[Adopted 12-15-1988 (Ch. 5, § 5-2, of the Town Code); amended in its entirety 5-21-2018]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FIRE LANE
A designated, unobstructed passageway sufficient in size to permit free passage of fire and other emergency equipment from a public highway to all necessary areas or portions of any private or public property as hereinafter set forth.
Whenever the Fire Marshal shall determine that the reasonable safety of persons occupying or using any premises, public or private, having a capacity of at least 15 persons, requires the establishment of a fire lane for orderly access of fire and other emergency equipment, the Fire Marshal shall establish such fire lane by written order and cause a public announcement of the establishment of such fire lane to be printed in a newspaper having substantial circulation in the community. Further, the Fire Marshal shall cause a copy of such order to be delivered, in person, or by registered mail, to the owner of any private land on which such fire lane is established, or to the agent of such owner.
Whenever the Fire Marshal establishes a fire lane, he/she shall file a copy of the order with the Board of Selectmen and with the Woodbury Police Department. Any person aggrieved by such order may file with the Board of Selectmen, within 15 days after the date of the publication of such order in the newspaper, a written notice of appeal setting forth the reasons for aggrievement. The Board of Selectmen shall hold a hearing on such appeal within 15 days after it has been filed. The Board of Selectmen may affirm, modify or rescind such order and shall notify the property owner and the Fire Marshal in writing of its decision within 15 days of the date of the hearing.
Any such fire lane shall be a minimum of eight feet in width, unless otherwise specified by the Fire Marshal. Said fire lane shall be constructed of either asphalt or other suitable hard surface capable of supporting the weight of fire apparatus.
Upon establishment of a fire lane, the Fire Marshal shall cause to be erected or installed adequate signs and markings to delineate said fire lane. Signs and markings required on a privately owned premises shall be erected or installed by the owner of such premises, who shall bear the total cost. Failure by such owner to erect or install the required signs and markings within 60 days from the date of such order shall cause the Fire Marshal to direct the Woodbury Highway Department to erect or install the required signs and markings at the cost to the owner of the premises, which may be billed for and collected as a municipal fee in the same manner as municipal taxes.
A. 
Signs.
(1) 
Signs shall be mounted on steel posts or as approved by the Fire Marshal.
(2) 
Signs shall be installed to a height of seven feet from the surface of the pavement to the base of the sign.
(3) 
Signs on posts shall face both directions of travel (mounted back to back), or as approved by the Fire Marshal.
(4) 
The distance between signs shall be a maximum of 50 feet.
(5) 
Sign lettering shall be clearly visible and shall read as follows: "NO PARKING - FIRE LANE," or as approved by the Fire Marshal.
B. 
Lettering and markings on fire lane surface(s).
(1) 
Lettering on fire lane surfaces shall read as follows: "NO PARKING - FIRE LANE," or as approved by the Fire Marshal.
(2) 
Lettering shall be applied so as to face in both directions of travel.
(3) 
Lettering shall be of sufficient size as to be readily visible from any vehicle traveling in the fire lane.
(4) 
Pavement marking lines to designate the width of the fire lane shall be a minimum of five inches in width and shall be permanently painted and weatherproofed.
(5) 
All markings and lettering shall be painted "traffic yellow" in color.
Whenever the Fire Marshal establishes a fire lane on premises open to the public, but not municipally owned, it shall thereafter be the responsibility of the owner to properly maintain the area so designated, and to keep and maintain it free of ice and snow and of any other material which would obstruct the use of said fire lane.
No person shall park, or permit to stand, a motor vehicle in a fire lane which has been established under this article, except when the operator remains in the vehicle and is in the actual process of picking up or discharging passengers. The registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be presumed to be the operator of such vehicle.
A. 
Penalties for parking or standing in fire lanes. Whenever a vehicle is found parked or standing in violation of § 143-10, a police officer, the Fire Marshal, or Deputy Fire Marshal for the Town shall serve upon the owner or operator of such vehicle, or place upon such vehicle, a parking ticket of $75. If such ticket is paid within one week, no further penalty shall be incurred. If such ticket is not paid within one week, the penalty shall increase to $125.
B. 
Penalties for other offenses. Any person violating the provisions of this article shall be fined not more than $100 for each violation. Each day that a violation continues shall be considered to be a separate violation.
Any motor vehicle found parked or standing in a fire lane which has been established in accordance with this article may be towed upon the direction of a police officer to any public or private parking facility, and all expenses of such towing, and any subsequent storage, shall be borne by the registered owner of such vehicle.