It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle, other than acting in an emergency, to park said vehicle on any street when the Town Manager or designee has declared a parking ban.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of East Longmeadow as Ch. 7 of the 1982 General Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The Department of Public Works Superintendent or designee, for the purpose of removing or plowing snow or removing ice from any street or way, may declare a severe weather emergency.
[Amended 4-12-2022]
B.
When such emergency is declared by the Department of Public Works Superintendent or designee, the Police Department may be notified as to vehicles parked on streets and ways that hinder the removal of snow or ice. Vehicles ordered for removal shall be towed to a convenient storage facility according to a policy directed by the Police Chief. Vehicles removed under this section shall be subject to a fine of $30 for each offense in addition to any reasonable costs of publishing or sending any notices. The Department of Public Works, Police Department or the Town of East Longmeadow shall not be responsible for any fees incurred for removal and storage of vehicles legally towed in violation of such declared emergency.
[Amended 4-12-2022]
C.
The Police Chief shall keep or cause to be kept a record of each vehicle removed under this bylaw. Such record shall describe each vehicle, its registration number and the location of the storage facility. The Police Chief shall, within 48 hours, send the owner on record with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, by mail, in writing or other means, notice as to the location of the removed vehicle.
[Amended 4-12-2022]
D.
If the owner of the removed vehicle is unknown, the Police Chief shall, within 48 hours, cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town the description and registration number, if any, of the removed vehicle and the location of the storage facility. If, after a reasonable time, the owner of the removed vehicle remains unknown and reasonable effort has been made to locate the lawful owner, said vehicle will be disposed of according to Massachusetts General Laws, to satisfy removal, storage and administrative charges. The remaining balance of such disposal shall be put into the general fund of the Town.
E.
Before any person shall be permitted to reclaim a vehicle removed under this section, the person shall:
(1)
Furnish evidence to the Police Department of the person's identity and ownership of the removed vehicle.
(2)
Pay the reasonable vehicle removal charges, the maximum being established by the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General, and any reasonable daily storage charges, together with the cost of publishing or sending any notices required by this section.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 7.030 of the 1982 General Bylaws, Handicapped parking, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 4-12-2022.
Any person or persons proposing to construct off-street parking of more than 1,000 square feet, which will have access to and from any street or way, shall first submit a plan showing the proposed work to the Department of Public Works Superintendent or designee and obtain the Superintendent's approval prior to issuance of any building permit.
[Amended 4-12-2022]
A.
The Fire Chief or designee may designate fire lanes within the limits of any private way, parking area or driveway for the access of fire apparatus, ambulances or other emergency vehicles to multiple-family dwellings, stores, schools, health-care facilities, elderly housing complexes and places of public assembly.
B.
The owner of record of any area designated as a fire lane shall provide and install signs that shall read "Fire Lane - No Parking - Loading or Unloading - Violators Can Be Subject To a Fine of $100." The signs shall be 12 inches wide and 18 inches high. They shall be installed at a height of six feet six inches from ground level to the bottom of the sign. Location of the signs shall be approved by the Fire Chief or designee prior to installation.
C.
It shall be unlawful to obstruct or block any area designated as a fire lane with a vehicle or by any other means.
D.
The registered owner of any vehicle that obstructs, blocks or occupies any area designated as a fire lane shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $100 for each offense.