A.
General rule. The provisions of this section apply except as necessary
to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or
the directions of a police officer or traffic control device.
B.
Stopping, standing, or parking. A person may not stop, stand, or
park a vehicle:
(1)
Public
driveways. In front of a public driveway.
(2)
Sidewalks.
On a sidewalk. For purposes of this subsection, "sidewalk" includes
the area between the edge of the road surface or curb and the adjacent
property line of private property or public property not used as a
public road, including the extension of any paved or unpaved sidewalk
across a driveway.
[Amended 3-2-2010]
(3)
Intersections.
In an intersection, or within 15 feet of any intersection of any streets,
lanes, alleys or highways, unless otherwise officially marked for
such activity.
(4)
Crosswalks.
On a crosswalk.
(5)
Safety
zones. Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet
of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone,
unless the Town indicates a different length by signs or markings.
(6)
Highway
excavations or obstructions. Alongside or opposite any highway excavation
or obstruction if to do so would obstruct traffic.
(7)
Bridges.
On any bridge or other elevated structure on a highway.
(8)
Highway
tunnels. In a highway tunnel.
(9)
Places
where stopping is prohibited by signs. At any place where stopping
is prohibited by an official sign.
(10)
Entrance
or exit ramps of highways. On any entrance or exit ramp of any highway
with two or more lanes for traffic moving in the same direction.
(11)
Parking
spaces for individuals with disabilities. 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.
(12)
In
front of curb ramp. In front of a curb ramp designed for the use of
individuals with disabilities.
(13)
In
front of passenger loading zone. In front of or on a passenger loading
zone designed or marked for the use of individuals with disabilities.
C.
Standing or parking. A person may not stand or park a vehicle:
(1)
Private
driveways. In front of a private driveway without the consent of the
owner or occupant of the premises.
(2)
Fire
hydrants. Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
[Amended 1-3-2012]
(3)
Crosswalks
at intersections. Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
(4)
Traffic
control signals. 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.
(5)
Driveway
entrances to fire stations. 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.
(6)
Where
standing prohibited by sign. At any place where standing is prohibited
by an official sign.
(7)
Alongside
of other stopped or parked vehicles. On the roadway side of any other
vehicle that is stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a highway.
(8)
Certain
curves on hills. On a curve or hill where solid lines on the surface
of the roadway indicate a zone in which passing is prohibited.
D.
Parking. A person may not park a vehicle:
(1)
Railroad
grade crossings. Within 50 feet of the nearest rail in a railroad
grade crossing.
(2)
Property
of Board of Education of Washington County. On any property owned
by the Board of Education of Washington County where parking is prohibited
by an official sign.
(3)
Other
places where parking prohibited by sign. At any other place where
parking is prohibited by an official sign.
E.
Moving vehicles.
(1)
Moving
the vehicle of another into a prohibited area. A person may not move
a vehicle that he does not lawfully control into any prohibited area.
(2)
Moving
vehicle away from curb for unlawful distance. A person may not move
a vehicle that the person does not lawfully control away from a curb
for an unlawful distance.
A.
Manner of parking generally. 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.
Parking on one-way roadway. Except as otherwise provided by local
ordinance, 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.
Angle parking. The Town may permit angle parking on the roadway of
any highway in its jurisdiction, if the roadway has been determined
by the Town to be wide enough to permit angle parking without interfering
with the free movement of traffic.
D.
Signs prohibiting or restricting stopping, standing, or parking.
The Town may place signs that prohibit or restrict the stopping, standing,
or parking of vehicles on any highway in its jurisdiction where to
stop, stand, or park would:
E.
Stopping, standing, or parking on private property. A person may
not stop, stand, or park a vehicle on any private property not owned
by the owner or driver of the vehicle unless the person has 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.
F.
Parking over lines or markings. No person shall park any vehicle
across any line or marking of a parking space or in such position
that the vehicle shall not be entirely within the area designated
by such lines or markings. Except to the extent required by its length,
a combination vehicle (see § 11-108 of the Transportation
Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for definition thereof)
shall not be parked across any line or marking of a parking space
or in such position that the combination vehicle shall not be entirely
within the area designated by such lines or markings. In no circumstances
may a combination vehicle occupy more than one partial parking space,
plus one or more whole parking spaces.[1]
The following parking is prohibited:
A.
No person shall park a vehicle on any street, highway, or alley for
a longer period than 48 hours, other than in front of the immediate
property owned or occupied or under the control of the owner of said
vehicle, unless the owner or person in charge thereof secures a permit
in writing from the Town Clerk-Treasurer or administrative head of
the Police Department to remain for a specified longer period of time.
This permit will be for a period not to exceed 30 days.
