[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Town of Snow Hill as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-14-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-7]
This article shall be entitled "Parking Regulations."
This article shall create a new ordinance governing
the parking of vehicles in Snow Hill, Maryland.
This article shall regulate the parking of vehicles
on publicly owned streets, highways, alleys, parking lots, parks and
other publicly owned property; privately owned retail and commercial
property open to the general public; privately owned streets and alleys
used by the general public; the parking of commercial motor vehicles
and other vehicles over certain sizes in certain areas of Town; the
operation of refrigeration units on motor vehicles in certain areas
of Town; and provide for the issuance of a citation or other penalty
as provided herein.
A.
This article may be enforced by any police or peace
officer, or any person, other than a police officer, who is authorized
by the Chief of Police to issue a citation for a violation of this
article. The Town may also designate certain violations or areas as
subjecting the vehicle to towing and impounding.
B.
An officer who discovers a vehicle parked in violation
of this article shall deliver a copy of the citation to the driver
or, if the vehicle is unattended, attach a copy of the citation to
the vehicle in a conspicuous place; and keep a copy of the citation
bearing his certification under the penalty of perjury that the facts
stated in the citation are true and correct to the best of his knowledge,
information and belief. In the absence of the driver, the registered
owner of the vehicle is presumed to be the person receiving the citation.
A.
The person receiving a citation under this article
shall pay the fine directly to the Town of Snow Hill, or elect to
stand trial for the violation. If a person elects to stand trial for
the violation, the Town of Snow Hill must receive a notice of intention
to stand trial at least five days before the fine is due.
B.
If a person elects to stand trial and desires the
presence of the issuing officer at the trial, the person shall notify
the Town of Snow Hill at the time of the election to stand trial.
If the Town does not receive proper notification, the officer need
not appear at the trial, and the copy of the citation bearing the
certification of the officer is prima facie evidence of the facts
stated in it.
A.
A citation shall be due and payable at Town Hall within
20 days from the date of issuance unless an election to stand trial
has been made as provided in this article. Payment may be made by
cash, check or money order made payable to the Town of Snow Hill.
B.
A check or money order returned for insufficient funds,
account closed or stopped payment shall be treated as if no payment
has been received. The Town shall impose a returned check fee of $25,
in addition to any fee charged to the Town by the bank for the returned
check.
The maximum fine that may be incurred for a
violation of this article shall be $500 plus court costs, if applicable.
The Mayor and Council may set or modify initial fine amounts for the
issuance of parking citations from time to time by resolution.
A.
In addition to any original fine amount shown on the
citation, the fine due and payable shall increase by the amount of
the original fine every thirty-day period beginning after the original
due date, until the fine is received by the Town, up to the maximum
fine amount prescribed by this article. This section does not apply
if a request to stand trial was received in a timely manner.
B.
The Town of Snow Hill may also participate in the
Maryland vehicle flagging system as provided for in the Maryland Vehicle
Law.
A.
General rule. The provisions of this section apply
except as necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or the directions
of a police officer or traffic control device.
B.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle within
five feet of the entrance of a public or private driveway.
C.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on
a sidewalk.
D.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle in
any intersection, or within 15 feet of any intersection.
E.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on
a crosswalk.
F.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle alongside
or opposite any highway excavation or obstruction if to do so would
obstruct traffic.
G.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on
any bridge or other elevated structure on a highway.
H.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle at
any place where stopping, standing or parking is prohibited by an
official sign, yellow painted curb, official marking or control device.
I.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on
any entrance or exit ramp of any highway or roadway, unless it is
disabled.
J.
A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 15
feet of a fire hydrant.
K.
A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 20
feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
L.
A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 30
feet on the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign
or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.
M.
A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 20
feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station, or on the side
of a highway opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet
of the entrance, if properly signposted.
N.
A person may not stand or park a vehicle on the roadway
side of any other vehicle that is stopped or parked at the edge or
curb of a highway (also known as "double parking").
O.
A person may not stand or park a vehicle on a curve
or hill where solid lines on the surface of the roadway indicate a
zone in which passing is prohibited.
P.
A person may not park a vehicle within 50 feet of
the nearest rail in a railroad grade crossing.
Q.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle unless
for the use of an individual with a disability, in a space or zone
marked as restricted for the use of individuals with disabilities.
A vehicle shall display a current special registration plate, removable
windshield placard or temporary removable placard issued by the Motor
Vehicle Administration of this state or any other state or country
while occupying the space.
R.
A person may not park a vehicle at any other place
where parking is prohibited by an official sign.
S.
A person may not park a vehicle at any other place
where an official sign designates restricted parking, if the person
or vehicle does not comply with the posted restriction.
T.
A person may not move a vehicle that the person does
not lawfully control.
U.
A person may not park a vehicle in front of a curb
ramp designed for the use of individuals with disabilities.
V.
A person may not park a vehicle in front of or on
a passenger loading zone designed or marked for the use of individuals
with disabilities.
A.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, a vehicle
that is stopped or parked on a two-way roadway shall be stopped or
parked parallel to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, with
its right-hand wheels within 12 inches of that curb or edge of the
roadway.
B.
A vehicle that is stopped or parked on a one-way roadway
shall be stopped or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway,
in the direction of authorized traffic movement, with:
C.
