The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Bicycle lane.
A portion of a roadway that has been designated by pavement markings (and/or signage) for preferential or exclusive use by bicyclists.
Commercial equipment.
Any self-propelled or towable device that is used for profit which carries personal property or moves dirt, sand or gravel or compacts dirt, sand or gravel, and shall include trailers of any shape or design (except recreational vehicles and trailers which are primarily used for recreational purposes).
Median.
The area between opposing lanes of traffic, excluding turn lanes, and can be defined by pavement markings, raised medians, or islands to separate motorized and nonmotorized road users.
Motor vehicle.
A self-propelled vehicle but does not include an electric bicycle or an electric personal assistive mobility device.
Motorcycle.
A motor vehicle, other than a tractor, that is equipped with a rider's saddle and designed to have when propelled not more than three wheels on the ground.
Oversized commercial motor vehicle
Any vehicle designated below:
(1) 
Tow trucks, dump trucks, truck-tractors, concrete mixing trucks, stake-bed trucks, buses, trailers; or
(2) 
Vehicles which are more than:
a. 
Twenty (20) feet in length from end to end;
b. 
Seven (7) feet in width at their widest point; or
c. 
More than seven (7) feet in height at their highest point.
(3) 
Exclusions: The term oversize commercial motor vehicle shall exclude:
a. 
A recreational vehicle; or
b. 
A vehicle owned by a public or franchise utility that is located at the residence of an employee of said utility provided the employee is "on call" for emergency response outside normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Passenger car.
A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, used to transport persons and designed to accommodate ten (10) or fewer passengers, including the operator.
Public infrastructure.
The system of public works of the city including but not limited to roads; bridges; water, wastewater and stormwater systems and public utility systems (electric, gas and communications).
Recreational vehicle.
A vehicle which is built on a single chassis; 400 square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projections; designed to be self-propelled or towable as defined in Texas Transportation Code chapter 541; and designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use.
Residential district.
Any area in which residential living is permitted under the comprehensive zoning ordinance.
Right-of-way.
The strip of land, dedicated to or owned by the State of Texas, any political subdivision of the State of Texas, or any public authority having jurisdiction, that contains or will contain a street, sidewalk, parkway, median, and/or other public facilities.
Roadway.
The portion of a street that is improved, designated for, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
Sidewalk.
A paved path, often alongside a roadway, used for pedestrian travel.
Stop, stand, or park
A vehicle being stationary at, or nearly at, the same location, irrespective if the vehicle is running or attended, and any calculation of time listed in this article shall be the cumulative of a vehicle being stopping, standing, or parking.
Street.
Any road, street, parkway, boulevard or way, inclusive of its right-of-way, under the jurisdiction of the City of Richland Hills and open to public travel.
Trailer.
A vehicle without motive power designed to be pulled by a motor vehicle and to transport persons or property.
Vehicle.
A device that can be used to transport or pull persons or property on a street.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
(a) 
Maximum parking time; nonresidential districts.
An operator may not stop, stand, or park any vehicle that is on a public street for a continuous period of time longer than 24 hours.
(b) 
Maximum parking time; residential districts.
(1) 
An operator may not stop, stand, or park on a public street or other public right-of-way in a residential district any vehicle, other than a passenger car, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle, on a public street or other public right-of-way in a residential district overnight (from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.).
(2) 
An operator may not stop, stand, or park any recreational vehicle on a public street or on other public right-of-way in a residential district for a continuous period of time longer than 48 hours.
(c) 
Alleys.
An operator may not stop, stand, or park in any dedicated public alley any motor vehicle or trailer, unless it is for the purpose of expeditiously loading or unloading goods or materials from or to property adjacent to an alley, in which case the motor vehicle or trailer may be stood, stopped, or parked for a time period not to exceed thirty minutes.
(d) 
Parking for certain purposes prohibited.
An operator may not stop, stand, or park on any public street, playground, park, athletic field, or public-school property any vehicle, boat, trailer, or any other type of vehicle for the purpose of displaying such vehicle for sale, repairing such vehicle (except repairs necessitated by an emergency), or selling or exhibiting property of any nature.
(e) 
Vehicles with expired license plate or registration.
An operator may not stop, stand, or park on a public street or alley a vehicle when the vehicle does not have lawfully affixed thereto a valid license plate(s) or registration windshield sticker for the current registration period.
(f) 
State law.
An operator may not stop, stand, or park in any manner prohibited by chapter 545 of the Texas Transportation Code.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
(a) 
Parking on public property.
No person shall park or store any oversized commercial motor vehicle or commercial equipment upon any public property located in any zoning district, including but not limited to public streets, alleys, rights-of-way, sidewalks, parkways or other public property, except in designated parking spaces or designated loading zones, unless the oversized commercial vehicle or commercial equipment is:
(1) 
Parked in a dedicated public alley for less than thirty minutes for the purpose of expeditiously loading or unloading goods or materials; or
(2) 
Parked in a district zoned for residential use between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of providing a service to an adjacent residential property.
(b) 
Defense.
