The chief of police is authorized to regulate the movement of traffic and the parking of vehicles in any parking area located on property owned by the city and to divide any such area into parking spaces and traffic lanes. Pursuant to such authority, the chief of police shall cause traffic regulation signs to be posted on a conspicuous place on such parking area. It shall be unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to operate or park such vehicle contrary to the regulations.
(Prior code § 17-10)
None of the provisions of this chapter shall be construed to prevent the standing of vehicles for such time as is necessary to load and deliver, when and where necessary, with reasonable dispatch, merchandise then in readiness for immediate loading or delivery.
(Prior code § 17-35)
A person having charge of a vehicle shall not stop the same abreast of or opposite another vehicle lengthwise of a street in any street, except in case of accident or emergency, or as provided in Section 10.04.110.
(Prior code § 17-36)
No vehicle shall be allowed to stop in a street for the purpose of transferring goods or merchandise from one vehicle to another, except when it may be done with the vehicles abreast or backed up to each other, but in no event in such a manner or to such an extent as to obstruct the regular course of travel.
(Prior code § 17-37)
No person having charge of a vehicle shall place the same in any street so as to prevent or obstruct the passing of other vehicles or surface cars, unless for a reasonable time when necessary, but not exceeding five minutes at a time.
(Prior code § 17-38)
In the event of any gathering of persons for the purpose of attending any athletic contest, circus, carnival, theatrical performance or any other performance or exhibition, or in the event of any fire or other emergency, the chief of police is authorized in his or her discretion to cause to be posted, on such streets in the vicinity thereof as he or she shall determine, signs prohibiting or limiting the parking of vehicles on such streets. No vehicle shall remain standing on any such street in violation of the directions set forth on such signs.
(Prior code § 17-68)
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to park the same on any street for a period of time longer than two hours between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. of any day. In the event of said violation, the municipal judge hearing the action shall be vested with the judicial discretion to dismiss the ticket(s) or impose or waive the court costs in lieu of the payment of the ticket(s) fine based upon the severity of the violation before the court, the violator's history of overnight parking incidents and/or prior warnings issued. In no instance shall the court cost(s) imposed by the municipal judge be less than twenty dollars ($20.00) or more than thirty-nine dollars ($39.00) per offense.
(Prior code § 17-69; Ord. 2017-9, § 1, 3/27/2017)
A. 
The chief of police is authorized to regulate, permit, restrict, or limit the parking of vehicles in the parking area at the rear of the Cranston City Hall and the Pontiac Avenue annex during normal business hours. Normal business hours are defined as 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday—Friday. The chief of police is further authorized to subdivide and apportion the existing areas into parking spaces and traffic lanes. The chief of police or his or her designee(s) will issue parking permits, for vehicles that utilize those spaces, as deemed necessary. Exception to the permit requirement will be the nineteen (19) spaces designated for "1/2 hour parking—City Hall business only". Permits provided shall be displayed in the vehicles at all times by suspension from the rear view mirror so as to be seen through the front or rear of the motor vehicle.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to stop, stand or park such vehicle in permitted areas except in accordance with this section or the regulations and order of the chief of police. The following penalties will be assessed for violation of this section:
1. 
First Offense: Twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
2. 
Second Offense: Fifty dollars ($50.00)
3. 
Third Offense: One hundred dollars ($100.00)
C. 
Further, any vehicle(s) violating this section will be subject to towing at the discretion of the chief of police.
D. 
The interior of the main lot accommodates three hundred thirty (330) and the annex accommodates fourteen (14) delineated parking spaces for a total of three hundred forty-four (344) parking spaces. In an attempt to support all activities associated with these areas, the delineated spaces are subdivided and apportioned as noted in Table 1:
Table 1
Building Inspections Department (interior lot)
12*
City Hall (interior lot)
86*
Cranston High School East/Briggs Building (interior lot and 14 Annex spaces)
143*
Fire Department/Fire Alarm Division (interior lot)
27*
Student Parking (interior lot)
56
Visitors Parking (interior lot)
19
 
344
Notes:
* Specific designation of reserved spaces, within those apportioned to the departments or divisions covered under this section, may be done so at the approval of the chief of police or his or her designee. The costs to designate and maintain those reserved spaces will be borne by the departments or divisions choosing to designate reserved spaces within their respective areas.
E. 
The public safety division will develop and maintain a plan depicting all existing apportioned parking spaces consistent with Table 1 and will also provide each agency involved with a copy of the plan to be maintained for their use/record purposes. All agencies will be responsible for maintaining a list of personnel and associated permit numbers. A master list of all issued permits will be on record for viewing with the chief or his or her designee. Further, the public safety division will sign and stripe the parking spaces consistent with the plan and maintain same on a routine basis.
(Ord. 03-48 § 2)
It is unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to stop, stand or park any portion of such vehicle in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or except in compliance with the directions of a police officer, or with a traffic control sign or signal.
A. 
Within an intersection.
B. 
On a crosswalk.
C. 
Within twenty-five (25) feet or less of the point where curb lines extended would intersect at a street corner.
D. 
In front of a public or private driveway or curb cut.
E. 
Within eight feet or less of a fire hydrant.
F. 
Within twenty (20) feet or less of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station, within seventy-five (75) feet or less of such entrance.
G. 
Within any space set apart as a "bus stop."
H. 
Within any space set apart as a "loading zone."
I. 
