No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device, in any of the following places:
A. 
On a sidewalk, bridge or crosswalk, bicycle lane or bicycle and pedestrian lane.
B. 
In front of any public or private driveway; nor within ten (10) feet on either side of any driveway.
C. 
Within an intersection.
D. 
Within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant.
E. 
Within twenty (20) feet of the near corner of the curbs at an intersection, unless otherwise designated.
F. 
Within twenty (20) feet of the driveway entrance of any fire station and on the side of the street opposite the entrance of any fire station within seventy-five (75) feet of that entrance.
G. 
Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.
H. 
On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of the street or "double parked," so-called.
I. 
At any place where official signs prohibit stopping.
J. 
Within ten (10) feet of a railroad track.
K. 
On any street or highway that is the traveled portion of said street or highway.
L. 
On any street or highway where parking is allowed, with the vehicle heading in the opposite direction.
The municipal officers may establish passenger zones and freight loading zones and place and maintain appropriate signs indicating the same and stating the hours during which the provisions of this chapter are applicable.
The municipal officers may establish and then erect and maintain signs indicating that no parking is permitted on the side of said street.
[Amended 1-17-2008]
A. 
The Town Manager, or his or her designee, may declare an emergency parking ban. The declaration of an emergency parking ban may be made applicable to all Town streets and municipal parking lots or only to certain lots, or streets or streets within a defined perimeter. Such a declaration of emergency shall be for the purpose of plowing or removing snow or ice which has accumulated, or for other good cause stated in the declaration of the parking ban. The declaration shall be made at least six hours prior to the starting time of the ban. Such declaration shall be communicated to such representatives of the communications media as the Town Manager may direct.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any vehicle to be or remain parked on any street during the effective time of such declared emergency. Any vehicle in violation will also be subject to removal as outlined under § 210-38.
[Amended 1-17-2008]
No person shall park a vehicle at any time on any public way so as to interfere with plowing or the removal of snow from it by the Town. The Chief of Police, or his or her designee, may remove any such vehicle and place it in a suitable parking space, at the expense of the owner. For the purpose of facilitating snow removal, the Public Works Director may place temporary signs along any public way from which the snow is about to be removed, indicating that parking a vehicle is prohibited. A person shall not park a vehicle within the area indicated by the signs.
A. 
Elm Street. There shall be no parking of vehicles on Elm Street in any of the following locations.
(1) 
On either side from the intersection of Main Street and Elm Street to the intersection of Pleasant Street and Elm Street. Vehicles parked alongside Elm Street in this one (1) area and not within the traveled portion on Sunday for church services are exempt.
(2) 
On the north side:
(a) 
From the intersection of Pleasant Street and Elm Street to the intersection of the main entrance to the Topsham Fairgrounds and Elm Street.
(b) 
From the intersection at Fair Circle to the intersection of Foreside Road and Elm Street.
(3) 
On the south side of 63 Elm Street (Fields Spar Mill) to the railroad overhead bridge.
B. 
Main Street. There shall be no parking of vehicles on either side of Main Street from the intersection of Elm Street and Main Streets to the intersection of Route 196 and Main Street (to the post office on the east side of Main Street).
(1) 
There shall be no parking of vehicles on the west side of Main Street from the intersection of Main Street and Summer Streets to the intersection of Main and Elm Street.
(2) 
Parking will be allowed on the east side of Main Street between the Frank Woods Bridge and the intersection of Green Street in the marked spaces for a maximum of two consecutive hours.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by the Board of Selectmen[
(3) 
There shall be no parking of vehicles on the east or west side of Main Street from the intersection of Elm and Main Street in a northerly direction for a distance of 600 feet.
(4) 
Parking will be allowed in the identified spaces on Ron's Way at the intersection of Main Street and Green Street for a maximum of two consecutive hours.
[Added 2-5-2004 by the Board of Selectmen]
C. 
Perkins Street. There shall be no parking of vehicles on either side of the short portion of Perkins Street from the intersection of Pleasant and Perkins Street to the portion of Perkins Street that runs north and south.
D. 
Winter Street.
(1) 
There shall be no parking of vehicles along either side of Winter Street from Garden Drive to the Central Maine Power Company pole No. 1.
(2) 
There shall be no parking of vehicles on the south side of Winter Street for a distance of 75 feet from the intersection of Main and Winter Street.
E. 
There shall be no parking from the west line of Main Street to a point fifty (50) feet west of the intersection, except that a loading zone shall be permitted on the southerly side of Winter Street within twenty (20) feet of the intersection.
F. 
There shall be no parking permitted on the northeast side of Route 196 from the intersection of Route 201 to the intersection at Second Street.
G. 
Second Street.
(1) 
There shall be no parking permitted on the north side of Second Street.
(2) 
Parking shall be permitted an the south side of Second Street for one (1) hour from a point of approximately fifty (50) feet from the intersection of Route 196 proceeding easterly for a distance of approximately one hundred (100) feet.
