[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Rocky Hill 9-14-1971 by Ord. No. 16-71. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A designated, unobstructed passageway sufficient in size
and constructed in a manner to permit free passage of heavy fire apparatus
and other emergency equipment from a public highway to all necessary
areas or portions of any private or public property as hereinafter
set forth, in all seasons and all kinds of weather.
Fire zones established under this chapter shall
be kept free of ice and snow, and fire hydrants located on private
property shall be accessible from said fire lanes and also kept free
of snow.
Whenever the Fire Marshal shall determine that
the reasonable safety of persons occupying or using any premises,
public or private, having a capacity of at least 15 persons, requires
the establishment of a fire zone for orderly access of fire and other
emergency equipment, he shall establish such fire zone by written
order and cause to be made public the announcement of such fire zone
establishment. He shall cause a copy of such order to be delivered
to the owner or owners, or agents thereof, of any private land on
which such fire zone is established.
Whenever a Fire Marshal establishes a fire zone,
he shall file one copy of his order with the Clerk of the Town Council,
the Town Clerk and with the local Traffic Authority. Any person aggrieved
by such order may file with the Clerk of the Council, within 15 days
after the date of such order, written notice of appeal, setting forth
therein reasons of aggrievement. After hearing, the Town Council may
affirm, modify or rescind such order.
Upon establishment of a fire zone, the local
Traffic Authority shall cause to be erected or installed adequate
signs, markings and other devices to delineate said fire zone. Signs,
markings and other devices erected or installed on privately owned
premises shall be at the cost of the owner and may be billed for and
collected in the same manner as municipal taxes, provided that the
local Traffic Authority causes a notice of lien to be filed on the
land records within 60 days after such erection or installation. In
lieu of the foregoing, the owner may install, or cause to have installed,
adequate signs, markings and other devices under the direction of
the local Traffic Authority.
[Amended 1-6-1992 by Ord. No. 171-92]
No person shall park, or permit to stand, a
motor vehicle in a fire zone which has been established in accordance
with this chapter, except when actually picking up or discharging
passengers. The registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be presumed
to be the operator of such vehicle.
Any motor vehicle found standing in a fire zone
which has been established in accordance with this chapter may be
towed, upon the direction of a police officer, to any public or private
parking facility, and all expense of such towing and any subsequent
storage shall be borne by the registered owner of such vehicle.
[Amended 10-5-1978 by Ord. No. 75-78; 6-8-1982 by Ord. No. 98-82; 5-7-1984 by Ord. No. 116-84]
Whenever a vehicle is found standing in violation of § 137-6, a police officer, Fire Marshal or Fire Chief shall serve upon the owner or operator of such vehicle or place upon such vehicle a notice directing the owner or operator thereof to appear at the Town Clerk's office prior to a time specified in said notice. If any person receiving said notice shall appear as directed and shall pay an amount as specified in said notice, not exceeding $25, such payment shall bar a prosecution for violation of § 137-6.
[Added 1-6-1992 by Ord. No. 171-92; 8-16-2010 by Ord. No.
256-10]
Any person violating this chapter shall be fined
$50 per day, with each day's continued violation constituting a separate
offense.