The Mayor and Council may permit angle parking on
the roadway of any highway in its jurisdiction, if the roadway has
been determined to be wide enough to permit angle parking without
interfering with the free movement of traffic.
D.
A person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on
any private property not owned by the owner of the vehicle or driver
of the vehicle unless the person has the express or implied permission
from the property owner, his tenant or his agent to stop, stand or
park the vehicle, as the case may be. An officer may issue a citation
upon request of the property owner, his tenant or agent.
E.
On any street, alley, highway, publicly owned parking
lot or property, which has parking spaces marked on the pavement or
adjacent curbline, a person may not park a vehicle so that it protrudes
into any other space or portion thereof, unless the vehicle size will
not permit the vehicle to fit within a single space.
F.
A person may not park a vehicle in any area designated
for safety as a fire lane or emergency vehicle lane.
G.
A person may not park or allow a vehicle to remain
in any metered parking space displaying an expired time limit. The
Mayor and Council may establish by resolution such times and days
as it may choose, if any, to waive the paying of the parking meters.
H.
A person may not park a vehicle in any parking space
or lot for any time in excess of any posted time limit.
I.
A person may not park a vehicle in any parking space
requiring the display of a parking permit without obtaining and displaying
a valid permit in a conspicuous location. The Mayor and Council may
also establish by resolution such times and days as it may choose,
if any, to waive the permit requirement.
J.
A person may not park a vehicle in any designated
loading or unloading zone unless actually engaged in the loading or
unloading of cargo or produce.
K.
A person may not park a vehicle on any highway, street
or alley or part thereof, if the highway, street or alley has been
temporarily closed to parking or traffic by the Police Department
for any public event, parade or emergency. If the owner or operator
of a vehicle cannot be located within a reasonable time under the
circumstances to move the vehicle, the Police Department may have
the vehicle towed at the owner's expense to allow access to the area.
A.
A person may not park a vehicle on any grass area
in any park in Town, unless the owner or operator of the vehicle or
the special event coordinator has obtained permission in advance from
the Town to do so, except where parking is permitted by official sign.
B.
A person may not park a vehicle so as to block or
restrict access to any park facility, restroom, boat slip, dock, boat
ramp, parking lot or space, handicapped access ramp or space, foot
trail, bicycle trail or driveway of any type.
A.
A person may not park any combination commercial motor
vehicle, trailer of any type or description, truck cab, bus, farm
tractor, motor home, truck camper or any vehicle three-fourths-ton
gross vehicle weight or larger on any residential street in Snow Hill
from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., except while actually loading or unloading
or providing emergency services, without a permit issued by the Town
Manager or Police Department. The permit shall only be issued for
good cause and for a period not to exceed 48 hours. The Mayor and
Council may issue or renew a permit for a period not to exceed 90
days; such permit may only be issued for good cause.
B.
A person may not park any vehicle or trailer equipped
with a mechanical cooling or refrigeration unit in operation for more
than two hours (whether or not it cycles on and off) in any residential
area of Town or within 250 feet of the nearest residence, unless it
is waiting in a line of vehicles to deliver a perishable product and
attended by the driver. In this section a "residence" shall include
a hotel, motel or other lodging place, if the rooms are occupied at
the time.
The terms in this article have the following
meanings as indicated in this section. All other terms used in this
article have the same meanings as defined or used in the Maryland
Vehicle Code, as amended from time to time.
Where used in a mandatory sense, the complete
cessation from movement; and
Where used in a prohibitory sense, to halt,
even momentarily, a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, except
when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance
with the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device.
To halt a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, momentarily,
only:
To halt a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, other than
momentarily:
[Adopted 12-13-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04]
The following article be and the same hereby is adopted recognizing
speed monitoring systems within school zones and work zones with the
Town of Snow Hill, as well as adopting the areas within a one-half-mile
radius of any school be designated as a "school zone." (Refer to attached
map that shows the school zone designation.[1])
[1]
Editor's Note: Said map is on file in the Town offices.
In general: In this article, the following terms have the meanings
indicated.
Either or both:
The use and enforcement of speed monitoring systems in school
zones and work zones is authorized.
A speed monitoring system may not be used except in accordance
with and subject to the standards, procedures, requirements, limitations
and other provisions of:
A violation recorded by a speed monitoring system may be enforced
as provided in the state enabling law.
A.
In general. The Police Department may develop and, with the approval
of the Town Council, adopt rules and regulations to govern the implementation
and use of speed monitoring systems.
C.
To be compliant with enabling law. All rules and regulations adopted
under this section must be compliant with the state enabling law,
and must be approved by the Town Council before implementation.
D.
As part of the Town Council's approval of rules and regulations
adopted hereunder, the Town Council may choose to contract with a
private contractor to install, maintain, and monitor the speed monitoring
system, and in the case as part of the approval process, the Town
Council shall approve any contractual arrangements between said private
contractor and the Town.
A.
For the initial 30 days after the first school zone speed monitoring
system is activated in any school zone, a violation recorded by it
may be enforced only by issuance of a warning; and
B.
For the initial 30 days after the first work zone speed control system
is activated in any work zone, a violation recorded by it or any other
work zone speed control system may be enforced only by issuance of
a warning.