A.
No person shall park or allow to stand any vehicle on any of the
City streets or public space in the City for a continuous period in
excess of seventy-two (72) hours without being moved a distance of
least one full vehicle length. If the vehicle is a motor vehicle,
it must be moved under its own power.
B.
Any vehicle found parked upon any City street or public space in
the City is a violation of this section and may be impounded by the
City Police Chief or his designee, after notice to the driver or owner
of the vehicle. Such notice shall state that the vehicle is parked
in violation of this section of the City Code and shall state the
penalty therefor. The notice shall be attached to the vehicle and
shall direct the owner or operator of the vehicle to remove the vehicle
within forty-eight (48) hours.
No person shall park any motor vehicle or trailer upon City
highways, roads, streets, or other public property in the City at
any time, displaying any form of improper, expired, altered or incomplete
registration (plates, tabs, annual windshield sticker, temporary tags,
etc.), including failure to display all current plates and tabs required
by law, unless otherwise in compliance with applicable state law governing
lost, stolen, or damaged cards, plates or tabs; displaying improper
registration plates, including any registration plate issued to another
vehicle or to a person other than the owner of the vehicle; or displaying
altered plates, tabs, windshield stickers or temporary tags.
A.
No person shall stand or park a vehicle in any parking
space on public or private property which is designated as parking
reserved for the physically handicapped with the proper signs posted
in conformance with the most recent edition of the State of Maryland
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways,
unless said vehicle displays a special handicapped registration plate
or permit issued by the state.
B.
Vehicles in violation of this section are subject
to immediate impoundment.
Any property owner or property owner's agent
may, when a vehicle is parked without authorization upon his or her
private property without his consent, make a complaint to an authorized
towing company stating that he or she requests that said vehicle be
removed from his or her property. Said complaint shall be on a form
approved by the Chief of Police and shall contain a statement made
by the property owner or property owner's agent, under oath, that
the vehicle which he or she seeks to have removed was parked on his
or her property without his or her consent and that the vehicle was
parked in an area on which a sign prohibiting unauthorized parking
was clearly visible.
A.
Notification after impoundment shall be in accordance
with the following provisions.
B.
The notice shall:
(1)
State that the vehicle has been taken into custody
for violation of the City ordinance prohibiting unauthorized parking
on private property.
(2)
State the year, make, model, and vehicle identification
number of the vehicle;
(3)
Give the location of the impoundment facility where
the vehicle is held;
(4)
Inform the vehicle owner that he or she has the right
to contest the validity of the towing and storage of his or her vehicle
at any time within twenty-one (21) days of the date of such notice
by filing a request for hearing with the City Police on a request
form which shall be included with such notice;
(5)
Inform the owner and secured party of his or her right
to reclaim the vehicle within twenty-one (21) days after the date
of said notice on payment of all towing and storage charges resulting
from the towing and storage of the vehicle;
Except temporarily for the purpose of, and while
actually engaged in, loading or unloading passengers or for emergency
repairs when the vehicle cannot be driven, no person shall park any
vehicle on a public parking facility:
A.
In violation of any of the other parking provisions
of this Code;
B.
In a "no parking zone" when posted by sign or indicated
by yellow painted curb or yellow painted lines on the parking surface;
C.
Any place not otherwise designated by painted parking
spaces or otherwise prohibited, including driving aisles, driveways,
raised curb channelization structures, sidewalks, landscaped areas,
islands, etc.;
D.
In an area where parking is temporarily prohibited
when marked off by temporary signs or barricades or when an official
cover or hood is placed over a parking meter;
E.
So as to prevent another vehicle already stopped or
otherwise legally parked in a designated parking space, from moving
away;
F.
For a period longer than twenty-four (24) hours;
G.
By backing said vehicle into a parking space when
posted by "Front In Only" signs;
H.
In such a manner as to cause said vehicle to straddle
the painted lines marking a parking space or otherwise cause the vehicle
to be parked not wholly within the area of one (1) designated parking
space;
I.
And leave it unattended without first stopping the
engine, locking the ignition, removing the key, and effectively setting
the brake thereon; or
J.
In such a manner so as to impede or obstruct the free
flow of traffic or to cause a hazard to public safety, including parking
against the normal flow of traffic (left wheels to the curb).
No unauthorized person shall stop, park, stand,
or drive any motorized vehicle on any public sidewalk, public right-of-way,
public utility right-of-way, trail, shoulder, field or parkland within
the boundaries of the City.
A.
No person shall leave any abandoned vehicle at any
place within the City and no owner, lessee, or custodian in charge
of any lot, field, road, street, lane, or other property shall permit
any abandoned vehicle to remain on such property within the City.
B.
"Abandoned vehicle" means any motor vehicle, trailer,
or semi-trailer:
(1)
That is inoperable and left unattended on public property
for more than forty-eight (48) hours;
(2)
That has remained illegally on public property for
more than forty-eight (48) hours;
(4)
That has remained on private property for more than
forty-eight (48) hours and:
(a)
Is inoperable in that one (1) or more of its
major mechanical components, including but not limited to engine,
transmission, drive train, and wheels, is missing or not functional
unless such vehicle is kept in an enclosed building; or
(b)
Is not displaying currently valid registration
plates; or
(c)
Is displaying registration plates of another
vehicle.
C.
Any partially dismantled, wrecked, or junked motor
vehicle may be presumed to have been or be abandoned.
