front of a public driveway.
C. 
Sidewalks. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on a sidewalk.
D. 
Intersections. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle in an intersection.
E. 
Crosswalks. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on a crosswalk.
F. 
Safety zones. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle 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 Highway Administration or local authority indicates a different length by signs or markings.
G. 
Highway excavations or obstructions. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle alongside or opposite any highway excavation or obstruction if to do so would obstruct traffic.
H. 
Bridges. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on any bridge or other elevated structure on a highway.
I. 
Places where stopping is prohibited by signs. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle at any place where stopping is prohibited by an official sign.
J. 
Entrance or exit ramps of highways. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on any entrance or exit ramp of any highway with two or more lanes for traffic moving in the same direction.
K. 
Standing or parking. A person may not stand or park a vehicle in front of a private driveway without the consent of the owner or occupant of the premises.
L. 
Fire hydrants. A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
M. 
Standing, etc., within 20 feet of crosswalk at intersection. A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
N. 
Standing, etc., within 30 feet of approach to flashing signals, etc. A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 30 feet of the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.
O. 
Driveway entrances to fire stations. A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station or on the side of a highway opposite the entrance to any fire station, within 75 feet of the entrance, if properly sign posted.
P. 
Parking on Fire Department property. No person shall park or stop a motor vehicle anywhere on the premises of a firehouse without prior authorization from the Fire Department, except Fire Department personnel on official business.
Q. 
Standing or parking vehicles where standing prohibited by sign. A person may not stand or park a vehicle at any place where standing is prohibited by an official sign.
R. 
Standing or parking vehicles alongside of other stopped or parked vehicles. A person may not stand or park a vehicle on the roadway side of any other vehicle that is stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a highway.
S. 
Certain curves or hills. A person may not stand or park a vehicle on a curve or hill where solid lines on the surface of the roadway indicate a zone in which passing is prohibited.
T. 
Parking within 50 feet of railroad grade crossings. A person may not park a vehicle within 50 feet of the nearest rail in a railroad grade crossing.
U. 
Parking spaces designed for the use of individuals with disabilities. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle, unless for the use of an individual with a disability, in a space or zone marked as restricted for the use of individuals with disabilities.
V. 
Parking in front of curb ramp. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle in front of a curb ramp.
W. 
Parking in front of a passenger loading zone. A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle in front of a passenger loading zone designed or marked for the use of individuals with disabilities.
A. 
Manner of parking generally. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a vehicle that is stopped or parked on a two-way roadway shall be stopped or parked parallel to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, with its right-hand wheels within 12 inches of that curb or edge of the roadway.
B. 
Parking on one-way roadway. Except as otherwise provided by local ordinance, a vehicle that is stopped or parked on a one-way roadway shall be stopped or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway, in the direction of authorized traffic movement, with:
(1) 
Its right-hand wheels within 12 inches of the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway; or
(2) 
Its left-hand wheels within 12 inches of the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
C. 
Signs prohibiting or restricting stopping, standing or parking. The City of Aberdeen may place signs that prohibit or restrict the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles on any roadway in its jurisdiction where to stop, stand or park would:
(1) 
Endanger those using the roadway; or
(2) 
Interfere unduly with the free movement of traffic on the roadway.
D. 
Stopping, standing or parking on private property.
(1) 
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on any private property not owned by the owner or driver of the vehicle unless the person has express or implied permission from the property owner, his tenant or his agent to stop, stand or park the vehicle, as the case may be.
(2) 
The City of Aberdeen, upon request of the owner, his agent or his tenant, through a police officer, may issue a citation for a violation of the provisions of this chapter.
E. 
Parking of unregistered vehicles prohibited. A person may not park an unregistered vehicle on a public road, highway, street, avenue, or alley or on private property used by the public in general. Any vehicle that displays expired registration plates or does not display any registration plates is deemed unregistered.
[Added 4-28-2014 by Ord. No. 14-O-09]
F. 
Standing and parking on City-owned parking lots.
[Added 8-23-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-10]
(1) 
A person may not park or stand a vehicle, or leave a vehicle parked or standing, on a City-owned parking lot between the hours of 11:00 p. m. and 5:00 a.m., seven days a week.
