[Adopted 9-4-1984 by L.L. No. 11-1984][1]
[1]
Editor's Note: This article, formerly the entirety of Ch. 375, Vehicles and Traffic, was redesignated 6-7-2022 by L.L. No. 8-2022.
It is the intent of this chapter to:
A. 
Promote public safety by regulating the use and operation of motor vehicles upon County property.
B. 
Provide for the designation of fire lanes and/or fire zones, public parking areas, public and employee parking areas and handicapped parking areas.
C. 
Provide for the disposal of unattended and abandoned motor vehicles in fire lanes or other zones duly marked "restricted."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COUNTY PROPERTY
Includes all property owned by the County of Rockland and all property under the jurisdiction and control of the County of Rockland, except County parkland as defined in Local Law No. 19-1967.[1], [2]
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
A police, fire or ambulance vehicle engaged in official business.
FIRE ZONE and FIRE LANE
An unobstructed passageway marked or designated on County property and accessible to the public to permit free ingress and egress of fire, police and other emergency vehicles and equipment from or to a public highway.
OPERATOR
Includes every individual who shall operate a vehicle as the owner thereof, or as the agent, employee or permittee of the owner, or who is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
PERSON
Includes every natural person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation.
VEHICLE
Any device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported upon a highway, except a device which is operated upon rails or tracks.
VEHICLE OPERATED BY OR FOR A HANDICAPPED OR ILL PERSON
A vehicle operated by or for such person which displays a New York State license plate, official New York State permit or municipal temporary special vehicle identification parking permit, valid for not more than six months, certifying that said vehicle is operated by or for such person.
[Amended 9-3-1985 by L.L. No. 8-1985]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 315, Parks.
[2]
Editor's Note: The definition of "committee," which immediately preceded this definition, was repealed 4-4-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995.
[Amended 4-4-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
A. 
The County Executive shall determine the location of areas to be designated fire lanes and fire zones as shall be requested by the Fire Coordinator of the County of Rockland or such other appropriate officials of Village, Town or County government. Upon such designation, the Highway Department of the County of Rockland and/or the Department of Buildings and Grounds of the County of Rockland shall erect and post appropriate signs or other markings in conformance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Only emergency vehicles shall be authorized to use said lanes or zones and only in case of an emergency.
B. 
The County Executive shall designate those areas for the parking of vehicles operated by or used for transporting handicapped or ill persons, including employees of the County of Rockland, after consultation with the County Director for People with Disabilities, the President of Rockland Community College, the Commissioner of Hospitals and the Administrative Judge of the Supreme Court of Rockland County, where appropriate. The Highway Department of the County of Rockland and/or the Department of Buildings and Grounds of the County of Rockland shall erect and post appropriate signs or other markings in conformance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Only those persons authorized to use said parking spaces shall be permitted to park in said space.
C. 
The County Executive shall designate and establish parking spaces and/or time limitations for certain parking spaces as "reserved parking"; "public parking only - no employee parking"; "public parking - employee parking permitted"; and "visitor parking - time limited" after consultation with the President of Rockland Community College (at RCC), the Commissioner of Hospitals (at the Health Complex) and the Administrative Judge of the Supreme Court of Rockland County (at the courthouse), where appropriate. Upon such designation, the Highway Department of the County of Rockland and/or the Department of Buildings and Grounds of the County of Rockland shall erect and post appropriate signs or other markings in conformance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Only those persons authorized to use said parking spaces shall be permitted to park in said space and within the time that is specified on the posted sign.
D. 
The County Executive shall designate speed limits, including speed limits under 20 miles per hour, on any or all County property, after consultation with the President of Rockland Community College and the Commissioner of Hospitals, where appropriate.
E. 
The County Executive shall designate the aforementioned areas by filing said designations with the Rockland County Clerk, Clerk to the Legislature of Rockland County, the Sheriff of the County of Rockland and, where appropriate, the President of Rockland Community College, the Administrative Judge of the Supreme Court of Rockland County and the Commissioner of Hospitals.
Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or where in compliance with law or the directives of a police officer or official traffic control device, no person shall:
A. 
Park in an area designated "no parking."
B. 
Park in an area designated "fire zone" or "fire lane."
C. 
Park in an area designated "handicapped parking," unless expressly provided in this chapter.
D. 
Park in an area designated "public parking - no employee parking" if the person is an employee of the County of Rockland or the State of New York or its constituent agencies.
E. 
Park in an area designated as a reserved space for any County or government official, unless the vehicle is owned or operated by such designated County or governmental official.
F. 
Park a vehicle in an area designated "visitor parking - time limited," if that person parks said vehicle in said parking space for more than the limit specified on the posted sign.
[Added 4-4-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
G. 
When and if the Sheriff has reason to believe that an unsafe or hazardous parking condition exists or is likely to come to exist upon County property or property immediately adjacent to a County road, then the Sheriff may erect temporary "No Parking" signs to protect the public safety. Persons shall be prohibited from parking in such an area and be subject to penalties as set forth in this chapter.
[Added 2-18-2020 by L.L. No. 2-2020]
No person shall operate a vehicle on County property at a speed in excess of 20 miles per hour unless a lesser speed limit is posted in any area designated by the Committee.
Whenever any vehicle shall be found parked or operated in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff on duty shall place on such vehicle a notice to the owner thereof that such vehicle has been parked in violation of this chapter, summoning such owner to appear before a Town Justice in any of the appropriate towns in Rockland County at a time therein designated. When the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff observes a vehicle exceeding the speed limit or violating any other provisions of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, he shall issue a uniform traffic citation summoning such operator to appear before a Town or Village Justice in any of the appropriate towns or villages in Rockland County at a time therein designated.
Whenever any vehicle shall be found parked in violation of the provisions of this chapter, such vehicle may be removed and conveyed by or under the direction of a member of the Sheriff's Department or a member of the Security Department of Rockland Community College, if parked on property used for Community College purposes, after being ticketed by the Sheriff's Department, by means of towing the same, or otherwise, to some suitable place of storage, and such removal and storage shall be at the risk and expense of the owner of such vehicle and shall be governed by the provisions of Local Law No. 9-1979.[1] Before the owner or person in charge of such vehicle shall be permitted to remove the same from the custody of the Sheriff's Department or from the custody of the Security Department of Rockland Community College, he shall furnish evidence of his identity and ownership or right to possession and shall pay all charges for towing and storage. Prior to the vehicle's being released to the person claiming the same, such person shall sign a receipt for such vehicle.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 394, Wreckers and Towers.
[Amended 9-3-1985 by L.L. No. 8-1985; 5-1-1990 by L.L. No. 5-1990]
A. 
Every person convicted of a traffic infraction for a violation of any provision of this chapter shall, for a first conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $50; for a second such conviction within 18 months after the first conviction, such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250.
B. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any violation hereof which constitutes a misdemeanor under the Vehicle and Traffic Law shall be punished in the manner as provided by the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York.