[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Suffield
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-17-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-03]
The following parking rules and regulations shall apply to the
streets and roads within the jurisdiction of the Town of Suffield.
A.
No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle on the traveled portion
or shoulder of said street or road in such a manner as will impede
the free flow of traffic. Double parking, parking at the curb improperly,
parking in permanently or temporarily designated "No Parking Zones,"
parking in restricted areas at times when parking is prohibited, parking
along state highways, parking in a designated handicapped space or
zone, and parking on any said street or road while snow removal operations
are being conducted shall be interpreted as "impeding traffic."
B.
No person shall park in excess of the time limit designated on any
parking sign; park more than 12 inches from a curb; park in violation
of fire and park rules and regulations; park in front of an entrance
to a public building; park within 25 feet of an intersection or stop
sign; park on a crosswalk; park within 10 feet of a fire hydrant;
park on a sidewalk; park on the wrong side of a street; or park so
as to obstruct a driveway.
Whenever any vehicle is found parked in violation of this article
or any ordinance or rule or regulation of the traffic authority which
relates to parking, a police officer or such other person as authorized
by the Board of Selectmen or the Chief of Police to give such notice
shall attach to such vehicle a notice to the owner or operator thereof
stating that such vehicle has been parked unlawfully.
[Amended 12-19-2019]
The penalty for any violation of this article shall be in accordance
with the schedule set by the Board of Selectmen, provided that the
owner or operator of the vehicle in question pays this amount in person
or remits this amount by mail to the Suffield Police Department as
a penalty for and in full satisfaction of such violation within seven
days of the time notice of the violation is attached to the vehicle
or personally given to the owner or operator of the vehicle by a police
officer or other authorized person. If such payment is not made within
seven days of the attachment or delivery of notice of a violation,
the fine shall double. Failure to pay the appropriate fine as provided
for in this article shall be an infraction as provided for in Connecticut
General Statutes §§ 51-164m and 51-164n. Pursuant to
Connecticut General Statutes § 51-164p, any such violation
shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $90 for each offense.
A.
In addition to penalties described herein, a police officer may order
any vehicle which is parked so as to impede traffic or to obstruct
snow removal operations to be towed from the location in which it
is parked to a vehicle pound at the owner's or operator's
expense.
B.
The Chief of Police shall create a vehicle pound or pounds to which
vehicles may be removed by a police officer.
Any person desiring to appeal the notice of violation may do
so to the Board of Selectmen by completing a written appeal form available
at the Suffield Police Department within seven days of the day such
notice of violation was issued. If the appeal is upheld, no payment
shall be necessary; if the appeal is denied, the payment of the required
fine shall be made within seven days of the date of the decision of
the appeal. Failure by the Board of Selectmen to decide such appeal
within 30 days of its receipt shall cause the appeal to be granted
automatically.
[Adopted 4-29-1976 (Ch.
17, Art. II, Div. 2, of the 1987 Code)]
[Amended 12-19-2019]
As used herein the following words and phrases shall have the
following meanings:
Any building existing on the effective date of the ordinance
from which this article derives or thereafter included within the
meaning of a "place of assembly" pursuant to the State Fire Safety
Code as the same may be amended from time to time.
A designated unobstructed passageway at least 20 feet in
width with an outside turning radius of 50 feet and constructed in
a manner to permit free passage of fire apparatus and other emergency
equipment from a public highway to all necessary areas around or upon
any of the premises described in the definition of "building" herein,
in all seasons and in all kinds of weather.
Lots, areas or other accommodations of motor vehicles off
the street or highway and open to the public use with or without charge,
which parking areas are on the same premises as or adjacent to a building
as herein defined.
The Board of Selectmen and the Fire Marshal, acting together,
shall determine and designate the location of such fire lanes in parking
areas as they deem necessary to ensure access of fire apparatus and
other emergency equipment to buildings on the same premises as or
adjacent to the parking areas. Upon such a determination and designation,
the Fire Marshal shall by certified mail inform the owner or owners
of the parking area of such determination and designation. Such notice
shall include a description of the fire lane sufficient to apprise
the owner of its nature, location and extent, and shall give notice
that such fire lane shall be maintained as such by the owner beginning
on the 21st day after the mailing of the notice.
The owner of any parking area on which has been designated a
fire lane shall cause to be erected, installed and maintained at his
own expense permanent and adequate signs bearing the words "Fire Lane — No
Parking — Cars will be Towed at Owner's Expense"
in such fire lane. Such owners shall cause to be erected, installed
and maintained such other and further designations as may reasonably
be required by the Fire Marshal to warn persons to keep said fire
lanes free. The Fire Marshal may notify in writing the owner of such
parking area of specific requirements he/she deems necessary to effect
compliance with this article. Such notice shall be sent to the owner
by certified mail and shall prescribe a reasonable time for compliance
by the owner. If the owner shall fail to comply within such time,
then the owner shall be subject to a fine of not less than $25 nor
more than $50 for each such violation, and each day following such
specified time for compliance shall constitute a separate violation.
The owner shall keep fire lanes free of ice, snow, rubbish containers,
or other obstructions at all times.
A.
No person
shall park or permit to stand a motor vehicle in any fire lane except
when actually picking up or discharging passengers or actively engaged
in loading or unloading a motor vehicle.
B.
Any motor
vehicle found parked or standing in a fire lane may be towed upon
the 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.
C.
The owner
of any motor vehicle failing to comply with the provisions of this
section shall be fined not more than $5, if the fine is paid within
48 hours of the issuance of the notice hereinafter set forth, and
not more than $10 if the fine is paid beyond the period of 48 hours
or is ordered by court. Payment as stated above to the designated
authority as stated on the notice hereinafter provided shall be in
lieu of a court appearance. Whenever a motor vehicle shall be found
parked or standing in violation of this section, any police officer
may attach to such vehicle a notice to the owner thereof that the
vehicle has been parked or is standing in violation of this section,
and shall set forth the schedule of fines herein set forth, the notice
to be on the form used by the police officer in the case of parking
violations in violation of regulations established by the traffic
authority of the state or Town. The registered owner of the motor
vehicle shall be presumed to be the operator of the vehicle.