B.
Trucks, tractors, trailers, motor homes and commercial vehicles.
(1)
No person shall park a truck, tractor, trailer, semitrailer or any
combination thereof or any commercial vehicle designed for or capable
of carrying a load in excess of 4,000 pounds on any street, highway
or alley for a longer period than four hours, unless the owner or
person in charge thereof secures a permit in writing from the Town
Clerk-Treasurer or administrative head of the Police Department to
remain for a specified longer period of time.
(2)
No person shall park a truck, tractor, trailer, semitrailer or any
combination thereof or any commercial vehicle designed for or capable
of carrying a load in excess of 4,000 pounds for a longer period than
one hour on any street or highway in front of any property used or
intended to be used exclusively for residence purposes; provided,
however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to
commercial trucks which are parked for the purpose of or in connection
with the performance of work or services for or on behalf of any person
within a radius of one block from such property used or intended to
be used exclusively for residence purposes.
(3)
No person shall park a camping trailer, motor home, trailer or travel
trailer on any street, highway or alley for a longer period than 48
hours, unless the owner or person in charge thereof secures a permit
in writing from the Town Clerk-Treasurer or administrative head of
the Police Department to remain for a longer period of time. Said
permit shall specify the period of time during which parking is permitted,
including a specific beginning/ending date and time, and may include
other restrictions on the place and manner of parking the specific
vehicle involved. Any such permit may be amended from time to time
to specify additional restrictions and/or other amendments to a previously
issued permit, including but not limited to revocation of a previously
issued permit.
[Amended 3-2-2010]
C.
When signs are erected or posted for purposes of cleaning the streets
or repairing the streets, or for purposes of parades or for any other
corporate reasons, in each block giving such notice, no such person
shall park any vehicle, either attended or unattended, upon any street
over which said sign shall be posted.
D.
When a section of the curb along any street is colored red by the
application of paint or other material and by proper authority, no
person shall park a vehicle there at any time.
E.
No person shall park a vehicle, other than a bus, at any place established
and designated as a bus stop or station.
F.
No person shall park a vehicle, other than a taxicab, at any place
established and designated as a taxicab stand.
G.
When the Maryland State Police or other appropriate Maryland authority
declares or determines that the snow emergency plan is in effect in
Washington County, Maryland, no person shall permit a vehicle to remain
in any parking space designated by the Town as a snow emergency space
for more than two daylight hours after the snowfall causing the snow
emergency ceases. Once the Town officials or its agents have caused
the parking space designated by the Town as a snow emergency space
to be plowed or substantially cleared of the snowfall causing the
snow emergency plan to be placed in effect, the parking space may
be occupied by vehicles otherwise in compliance with all other parking
regulations of the Town.
H.
No person shall stand or park a vehicle upon any roadway for the
principal purpose of displaying it for sale or washing, greasing or
repairing such vehicle, except minor repairs necessitated by an emergency.
I.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or person responsible for any
vehicle to park or leave for more than 24 hours or to permit an individual
or corporation to park or leave for more than 24 hours, upon the public
streets, alleys, ways, or any property of the Town of Smithsburg,
any disabled or wrecked vehicle.
[Amended 3-2-2010]
J.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or person responsible for any
vehicle to park or leave upon the public streets, alleys, or ways
within the Town of Smithsburg, or upon any property of the Town of
Smithsburg, any unregistered vehicle.
[Added 3-2-2010]
A.
The Mayor and Council is hereby authorized and empowered to establish
restricted areas in such portions of the streets, highways, and alleys
of the Town as it shall deem proper, within which no parking of motor
vehicles, horse-drawn vehicles or animals of the horse kind shall
be allowed.
B.
If such area shall be designated, it shall be by painting the curb
markers or as otherwise authorized by law. All such areas, where the
curbs binding thereon are now painted red, or which may hereafter
be painted red by authority of the Mayor and Council, shall be restricted
areas within which no parking shall be allowed.
C.
No vehicle of any kind shall be allowed to stand or park in any such
restricted area for a longer time than actually necessary to take
on or discharge passengers, freight or merchandise.
D.
It shall be unlawful for any person to paint any curb red without
authority from the Mayor and Council. No other signals or standards
designating areas where parking is not allowed shall hereafter be
erected by any person or persons without authority from the Mayor
and Council.
E.
The Mayor and Council are hereby authorized, when found desirable
or the occasion may so require, to restrict parking in any given area
and shall be empowered to designate areas and limit time of restriction.
Such areas shall be marked by sign or marker, which shall state the
hours of parking or the length of time a vehicle may remain in said
area, street or alley.
A.