(2) 
A vehicle left parked or standing on a City-owned parking lot in violation of Subsection F(1), and in which signage has been erected as required by Subsection F(3), is subject to impoundment at the violator's expense and a fine as specified in § 505-11A.
(3) 
The City Department of Public Works shall erect signage at the entrance to and in one or more other prominent locations in each City-owned parking lot, giving notice:
(a) 
Of the prohibition set forth in Subsection F(1);
(b) 
That vehicles parked or standing on a City-owned parking lot in violation of Subsection F(1) are subject to a fine of $40 and impoundment at the violator's expense; and
(c) 
Of the address and telephone number of the storage facility to which impounded vehicles will be removed.
A. 
Endangering health of animal prohibited. A person may not leave a cat or dog unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the cat or dog.
B. 
Use of reasonable force to remove animal from vehicle. Except as provided in Subsection C of this section, a person may use reasonable force to remove a cat or dog from a motor vehicle in violation of the provisions of Subsection A of this section if the person is:
[Amended 8-23-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-12]
(1) 
A law enforcement officer;
(2) 
A public safety employee of the City of Aberdeen;
(3) 
An animal control officer under the jurisdiction of the state or a local governing body;
(4) 
An officer of a society or association incorporated under the laws of this state for the prevention of cruelty to animals, authorized to make arrests under the provisions of § 10-609 of the Criminal Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland; or
(5) 
A volunteer or professional of a fire and rescue service.
C. 
Exceptions. A person may not use force of any kind to remove from a motor vehicle:
(1) 
A dog used by the state or a local police agency for police work while the dog is on duty; or
(2) 
A cat or dog in the custody of an animal control officer.
D. 
Liability. A person described in Subsection B of this section may not be held liable for any damages directly resulting from actions taken under the provisions of Subsection (b) of § 21-1004.1 of the Transportation Article (Acts 1987, c. 611; Acts 1988, c. 296).
[Amended 7-28-2014 by Ord. No. 14-O-15]
A. 
Rules of operation; violations.
(1) 
The operation of bicycles shall apply to all bicycle operators, as set forth in the Maryland Vehicle Law. Any violation of this section shall be cited in accordance with the Maryland Vehicle Law.
(2) 
It shall be unlawful for any operator of a bicycle or skateboard to ride on any sidewalk in a commercial district.
(3) 
Bicycles and skateboards must be parked, placed and operated in such a manner that they will not interfere with pedestrians or motor vehicle traffic.
(4) 
It shall be unlawful to operate or ride a skateboard on the public streets.
[Added 8-23-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-11[1]]
A. 
The driver or owner of any trailer or trailer-type vehicle may not park, or cause the same to be parked, while attached to a motor vehicle, upon any public street, lane or alley within the City, for more than 48 consecutive hours or more than 10 days total within a calendar year.
B. 
The driver or owner of any trailer or trailer-type vehicle may not park, or cause the same to be parked, while detached from a motor vehicle, upon any public street, lane or alley within the City, for more than 48 consecutive hours or more than 10 days total within a calendar year, except in the event of an emergency. The Chief of Police, or the Chief's designee, may grant exemptions from this Subsection B. In nonresidential-zoned areas only with respect to a specific trailer or trailer-type vehicle to be located at a specified location for a specified length of time, subject to such conditions, requirements and fees as the Chief of Police or the Chief's designee may designate
C. 
The driver or owner of any trailer or trailer-type vehicle may not park, or cause the same to be parked, on any municipal parking lot while detached from a motor vehicle or, if attached to a motor vehicle, when the combined length of the towing vehicle and trailer attached exceeds 19 feet.
D. 
The driver or owner of any trailer or trailer-type vehicle may not park, or cause the same to be parked, in a manner that interferes with or hinders the operation of any authorized emergency vehicle.
E. 
The driver or owner of a motor home wider than 80 inches in width, including all protrusions, except side mirrors and fender flares, or that exceeds 246 inches in length from bumper to bumper, to park, or cause the same to be parked, upon any public street, lane or alley within the City, for more than 48 consecutive hours and 10 days total within a calendar year.
