City of Middletown, CT Traffic Regulations

No vehicle shall be permitted to remain stationary upon the traveled portion of any highway other than Main Street except upon the right-hand side of such highway in the direction in which such vehicle is headed, and, if such highway is curbed, such vehicle shall be so placed that its right-hand wheels, when stationary, shall, when safety shall permit, be within a distance of 12 inches from the curb.

No vehicle shall be parked on any traveled portion of a highway or in a parking lot so that the vehicle is positioned in a perpendicular manner behind vehicles parked in legal parking spaces (double parked). No vehicle shall be parked on any traveled portion of a highway parallel to vehicles which are parallel parked (parallel double parking).

Parking near fire hydrants, stop signs, and intersections prohibited. No person shall park any vehicle within 10 feet of any fire hydrant or within 25 feet of a stop sign or 25 feet from an intersection.

Parking vehicles on public sidewalk or sidewalk area. No person shall park or cause to be parked a motor vehicle on any public sidewalk and/or sidewalk area.

Restricted parking; permit required. No person shall park any vehicle in any parking space on a highway or in a parking lot space that is designated by signs or other means that the parking space or parking lot space is reserved, marked "No Parking" or marked "Permit is Required."

§ 285-15 (Reserved) [1]

Editor's Note: Former § 285-15, All-night parking during winter months, added 6-7-1982, as amended, was repealed 5-2-2016 by Ord. No. 09-16.

§ 285-16 Parking between curb and sidewalk.

[Added 2-8-1978]

There shall be no parking of motor vehicles between the curbline and the sidewalk at any time except during the period from December 1 through March 31 of each year.

§ 285-17 Parking lots and meters.

[Added 6-6-1988; amended 10-5-1998; 10-6-2003; 11-1-2004 by Ord. No. 13-04; 5-7-2007 by Ord. No. 06-07; 6-4-2007 by Ord. No. 11-07; 12-6-2010 by Ord. No. 85-10; 12-5-2011 by Ord. No. 23-11; 12-1-2014 by Ord. No. 17-14; 7-6-2015 by Ord. No. 14-15; 5-2-2016 by Ord. No. 09-16]

Hours meters to be in operation; street/curb meters or kiosks.

Street/curb parking meters or kiosks shall be in operation for street/curb parking spaces every day except Sundays and legal holidays. The Director of Economic and Community Development or his/her designee, with the consent and approval of the Common Council, may amend the hours of operation of street/curb parking meters or kiosks to facilitate the most reasonable, prudent and effective meter or kiosk implementations. Upon amendment of any hours of operation, corresponding signage, including but not limited to individual meter or kiosk stickers on the impacted meters, denoting any change in street/curb parking meter enforcement times shall be posted, which shall inform the public of the change. Enforcement of any change to the street/curb parking meter hours of operation may not occur until 30 calendar days have passed after the effective date of the change or until 30 calendar days have passed after any new implementation occurs so as to provide the public an educational adjustment period to such a change or new implementation.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

Meter or kiosk payments. Coin, cash or a credit or debit card shall be deposited or entered in street/curb meters and/or kiosks or by mobile payment technology when a vehicle is parked in a municipal space. When any vehicle shall be parked in any parking space alongside, adjacent to or within proximity to a parking meter or kiosk, the operator of such vehicle shall deposit or cause to be deposited in the meter or kiosk the proper coin, cash or credit or debit card entry or utilize the appropriate mobile payment technologies as designated by proper direction on the street/curb meter or kiosk.

Parking lots; hours parking in lots prohibited. Where existing, parking lot meters shall be in operation for parking lot spaces every day except Sundays and legal holidays. The Director of Economic and Community Development or his/her designee, in his/her discretion, may amend the hours of operation of the parking lots. Upon amendment of the hours of operation, corresponding signage changes which inform the public of the change must be implemented. The parking lots are hereby designated as follows:

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

Lot A is located at the corner of Washington Street and Broad Street.

Lot B (a.k.a. Main Street and Liberty Street Lot) is located on Main Street at the corner with Liberty Street.