H. 
There shall be no parking permitted on School Drive from the intersection of Perkins Street to the intersection with the Williams School parking lot.
I. 
There shall be no parking permitted on the final one hundred (100) yards of the section of Old Augusta Road that enters Route 201 north of the interstate. This includes both sides of the road and the turnaround located near the dead end.
J. 
No parking shall be permitted in the area marked "Fire Lane" except for Fire Department apparatus.
K. 
There shall be no parking on either side of Green Street.
L. 
There shall be no parking of vehicles on either side of Pleasant Street. Parking is allowed in the three designated parking spaces on the west side in front of the library.
M. 
There shall be no parking of vehicles on either side of Wilson Street.
N. 
There shall be no parking of vehicles on the north side of Melcher Place.
O. 
There shall be no parking of vehicles on Frost Street.
P. 
There shall be no parking of vehicles on Mallet Drive.
Q. 
There shall be no parking on either side on Foreside Road adjacent to the Topsham Recreation Field.
A. 
Authority of the Chief. The Chief of Police or the Fire Chief or both are hereby authorized to set out, make and maintain parking signs, lines and barriers on the triangular lot owned by the Town of Topsham at the front of Green Street near the fire station in accordance with the parking plan on file at the Town office and the other provisions of this section.
B. 
Fire personnel. Parking for fire personnel only shall be permitted in the eighteen (18) stalls located directly in front of the fire station and marked on the parking plan as "Fire Personnel."
C. 
The Fire Chief is authorized to regulate parking by means of signs within one hundred (100) feet of any fire station.
D. 
The ten (10) parking spaces identified as public parking in front of the Fire Station will be designated as "All Day Parking." "All day parking" is defined as 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
[Added 2-5-2004 by the Board of Selectmen]
A. 
No person shall park or cause to be parked any motor vehicle or motorcycle in a parking space clearly marked as a handicapped parking space, unless that vehicle or motorcycle displays a special registration license plate issued under 29 M.R.S.A. § 252, 252-A or 252-C,[1] or a similar license plate or placard issued by another state. Clearly marked signs include signs painted on the pavement and vertical standing signs.
[1]
Editor's Note: 29 M.R.S.A. §§ 252, 252-A and 252-C were repealed by Chapter 683 of the Laws of 1993. See now 29-A M.R.S.A. § 521 et seq.
B. 
Where the owner of the private off-street parking area has entered into an agreement with the Topsham Police Department for the enforcement of this chapter, as authorized under 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3009, Subsection 1D(2), this chapter may be enforced, in the private off-street area, by the Topsham Police Department.
Double parking shall not be permitted on any street or way within the Town of Topsham.
Whenever any time limit parking is imposed, except when specifically exempted, the municipal officers shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.
When, in the best judgment of the municipal officers or the Chief of Police an emergency exists or is about to exist, because of snow, ice, hurricane or other weather hazard or because of a large gathering such as a fair or concert, the municipal officers or the Chief of Police may, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, determine and designate, by proper emergency signs, streets or portions of streets on which no stopping or parking of vehicles may be permitted and also to determine and designate, by proper emergency signs, streets or portions of streets on which no vehicular traffic may be permitted or on which vehicular traffic may move only in one (1) direction.
A. 
Any person who violates a provision of this Article shall be subject to the following penalties:
Violation
Fine
Overtime parking
$10.00
Vehicle in crosswalk or in sidewalk
$10.00
Obstructing traffic
$10.00
Obstructing driveway
$10.00
Parking in restricted area
$10.00
Double parking
$10.00
Parking overnight
$10.00
Other
$10.00
Handicapped parking violation
[Amended 8-21-1997 by the Board of Selectmen]
$100.00
B. 
Any person who parks a motor vehicle in violation of the parking Code will be subject to a penalty fine of:
[Amended 2-5-2004 by the Board of Selectmen]
(1) 
Ten dollars ($10.00) for the first violation within a seven (7) consecutive day period.
(2) 
Fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the second violation within a seven (7) consecutive day period.
(3) 
Twenty dollars ($20.00) for the third violation within a seven (7) consecutive day period.
(4) 
Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) each for the fourth or more violations within a seven (7) consecutive day period.
(5) 
Handicapped parking violations will remain $100.00 for each offense.
If the penalty is not paid within 30 days after notice of the violation, a civil summons may be issued charging that person with the specific violation under Article IV. Upon adjudication, that person shall be punished by a fine according to Subsection A. The District Court, in addition to the penalty, may assess a fee not to exceed $100.00 to cover the cost to the Town for the District Court process.
C. 
Penalties are to be collected by the Police Department dispatch office and handled according to the Town cash control policy. A duplicate copy of the account will be forwarded to the Selectmen's office.
D. 
Towing.