It shall be a defense to prosecution under this section if the oversized commercial motor vehicle or commercial equipment is:
(1) 
Utilized in providing an urgent service to a business or residence which cannot be performed during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.;
(2) 
Utilized by the city (or its contractor) or by a public or franchise utility (or its contractor) in constructing, maintaining, or repairing public infrastructure; or
(3) 
The vehicle is disabled or inoperable; and
a. 
The vehicle does not impede traffic; and
b. 
A towing service has been contacted to remove the vehicle from the right-of-way.
(c) 
Disabled or inoperable vehicles.
In no case may a disabled or inoperable oversized commercial vehicle remain stopped, parked, or standing for more than four (4) hours.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
(a) 
No stopping, standing, or parking.
A person shall not stop, stand, or park a vehicle in the right-of-way of a road owned or under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Transportation.
(b) 
Defense.
It shall be a defense to prosecution under this section if:
(1) 
The vehicle is disabled or inoperable;
(2) 
The vehicle does not impede traffic; and
(3) 
A towing service has been contacted to remove the vehicle from the right-of-way.
(c) 
Disabled or inoperable vehicles.
In no case may a disabled or inoperable vehicle remain stopped, parked, or standing in a right-of-way described by this section for more than four (4) hours.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle under such conditions as to leave available less than ten (10) feet of the width of the roadway for free movement of vehicular traffic, except that a driver may stop temporarily during actual loading or unloading of passengers or when necessary in obedience to traffic regulations or traffic signs or signals of a police officer.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
It shall be unlawful for any person to store or allow the storage of a motor vehicle upon the public streets, alleys, sidewalks, or parkways of the city. For purposes of this section, a vehicle shall be considered stored if it has remained parked at, or nearly at, the same location for a continuous period of time in excess of five (5) days.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
(a) 
Unauthorized parking prohibited.
Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any person to park, stop, or stand a vehicle, whether occupied or unoccupied:
(1) 
In a manner which blocks a public driveway;
(2) 
Overnight (from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) on any public parking lot upon which is located signage designating the parking lot for the use of the public conducting business at a city facility; or
(3) 
On a public parking lot upon which is located signage designating the parking lot for city employees and/or city officials.
(b) 
Exception.
It is an exception to subsection (a) if a person parks, stops, or stands a vehicle:
(1) 
Temporarily for the purpose of, and while actually conducting the activity of, loading or unloading passengers from such vehicle; or
(2) 
Pursuant to authorized from the city manager, or his designee.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
(a) 
A person shall not stop, stand, or park a vehicle:
(1) 
In a manner which interferes with the arrival, operation, or departure of any emergency vehicle actively responding to an emergency; or
(2) 
In a manner prohibited by Texas Transportation Code chapter 545 or other applicable state law.
(b) 
Any vehicle found in violation of this section may be immediately moved or towed.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
A person shall not stop, stand, or park a vehicle in or upon the strip of land between the lanes of opposing traffic on a divided street.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for the driver of a vehicle to stop, stand or park longer than five (5) minutes in any place marked as a passenger loading zone, and then only for the expeditious loading or unloading of persons.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful at any time to leave an unattended vehicle in any place marked as a passenger loading zone.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
The city council is hereby authorized to determine the location of freight curb loading zones and shall direct the chief of police to place and maintain appropriate signs indicating the location of such freight curb loading zones. These zones shall be operative from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., except on Sundays and legal holidays.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
(a) 
The chief of police or any member of the police department designated by the chief of police is hereby authorized to issue parking citations to any person who has violated any portion of this article.
(b) 
The chief of police or his designee may effectuate the towing or removal of the vehicle of an individual cited under this article at the expense of the owner of said vehicle and, if towed, may have the vehicle impounded and detained until all towing and storage charges are paid by the owner under the following procedure:
(1) 
Notice shall be given to such owner by one or more of the following methods at least 48 hours prior to the time such removal is required:
a. 
A sticker or flyer affixed to the automobile; or
b. 
Personal notice delivered to the owner.
(2) 
If a vehicle remains after the 48-hour period such vehicle may be ordered by the city manager, the chief of police, or a designee thereof, to be removed and stored at the expense of the owner.
(c) 
In a prosecution for an offense under this article or under applicable state law involving the stopping, standing, or parking of an motor vehicle it is presumed that the registered owner of the vehicle is the person who stopped, stood, or parked the vehicle at the time and place the offense occurred.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle or trailer to stop, stand or park in any bicycle lane designated with signage which reads "No Parking Bicycle Lane" or signage of the same meaning approved by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(b) 
Exception:
It is an exception to prosecution under subsection (a) if a person stops or stands a vehicle or trailer in a bicycle lane:
(1) 
Momentarily while in the process of safely executing a turning movement onto a street or driveway;
(2) 
When directed to do so by a police officer; or
(3) 
When the vehicle or trailer is being utilized by the city (or its contractor) or by a public or franchise utility (or its contractor) to construct, maintain or repair public infrastructure.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]
In operating an authorized emergency vehicle, the operator may park or stand the vehicle, irrespective of another provision of this article.
[Ord. No. 1493-24 adopted 3/11/2024]