Broad Street Russell Library Lot is located directly across from the Russell Library.

Government Square Municipal Garage (a.k.a. Court Street, Arcade or Riverview Lot).

Kings Avenue Lot, off Kings Avenue and Main Street.

(6)

Melilli Plaza Lot is located between Washington Street and (Lower) Court Street.

(7)

Green Street Lots A&B, off Green Street.

(8)

Harbor Park and River Road Lots.

Meter or kiosk payments. Coin, cash or a credit or debit card shall be deposited or entered in meters and/or kiosks or by mobile payment technology when a vehicle is parked in a municipal parking lot space. When, any vehicle shall be parked in any parking space alongside, adjacent to or within proximity to a parking meter or kiosk within a lot, the operator of such vehicle shall deposit or cause to be deposited in the meter or kiosk the proper coin, cash or credit or debit card entry or utilize the appropriate mobile payment technologies as designated by proper direction on the meter or kiosk.

Registration prima facie evidence of name of violator. In any prosecution or proceedings hereunder, the registration plate or license plate displayed on a motor vehicle shall constitute in evidence a prima facie presumption that the registered owner of such vehicle was the person who parked such vehicle at the place where such violation occurred.

Violations; overtime parking.

No owner or operator shall cause, allow, permit or suffer any vehicle registered in the name of or operated by such person to be parked overtime, whether on a highway or in a parking lot, as is allowed by a meter, kiosk or sign.

Whenever a vehicle remains in a parking space for a period of one hour after being cited for a violation of this Code of Ordinances, it may also be cited additionally each one-hour period for overtime parking and the violator shall be subject to fines and penalties as provided for in this Code of Ordinances.

Deposit of additional payment. No person may deposit in any street or curb parking meter any coin, cash, credit or debit payment for the purpose of parking beyond the maximum legal parking time for the particular parking meter or kiosk coverage location or area or zone.

Improper parking. No person shall park any vehicle, whether on a highway or in a parking lot, across any line designating a parking meter space or nonmetered space. The vehicle shall be in such position that it is entirely within a space designated by such lines or markings. Vehicles parked on Main Street shall be positioned within the lines so that the right front wheel shall be within a distance of not more than 12 inches from the curb. In addition, no vehicle shall be parked so that the vehicle is backed into the stall, whether on a street with diagonal parking stalls or in a parking lot. No person shall park any vehicle in front of, or so as to obstruct or interfere with the ingress to or egress from, any private driveway or alley, except with the permission of the owner of such driveway or alley.

Tampering, etc., with meters or kiosks and/or signs. No person shall deface, injure, tamper with, open or willfully break, destroy, or impair the usefulness of any parking meter or kiosk and/or sign.

Depositing slugs or substitutes. No person shall deposit or cause to be deposited in any parking meter or kiosk any slug, device or metal substance or other substitute for lawful coins.

Enforcement; report required. It shall be the duty of the Police Department and Parking Division and its officers, personnel and any other legally appointed person to enforce this section for the parking of a vehicle, using the technologies and facilities of the Parking Division. It shall be the duty of enforcing officers to issue a ticket with the following information to report the following:

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

The number of the parking meter which indicates that the vehicle occupying the parking space is or has been parking in violation of any of the provisions of this section.

The state license and registration number of such vehicle.

The date and time such vehicle is parked in violation of this section.

Any other facts concerning such violation.

Notice to be attached to vehicle parked in violation; contents of violation ticket/notice. The enforcing officer as provided in Subsection J shall attach to such vehicle a violation ticket/notice containing the information required by Subsection J, addressed to the owner or operator thereof, that such vehicle has been parked in violation of parking rules and regulations and shall instruct such owner or operator that payment of such sum or sums as prescribed on such violation ticket/notice shall be made, either by mail, in person or by utilizing other available technologies, to the Parking Division or to such person and place as may be designated on such violation ticket/notice. Any disputes or appeals with respect to said violation ticket/notice must be made to the Parking Division within seven calendar days of the date on the violation ticket/notice. If an appeal or dispute is filed within seven calendar days as set forth herein, any penalties or payments shall be placed on hold until a decision is issued by the Parking Division or its designee.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

Rates.

