(a)
Designation.
The fire marshal may designate fire lanes on the property of shopping centers, hospitals, apartment houses, assembly buildings and schools, as defined herein, appurtenant to buildings or the entrances or exits to stores, groups of stores or buildings where, in his opinion, such areas must be kept free of parked vehicles and other obstructions to provide ready access to such stores, groups of stores or buildings, in case of fires or other emergencies. The designation by the fire marshal of such fire lanes shall never be held to make the city responsible for the maintenance of such area. The official record of the designation and location of any such fire lane shall be kept in the office of the fire marshal and under the custody and control of fire marshal.
(b)
Approval of plans.
The building department of the city shall submit plot plans of proposed shopping centers, hospitals, apartment houses, assembly buildings and schools, prior to the issuance of a building permit thereon, to the fire marshal, for his review and approval of the adequacy of fire lanes provided therefor.
(c)
Notice of designation; signs and markings.
Upon the designation of the fire lane pursuant to this section, the fire marshal shall give notice of such designation to the owner of such shopping centers, hospitals, apartment houses, assembly buildings, schools or businesses, directing the owner to establish the fire lanes to the following specifications: All curbs must be painted red and be conspicuously and legibly marked with the warning “FIRE LANE–TOW AWAY ZONE” in white letters at least three inches tall, at intervals not exceeding 50 feet. If a curb does not exist, one permanent sign shall be posted in the approximate center of a fire lane no more than ten feet in length. Fire lanes more than ten feet in length shall be marked by a permanent sign posted at both ends of the fire lane as well as a spacing of one sign every 30 feet of the length of the fire lane. Parking surface painting and signs shall be of a standard size and color, as well as standard lettering and sign mounting conforming to pattern drawings or samples of the same. Such pattern drawings or samples shall be obtained from the fire marshal division of the city.
(d)
Parking in fire lane.
It is hereby declared unlawful to park any vehicle other than an authorized emergency vehicle in any fire lane as defined thereof. Where markings or signs or markings provided for herein are not in proper position and are not sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person, it shall be a defense to any alleged violation hereof.
(e)
Defacing or removing signs.
It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person, without lawful authority, to attempt to or in fact, alter, deface, injure, knock down or remove any sign designating a fire lane which has been erected under the terms of this section.
(f)
Removal of vehicles.
Any vehicle which shall be or remains standing or parked in a fire lane, as designated in this section, may be removed by any certified peace officer who is empowered to issue citations in the city, authority for this action being given by order of the chief of police and the fire marshal of the city.
(g)
Liability.
The provisions of this section shall not be construed to relieve or lessen the responsibility of any person who shall leave his vehicle parked in a fire lane in the city in such a manner that the same may be impounded, nor shall the city be held as assuming such liability by reason of impounding or causing to be impounded such vehicle.
(h)
Closing fire lane.
No owner, manager or person in charge of any premises served by a required fire lane shall abandon or close such fire lane without the permission of the fire marshal.
(1973 Code, sec. 11-89; 1991 Code, sec. 11-78; Ordinance 99-540, sec. 3, adopted 7/8/99; 2007 Code, sec. 18-77)