[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Ridgefield 7-31-1974 (§ 3-4 of the 1974 Code), as last amended 6-22-1994. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire alarms — See Ch. 112, Art. II.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 175.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
FIRE ZONE
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 as hereinafter set forth.
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 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 Town Clerk of the Town of Ridgefield, the Board of Selectmen and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Any person aggrieved by such order may file with the Town Clerk of the Town of Ridgefield, the Board of Selectmen and the Planning and Zoning Commission, within 15 days after the date of such order, written notice of appeal, setting forth therein reasons of aggrievement. After hearing by the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Selectmen may affirm, modify or rescind such order.
A. 
Erection or installation; cost. Upon establishment of a fire zone, the Fire Marshal shall cause to be erected or installed to delineate said fire zone either adequate signs or markings or other devices or a combination thereof. 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 Board of Selectmen causes a notice of lien to be filed on the land records within 60 days after such erection or installation. The property owner shall maintain all fire zone signs and markings and shall be subject to billing and collection, in the same manner as municipal taxes, provided that the Board of Selectmen causes a notice of lien to be filed on the land records within 60 days after such erection or installation.
B. 
Content and size. The signs and markings for fire zones shall be as follows:
(1) 
Signs. One sign shall state "No Parking, Fire Zone," with dimensions of 12 inches in width and 18 inches in height. The second sign shall state "Except Fire, Police and Ambulance Vehicles," with dimensions of 12 inches in width and nine inches in height. Signs shall have a background of white with lines and lettering in red.
(2) 
Markings and other devices. Markings or other devices installed in a fire zone shall only be those markings and devices specified and approved by the Fire Marshal.
[Amended 7-23-2014]
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. All police, fire and ambulance vehicles shall be exempt from the provisions of this section when parked in a designated fire zone area and involved in official business. Any person violating this section shall be fined not more than the amount denoted in C.G.S. Section 14-253a. The registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be presumed to be the operator of the vehicle.
Any motor vehicle found standing in a fire zone which has been established in accordance with this chapter may be towed, upon 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 the vehicle.
Whenever a vehicle is found standing in violation of § 183-5, a police officer, fire marshal, or fire inspector 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 Police Department or Fire Department prior to a time specified in such notice. If any person receiving said notice shall appear as directed and shall pay an amount as specified in said notice, not exceeding $50, such payment shall bar a prosecution for violation of § 183-5.