Street side parking meters: $1 per hour; $0.20 for 12 minutes; $0.10 for six minutes; maximum of three hours per day. These parking rates will vary based on use of mobile technology or payment kiosks.

Metered lots.

(a)

All individual space/stall meters or self-service multi-space meters within any publicly utilized, administered or municipally owned lot:

Lot A (Washington and Broad Street): $1 per hour, maximum of 10 hours per day.

Government Square Municipal Garage (a.k.a. Court Street, Arcade or Riverview Lot): $1 per hour.

Melilli Plaza Lot (Melilli Plaza Drive): $1 per hour.

[4]

Lot B (a.k.a. Main and Liberty Street Lot): $1 per hour, maximum of three hours per day.

[5]

Broad Street Russell Library Lot: $1 per hour, maximum of three hours per day.

[6]

Kings Avenue Lot (Kings Ave): $1 per hour, maximum 10 hours per day.

[7]

Green Street Lot (A and B): $1 per hour, maximum of three hours per day.

[8]

Harbor Park and River Road Lots: $1 per hour, maximum of three hours per day.

(b)

Publicly utilized, administered or municipally owned lots:

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

Should offer a grace period after the purchase of metered time for all stalls/spaces within a municipal lot to support and encourage commerce and utility by patrons. The feasibility and length of any such grace period will be determined by the City Parking Division.

(c)

Patrons of publicly utilized, administered or municipally owned lots, who either park beyond their purchased time will receive a parking violation/citation for overtime parking through the enforcement of the Parking Division.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

(d)

All other City or state time, place and manner restrictions of parking and any associated fees and penalties apply and are enforceable within all publicly utilized, administered or municipally owned lots.

Permit parking programs.

(a)

Commerce parking permits. City commerce parking permits may be sold for usage in any municipal lot or municipal garage to support commerce and utility as deemed necessary and feasible by the Director of Economic and Community Development or his or her designee. Permits may be purchased monthly, quarterly or annually.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

Purchase of commerce program parking permits will be $75 per month, $225 quarterly or $900 annually, per permit.

Commerce permit issuance is not to exceed 15% of a specific lot's capacity so as to preserve municipal lot or municipal garage availability for the general public.

Commerce program parking permits must be clearly displayed within the vehicle for each appropriate, assigned or limited parking area. Permits issued will be for a specific lot only and cannot be used for another lot. The Parking Division will issue quarterly, annual, or monthly permits and collect the applicable fee for the above-listed lots.

[4]

The City through the Parking Division reserves the right to revoke any issued permit for abuse, fraud or violation of applicable Connecticut State Statutes or any City parking ordinances or regulations

(b)

Overnight visitor parking permits. Overnight visitor parking will be permitted in locations and lots as determined by the Director of Economic Development or his or her designee or unless otherwise prohibited by posting. All overnight visitor parking must be by preissued permit only by the Parking Division. Permits are not transferable between registered vehicles.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

Visitor overnight parking permits can be issued for no more than seven consecutive calendar days.

Overnight visitor permits are valid for 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Overnight visitor parking permits will be sold through the City's Parking Division for $10 per registered vehicle per evening.

(c)

Downtown residential parking permit program. Downtown Middletown residents may obtain downtown resident parking permits from the Director of Economic and Community Development or his or her designee.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

Quarterly permits will be sold for $150 per permit or annually for $600 with one-time advance annual payment.

Downtown resident parking permits may be sold for usage in specific municipal lots or municipal garages to support downtown residential parking needs and utility as deemed necessary and feasible by the Director of Economic and Community Development or his or her designee.

Downtown resident parking permits must be clearly displayed within the vehicle for each appropriate, assigned or limited parking area. Permits issued will be for a specific lot only and cannot be used for another lot.

[4]

Downtown resident parking permit issuance is not to exceed 15% of a specific municipal lot's capacity so as to preserve municipal lot or municipal garage availability for the general public. If the 15% cap is to be exceed, such determination must be made by the Director of Economic and Community Development or his/her designee and must be reported to the Parking Advisory Committee and must obtain approval from the Mayor and by approved resolution from the Common Council.