F. 
A violation of this section is a municipal infraction punishable by a fine of $100. Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense.
G. 
A police officer may order the impoundment of a trailer, a trailer-type vehicle or a motor home parked in violation of this section if prior written notice has been provided to the driver or owner that the trailer, trailer-type vehicle or motor home is subject to impoundment if not moved within 24 hours and the location to which the trailer, trailer-type vehicle or motor home will be removed. Notice shall be securely affixed to the trailer, trailer-type vehicle or motor home. Promptly after impoundment, the City shall make and document reasonable efforts to notify the owner as to the location of the trailer, trailer-type vehicle or motor home. The driver or owner of any trailer, trailer-type vehicle or motor home shall be responsible for any towing, impoundment and storage fees incurred.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former § 505-10 as § 505-11.
A. 
Upon violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the Police Department is hereby authorized to issue citations for violations thereof, which shall be subject to the following fines and penalties:
[Amended 4-10-2000 by Ord. No. 566-00; 4-28-2014 by Ord. No. 14-O-09; 9-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-12; 8-23-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-10]
Code Provision
Fine
§ 505-3A, Commercial vehicle weight restriction
$30
§ 505-5A, Abandoned vehicle on public property
$30
§ 505-5A, Abandoned vehicle on private property
$30
§ 505-6B, Stopping, standing, parking in front of public driveway
$25
§ 505-6C, Stopping, standing, parking vehicle on sidewalk
$25
§ 505-6D, Stopping, standing, parking vehicle in intersection
$30
§ 505-6E, Stopping, standing, parking on crosswalk
$30
§ 505-6F, Improper safety zone vehicle parking, stopping, standing
$25
§ 505-6G, Improper stopping, standing, parking at highway excavation
$25
§ 505-6H, Stopping, standing, parking vehicle on bridge
$25
§ 505-6I, Stopping, standing, parking vehicle where prohibited by official sign
$25
§ 505-6J, Stopping, standing, parking vehicle on highway ramp
$30
§ 505-6K, Parking vehicle in front of private driveway without owner's consent
$25
§ 505-6L, Standing, parking vehicle within 15 feet of fire hydrant
$30
§ 505-6M, Standing, parking vehicle within 20 feet of crosswalk
$25
§ 134-6N, Standing, parking vehicle within 30 feet of traffic control signal
$30
§ 505-6O, Stopping, standing, parking 20 feet of fire station entrance
$50
§ 505-6P, Parking on Fire Department property
$50
§ 505-6Q, Standing, parking vehicle wherever prohibited by official sign
$25
§ 505-6R, Prohibited double parking, standing
$30
§ 505-6S, Parking, standing vehicle on roadway in no-passing zone
$25
§ 505-6T, Parking within 50 feet of railroad
$25
§ 505-6U, Standing, stopping, parking in handicapped zone
$120
§ 505-6V, Parking in front of curb ramp
$25
§ 505-6W, Parking in passenger loading zone
$25
§ 505-7A, Parking vehicle within 12 inches of right curb
$25
§ 505-7B(1), Parking vehicle within 12 inches of curb on the left-hand curb of one-way road
$25
§ 505-7B(2), Parking vehicle within 12 inches of curb on the right-hand curb of one-way road
$25
§ 505-7D(1), Stopping, standing, parking vehicle on private property without permission
$25
§ 505-7E, Parking unregistered vehicle
$40
§ 505-7F, Standing and parking on City-owned parking lots
$40
§ 505-8A, Endangering the health/safety of cat/dog
$25
§ 505-8B, Use of force to remove from motor vehicle cat/dog
$50
§ 505-9B(3), Unlawful to operate bicycle/skateboard on any sidewalk in commercial district
$20
§ 505-9B(4), Parking bicycle/skateboard in safe manner
$15
§ 505-9B(5), Unlawful to operate or ride skateboard on public streets
$30
B. 
Fines must be paid to the Aberdeen Police Department or a trial requested in 10 days. In the event that fines are not paid and/or a trial requested within 10 days, then the fine noted above shall double. The Motor Vehicle Administration shall be notified of unpaid tickets for registration suspension.