Within thirty (30) feet or less upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway.
J. 
Off the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street, except as provided in Section 17.28.050.
K. 
Within fifty (50) feet or less of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.
L. 
Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty (30) feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of the safety zone, unless the proper authority indicates a different length by signs or markings.
M. 
Within twenty (20) feet or less of a crosswalk at an intersection.
N. 
Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction where such standing or parking would obstruct traffic.
O. 
Upon a bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel.
P. 
1. 
It shall be unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to stop, stand or park any portion of such vehicle in any designated fire lanes within the city except in compliance with the directions of a police officer or with a traffic control sign or signal.
2. 
The fire chief, with the approval of the bureau of traffic safety, shall have the authority to designate fire lanes upon the following described properties:
a. 
Shopping centers, meaning and intending to be considered a group of commercial business establishments operated as a unit, with off-street parking provided, and related in location and size and types of shops to the trade area that the unit serves;
b. 
Apartment complexes of over four units;
c. 
Race tracks;
d. 
Amusement parks;
e. 
Industrial complexes;
f. 
Bowling alleys;
g. 
Drive-in theaters;
h. 
Churches;
i. 
Hotels and motels;
j. 
Areas where a sufficient number of motor vehicles may be parked which require designated fire lanes for protection of persons and property in case of fire.
3. 
The fire chief is authorized to designate fire lanes on the property referred to herein, where such areas must be kept free of parked vehicles and other obstructions to provide ready access in such areas in case of fire or other emergencies. The designation by the fire chief of such fire lanes shall never be held to make the city responsible for the maintenance of such fire lanes on private property, but the owner of such property shall continue to be 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 chief. Failure of the owner of such property, where duly designated fire lanes have been approved, to maintain proper posting and designation of said fire lanes shall upon notification by the city that a violation exists, within five days correct said violation or be subject to a fine of not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) per day, and each day such violation shall exist shall constitute a separate offense.
4. 
Upon the designation of a fire lane pursuant to this chapter the fire chief shall give notice of such designation to the owner of such area, directing the owner to cause signs to be posted at the expense of the owner, at designated locations, lettered:
No Parking Fire Lane, Tow Away Zone, order of Cranston Fire Department
Such signs shall be of standard lettering and mounting, conforming to specifications established by the bureau of traffic safety. It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle in a designated fire lane when such signs are in place.
5. 
A summons or notice to appear in answer to a charge of parking in violation of this chapter specifying the location of the fire lane in which such violation occurred and the date and time of such violation, may be issued by any police officer.
6. 
It is declared to be unlawful to park any vehicle other than an authorized emergency vehicle in any fire lane established hereto.
7. 
It is declared to be unlawful for any person, without lawful authority, to attempt to remove any sign designating a fire lane erected pursuant hereto.
8. 
The penalty for violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00). In addition to the foregoing penalty, any vehicle parked in violation of the provisions of this section may be removed and towed at the expense of the owner of the vehicle.
(Prior code § 17-70)
Upon any highway outside of a business or residence district no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the paved or main traveled part of the highway when it is practical to stop, park or so leave such vehicle off such part of said highway, but in every event and unobstructed width of the highway opposite a standing vehicle shall be left for the free passage of other vehicles and a clear view of such stopped vehicle shall be available from a distance of two hundred (200) feet in each direction upon such highway.
(Prior code § 17-154)
Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle standing upon a highway in violation of any of the foregoing provisions of this chapter such officer is authorized to move such vehicle, or require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move the same, to a position off the paved or main traveled part of such highway.
(Prior code § 17-155)
Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle, whether attended or unattended, disabled upon any bridge or causeway or in any tunnel where such vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic, such officer is authorized to provide for the removal of such vehicle to the nearest garage, service station or place of safety.
(Prior code § 17-156)
No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places:
A. 
On a sidewalk;
B. 
In front of a public or private driveway;
C. 
Within an intersection;
D. 
Within eight feet of a fire hydrant;
E. 
On a crosswalk;
F. 
Within twenty (20) feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;
G. 
Within thirty (30) feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of roadway;
H. 
Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty (30) feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless the (traffic authority) indicates a different length by signs or markings;
I. 
Within fifty (50) feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;
J. 
Within twenty (20) feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within seventy-five (75) feet of said entrance (when properly signposted);
K. 
Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic;
L. 
On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;
M. 
Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway tunnel.
(Prior code § 17-157)
Except as otherwise provided in Sections 10.28.190 and 10.28.200 every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway where there are adjacent curbs shall be so stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel to and within twelve (12) inches of the right-hand curb.
(Prior code § 17-160)
Local authorities may by ordinance permit parking of vehicles with the left-hand wheels adjacent to and within twelve (12) inches of the left-hand curb of a one-way roadway.
(Prior code § 17-161)
Local authorities may by ordinance permit angle parking on any roadway, except that angle parking shall not be permitted on any federal aid or state highway unless the state traffic commission has determined by resolution or order entered in its minutes that the roadway is of sufficient width to permit angle parking without interfering with the free movement of traffic.
(Prior code § 17-162)
It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle overnight in any of the parking areas associated with all Cranston Public Library locations.
It shall be unlawful to use any of the parking areas associated with all Cranston Public Library location for residential parking at any time.
Any vehicle violating this section will be subject to towing.
Temporary parking at a library may be granted by the library director.
(Ord. 2016-35, § 1, 10/24/2016)