[5]

To be eligible for this program an individual must be a "downtown resident" as defined as an individual living within the downtown parking district.

[6]

In order to obtain a permit, the individual must present his/her valid driver's license and valid vehicle registration.

[7]

(d)

Prohibition on permits for commercial vehicles. Vehicles used for commercial purposes, or any vehicle which is larger than 21 feet in length, seven feet in width, and seven feet in height and which have more than two single-tired wheels on the front axle and more than two single-tired or double-tired wheels on the rear axle, are not eligible for parking permits. Motor trucks, luxury limousines, motor buses, motor delivery wagons, trailers, semitrailers, camping trailers, motor homes, mobile homes and tractors are not eligible for parking permits.

Exemptions to rates.

(a)

Rates shall not apply during times of emergency parking bans, winter snow bans, special events as designated by the City or as deemed administratively necessary by the Parking Division.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

(b)

Other parking contracts for permit parking as negotiated by the City may override specific lot permit fees.

Special event or flat rates. The Director of Economic and Community Development or his or her designee, upon written approval from the Mayor, may set flat fees for special event parking, designated lot location parking or special evening flat fees on an as-needed basis. Any such flat fee determination for a specific event, location or duration of time is not to exceed $20 without the approval of the City

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

Workforce parking program. Program provides for discounted parking permits for employees of the downtown area for pre-qualified employees earning less than $31,000/year (adjusted income) as verified upon presentation of payroll documentation from an individual's place of employment to the Parking Division, $2.50 per shift (up to eight hours). Discounted permit fee will be $50 per month for qualifying employees per day at designated off-street parking locations.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

§ 285-18 Penalties to be set by ordinance.

[Added 6-6-1988]

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions herein, and any person who aids, abets, or assists therein, shall be subject to the penalties as set by ordinance or ordinances of the Common Council.

§ 285-19 Corner vision obstructions.

[Added 6-6-1988]

No hedge, shrubbery, fence, or any other obstacles other than an existing building or a natural earth embankment shall be maintained or permitted at a height of more than 2 1/2 feet above the pavement grade on that portion of any lot commencing at the corner point of a street right-of-way line at a corner lot and running in either direction along the street lines for a distance of not less than 25 feet and within the triangle thus formed by both street lines and a line connecting the above-mentioned termini of both street lines.

§ 285-20 Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in certain places; associated fines and penalties.

[Added 6-6-1988; amended 5-7-2007 by Ord. No. 07-07; 11-5-2007 by Ord. No. 34-07; 5-2-2016 by Ord. No. 09-16]

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the direction of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places:

The following shall be $15 parking violations:

On a sidewalk.

Obstructing a public or private driveway.

Within an intersection.

Within 25 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.

Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a highway.

(6)

Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of points on a curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless the Traffic Authority has indicated a different length by signs or markings.

(7)

Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing unless otherwise signed by the Traffic Authority.

(8)

(Reserved)

(9)

Alongside or opposite any highway excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.

(10)

Upon any bridge.

(11)

More than 12 inches from the curb.

(12)

Within 25 feet of a highway corner or intersection.

(13)

(Reserved)

(14)

In a loading zone reserved for commercial use and/or City of Middletown without commercial or combination registration.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

(15)

In a parking stall operated by the City of Middletown when parking in a manner so as to occupy more than one space.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

(16)

Wrong way on highway against the flow of traffic.

(17)

(Reserved)

(18)

U-turn on Main Street between Pleasant and Washington Streets.

(19)

Backing into parking spaces, whether on a highway with diagonal parking stalls or in a parking lot.

(20)

On the highway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a highway (double parked).

(21)

At any place where official signs prohibit stopping or parking or where the curbing is painted yellow.

(22)

Left turn into parking stalls on Main Street between Pleasant and Washington Streets.

The following shall be $25 parking violations:

Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of the street opposite the entrance of any fire station within 75 feet of such entrance (when properly sign-posted).