[Added 2-5-2004 by Board of Selectmen]
(1) 
Purpose. The purpose of these sections is to improve the enforcement of the Topsham parking ordinances and to discourage habitual violators.
(2) 
Definitions. The following words and terms as used in these sections shall have the meanings ascribed thereto, unless the context otherwise indicates:
OUTSTANDING PARKING TICKET
Any notice of violation of any parking ordinance of the Town of Topsham where:
(a) 
The owner of the offending vehicle has been finally determined to be in violation by reason of default or otherwise; and
(b) 
The resultant fine or waiver charge established pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3001 and § 3009 has not been paid.
TOWING LIST
A list maintained by the Police Department containing the names of those wreckers approved by the Town to respond to requests for the towing of vehicles made by the Police Department.
WAIVER CHARGES or CHARGES
The fees a violator may pay to waive court action plus all expenses the Town of Topsham incurs, specifically enumerated in this chapter or state law, to collect fees or fines, including but not limited to certified mail fees.
WRECKER
A person engaged in the business of, or offering the services of, a vehicle wrecker or towing service whereby motor vehicles are or may be towed or otherwise moved from one place to another by the use of a motor vehicle adapted to and designated for that purpose.
(3) 
Towing. The Topsham Police Department is authorized, subject to the requirements of these sections, to remove by use of a wrecker and impound any vehicle found on any public or private way or public property which has accumulated four (4) or more outstanding parking tickets or accumulated fines totalling fifty dollars ($50.00) or more and is authorized to take whatever action is reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of these sections.
(4) 
Notice to owner before towing. After a vehicle has received four (4) or more outstanding tickets or accumulated fines totalling fifty dollars ($50.00) or more, a letter will. be sent to the vehicle's owner or operator. This letter alerts the owner of the outstanding parking tickets or accumulated fines totalling fifty dollars ($50.00) or more and allows thirty (30) days for payment of accumulated fines or waiver charges. After this time period has transpired with no arrangement having been made to pay the fines or waiver charges, a certified letter, return receipt requested, will be sent to the owner or operator allowing seven (7) calendar days for payment of the fines or waiver charges, or the vehicle will be subject to tow.
(5) 
Procedure for towing and impoundment. Any police officer ordering towing and impoundment of a vehicle under these sections shall, at the time of such towing and impounding or within a reasonable time thereafter, notify the dispatcher of the storage location of the vehicle. Such information shall be recorded by the dispatcher for use by the Chief of Police, or his/her authorized representative. The Chief of Police, or his/her authorized representative shall notify the owner or operator by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the towing and impoundment of the vehicle within five (5) business days of the towing and impoundment thereof; the storage location of such vehicle; and the requirements of release as set forth in Subsection D(6). This section shall not apply where an impounded vehicle has been released within the five-day period.
(6) 
Release of vehicles. The vehicle shall not be released until:
(a) 
The individual requesting the release presents satisfactory evidence of his/her right to possession and signs a receipt therefor, and the Chief of Police, or his/her authorized representative, certifies that all fines or waiver fees described in this chapter, including the fees for towing and impoundment, have been paid; or
(b) 
Upon the certification by the Chief of Police, or his/her authorized representative, that the owner or operator is unable to pay accumulated fines or waiver charges by reason of poverty, having provided satisfactory proof of such status, and that such owner or operator has accepted a summons initiating a court proceeding to determine his/her liability for the alleged violations.
(7) 
Towing conditions. Once a police officer has ordered towing, one (1) of three (3) following possibilities exist:
(a) 
If the towing truck is enroute to the scene but has not yet arrived, and the owner or operator has arrived, or if they arrive at approximately the same time, then the owner or operator must pay the wrecker, on arrival, in the amount of one-half (1/2) of the towing charge and must pay to the Chief of Police, or his/her authorized representative, all fines or waiver charges to effect the on-the-scene release of the vehicle.
(b) 
If the wrecker has secured the vehicle before the owner or operator arrives, the owner or operator must pay the wrecker, on arrival, all the towing charges and must pay the Chief of Police, or his/her authorized representative, all fines or waiver charges to effect the on-the-scene release of the vehicle.
(c) 
If the vehicle is actually towed away for impoundment, the vehicle owner or operator must pay the wrecker all towing and storage charges and must pay the Chief of Police, or his/her authorized representative, all fines and waiver charges in order to gain release of the vehicle.
(8) 
Interference with enforcement. It shall be a violation of these sections for any person to obstruct or attempt to prevent the removal of a vehicle as provided in these sections. The penalty for such violation shall not be less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
(9) 
Hearings. The owner or operator of a towed and impounded vehicle may request a hearing on the applicability of these sections to the towing and impoundment. Such hearing shall be scheduled at the earliest possible date and be conducted by the Lieutenant of the Police Department. Decisions of the Lieutenant shall be appealable to the Chief of Police.