Irrespective of other provisions of this article for penalizing illegal
parking of vehicles, the duly authorized enforcement officer and/or
a police officer is hereby authorized and directed to tow away or
have towed away by a tow truck registered under § 13-920
of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland all
vehicles violating parking prohibitions contained in any of the previous
provisions of this article.[1]
B.
When it becomes necessary for the Town to carry out the provisions
of this section by moving a vehicle illegally parked as aforesaid,
it shall be the duty of the Town to provide storage space for such
vehicle, either in a municipal garage or in a safe and dependable
private garage, but nevertheless nothing herein shall be taken or
construed as obligating the Town or any municipal department for damage
done to or destruction of such vehicle if so stored, unless by law
otherwise provided.
C.
The cost of the towing and storage as hereinbefore provided shall
be determined as follows:
(1)
If the towing or storage is done by the Town, the cost thereof shall
be in accordance with the reasonable expenses incident to the same,
plus a reasonable charge as compensation therefor.
(2)
If the towing or storage is done by a private company or individual,
then the cost shall be at the rate usually charged for such service
by such company or individual, but in no case shall the cost exceed
a reasonable compensation for the actual labor, material or space
involved.
D.
It shall be entirely within the discretion of the Town as to whether
the towing and storage provided in this section shall be done by a
municipal department or by a private company or individual.
E.
Upon determination by the Town of the cost of towing and storing
an illegally parked vehicle, the same shall be charged against the
owner of the vehicle and shall be added to and be made a part of any
fine thereafter imposed for such violation.
F.
Irrespective of any method for collecting fines for traffic violations
otherwise provided, and in addition thereto, all towing and storage
costs imposed under this section shall constitute and be a lien against
any vehicle so found to be illegally parked, and such lien shall not
be lost nor shall the same be considered waived by reason of the owner's
taking possession of the vehicle before the costs are paid.
G.
In the event that any vehicle is towed and stored in accordance with
the provisions herein contained and it becomes an abandoned vehicle,
the disposition thereof shall be as provided by Title 25, Subtitle
2, of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as prohibiting
the Mayor and Council from providing for bus stops, taxicab stands
and other matters of similar nature, including the loading or unloading
of trucks, vans or other commercial vehicles.
B.
The parking regulation enforcement officers are hereby authorized
to issue citations for violation of this article and shall enforce
this article in accordance with the provisions of Title 26, Subtitle
3, Parking Ordinances and Regulations, § 26-301 et seq.,
of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and
as may from time to time be amended.
A.
General. The violation of this article, in addition to the other
remedies provided herein, shall be considered a misdemeanor. Any person,
upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $100. Each violation
of this article shall constitute a separate offense, and each day
shall constitute a separate offense.
[Amended 3-2-2010]
B.
In the event that any vehicle is unlawfully parked in accordance
with the provisions of this article for a period of 48 hours, the
Town, through its duly authorized enforcement officer, is hereby authorized
to direct to tow or have towed away by a competent person all such
vehicles violating the parking prohibitions contained in this article.
C.
In the event that any person receives a parking citation pursuant
to this article and fails to pay the same in accordance with this
article and the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Town shall have the
right to utilize, among other remedies, those administrative remedies
available to the Town pursuant to the Transportation Article of the
Annotated Code of Maryland, including but not limited to the suspension
of the violator's registration. If the Town is required to take administrative
action against a person violating this article, the Town shall have
the right to assess, in addition to any other penalties set forth
herein, administrative fees which shall be paid prior to any reinstatement
of the violator's registration or lifting of any suspension which
may be imposed.
D.
Specific violations. The following fines shall be assessed and collected
if the person receiving the same does not elect to stand trial pursuant
to the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland:
[Amended 3-2-2010]
(1)
Double parking: $20.
(2)
No-parking sign: $20.
(3)
Parking on a red line: $20.
(4)
Parking on a red line going the wrong way: $40.
(5)
Blocking a walkway: $40.
(6)
Blocking an alley: $40.
(7)
Parking the wrong way: $20.
(8)
Parking in front of a fire hydrant: $50.
(9)
Parking in a handicapped zone: $50.
(10)
Any other violation of this article for which parking citations
may be issued: $20.
E.
Fines unpaid for 30 days or more. The fines set forth in Subsection D of this section shall increase by doubling if the person receiving the parking citation does not elect to stand trial pursuant to the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and the fine is not paid within 30 days of the date of issuance of the parking citation, or having stood trial, the fine is not paid within 30 days of the date of the trial. If after 60 days of the date of issuance of the parking citation, or having stood trial, the fine has not been paid, the Smithsburg Police Department will take administrative action with the Motor Vehicle Administration against the owner of the vehicle which was in violation.
[Amended 3-2-2010]