In monthly parking lots owned or operated by the City of Middletown without a valid permit or any area where it is posted restricted parking and/or permit required.

Parking in a designated fire lane (§ 285-7 of this chapter).

Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.

The following shall be $150 parking violations:

Parking in areas reserved for individuals with disabilities (§ 285-2 of this chapter).

Parking in violation of an emergency parking ban.

Parking in violation of a winter parking ban.

The following shall be fifteen-dollar parking violations:

On a crosswalk.

In a marked bus stop.

(Reserved)

Parking in violation of the Sweeping Parking Ban (§ 262-44 of the Middletown Code of Ordinances).

The following shall be $10 parking violations:

Parking overtime in metered and nonmetered spaces.

§ 285-21 Penalties for offenses.

[Amended 10-6-2003; 5-7-2007 by Ord. No. 10-07; 5-2-2016 by Ord. No. 09-16]

Penalties for violations of this article are as follows:

A fine of $15 for a violation of any § 285-20A parking regulation.

A fine of $25 for a violation of any § 285-20B parking regulation.

A fine of $150 for a violation of any § 285-20C parking regulation.

A fine of $15 for a violation of any § 285-20D parking regulation.

A fine of $10 for a violation of any § 285-20E parking regulation.

Payment is deemed to be made on the date it is postmarked if such payment is paid by regular mail. Payment is also deemed to have been made when such payment is made in person at the Parking Division office or when received by telephone to the Parking Division or through other electronic payment methods like web portals or by mobile payment applications to Parking Division staff.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

If the penalties are not paid within seven calendar days of issuance of the citation, the original fine doubles. If the original fine and any associated penalty remain unpaid after 21 calendar days after the date of original issuance, then said original fine and any associated penalties will double again. As exceptions to the above, all disabled parking citations, winter snow ban parking citations and emergency parking ban citations whose original fines are valued at $150 will double only after 21 calendar days of issuance.

If the fines and penalties as herein set forth are not paid within 30 days, the City of Middletown may pursue further action as provided by the Connecticut General Statutes and the City of Middletown Code of Ordinances.

If the vehicle is removed or immobilized, the appropriate fine for the class of violation must be paid together with any other charges prior to the release of the vehicle.

A dispute as to the citation(s) must be made in writing to the Parking Division within seven calendar days of the date of issuance. A claim of dispute shall be deemed to be made by the date it is postmarked or received in person or by other electronic technologies by the Parking Division.

[Amended 6-7-2021 by Ord. No. 14-21]

§ 285-22 Motor scooters, minibikes, pocket bikes.

[Added 11-1-2004 by Ord. No. 14-04]

Scope. The provisions of this section shall apply to any person who operates a motor scooter, minibike, or pocket bike, as defined in this section, on any portion of any public street, including the sidewalk area of any such street, or on any other public property, including but not limited to schools, playgrounds, parks, and parking lots within the City of Middletown.

Definitions. Motor scooters, minibikes, and pocket bikes shall mean any wheeled vehicle device designed for the transport of one or more persons which is powered by any type of motor except:

Any "motorcycle" or "bicycle with a helper motor," as defined by state statute.

Any vehicle registered as a motor vehicle by the registrar of motor vehicles or lawfully exempt from such registration.

Any wheelchair by a person with physical disabilities, or any similar mobility-assisting device used by a person whose ambulatory mobility has been impaired by age, illness or physical ailment.

Any self-propelled snowplows, snowblowers and lawn mowers when used for the purposes for which they were designed and operated at speeds not exceeding four miles per hour.

Any moped or scooter which meets Federal Department of Transportation and State Department of Transportation guidelines for on-road transportation and whose owner's manual specifically indicates an ability to be driven on public roads.

(6)

Any vehicle owned or leased by the City of Middletown.

(7)

Any vehicle used by a municipal, state or federal employee in the performance of his official duties.

Penalty.

Any person who operates any motor scooter, minibike, or pocket bike as defined in this section on any portion of any public street, including the sidewalk area of any such street, or on any other public property, including but not limited to schools, playgrounds, parks, and parking lots within the City of Middletown shall be fined not more than $90 for each offense.