[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Bethlehem 8-24-1992. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to, without limitation, the provisions of C.G.S. § 7-148
and for the public's health, safety, welfare and convenience
and to protect the Town from fire, it is hereby made the duty of the
Fire Marshal and his agents to inquire into and investigate the parking
of motor vehicles of all kinds ("vehicles") in driveways, alleys,
parking areas and other open spaces adjacent to or leading to dwellings
occupied by three or more families and buildings open to the public,
where the blocking of such driveways, alleys, parking areas and other
open spaces by the parking of vehicles endangers the safety of persons
occupying or using said dwellings and/or buildings so as to constitute
a fire hazard, in the opinion of the Fire Marshal; to designate parking
in said areas as a fire hazard; and to have said areas posted as a
fire zone. This section shall not apply to driveways serving one dwelling
occupied by less than three families.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A designated unobstructed passageway sufficient in size to
permit free passage of fire and other emergency equipment from a public
highway to all necessary areas or portions of any private or public
property.
The Fire Marshal shall establish a fire zone by written order
specifying the limits thereof, shall file a copy of said order with
the Board of Selectmen and Town Clerk and shall send a copy by certified
mail, return receipt requested, to the owner(s) or agent(s) thereof
of any private land on which such fire zone is established. If any
such certified mail copy is returned, a copy of such order shall be
published at least once in a newspaper having general circulation
within the Town, and a copy of the order shall be posted in a conspicuous
place on each dwelling or building affected thereby.
A.
Any private property owner aggrieved by the designation of a fire
zone on his property may file with the Town Clerk, within 30 days
after receipt of the Fire Marshal's order by mail or within 30
days of the last publication or posting of such order, whichever is
later, written notice of appeal, setting forth therein reasons of
aggrievement.
B.
The Board of Selectmen shall hold a hearing on such appeal within
60 days after it has been filed. Reasonable notice of the time, date
and place of the hearing shall be given to the property owner and
the Fire Marshal. At such hearing, the Board shall consider the reasons
of aggrievement, the reasons for the establishment of the fire zone
and shall determine whether said order was reasonably necessary in
order to protect the safety of persons occupying or using the dwellings
and/or buildings involved.
C.
The Board may affirm, modify or rescind the order and shall notify
the property owner and the Fire Marshal in writing of its decision
within 15 days of the date of the hearing.
Within 10 days of the establishment or modification of a fire
zone, the Board of Selectmen shall cause to be erected or installed
adequate signs, markings or other devices to delineate said fire zone
and to warn that no parking is permitted therein.
No person shall park, or permit to stand, a vehicle in a fire
zone, except when actually picking up or discharging passengers.
Town of Bethlehem municipal police officers, or other authority designated by the Board of Selectmen or First Selectman, are authorized to remove or have removed by a commercial towing service any vehicle parked in violation of § 79-6 to the nearest garage or place of safety or to a garage designated or maintained by the Board of Selectmen within the Town of Bethlehem. Such removal shall be at the risk and expense of the owner of the vehicle. Cars so removed shall be stored in a safe place and shall be restored to the owner or operator upon payment of a fee of $20 within 24 hours after the time the car was removed, plus $10 for each additional 24 hours or fraction thereof, plus reasonable costs of towing and storage.
[Amended 9-19-2019]
It is hereby provided, however, that the Board of Selectmen
or its designee may, in lieu of towing said vehicle to a garage, serve
upon the owner, operator or other person in charge of the vehicle,
or attach to the vehicle, a notice directing the owner or operator
or other person in charge thereof to appear in person and pay $100
or to mail a check or money order for said sum to the Board of Selectmen,
Town of Bethlehem, within 48 hours subsequent to issuance of said
notice. A receipt shall be issued for all money so received.
