Parking & Traffic Regulations

PARKING AND TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

ORDINANCE RE:   TRAFFIC AND REGULATING THE USE OF PUBLIC STREETS AND MUNICIPALLY OWNED PARKING LOTS IN THE TOWN OF STONINGTON.

An ordinance relating to traffic and regulating the use of public streets and municipally owned parking lots in the Town of Stonington, prescribing regulations relative to the parking of vehicles upon such streets and lots for the purpose of enhancing the free flow of traffic by providing regulations regarding the parking of vehicles on public streets and municipally controlled lots and to encourage the utilization of commuter parking lots by restricting their usage to that of commuters.

Section 1. Definitions.

Whenever, in this ordinance, the following terms are used, they shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them in this section:

(a)     VEHICLE: Any device suitable for the conveyance, drawing or other transportation of persons or property, whether operated on wheels, runners, cushion of air between it and the surface or by any other means, except those propelled or drawn by human power or those used exclusively upon tracks.

(b)     PARKED VEHICLE: Any vehicle in a stationary position within the limits of a public highway or a municipally owned parking lot.

(c)     HIGHWAY: Includes any state or public highway, road, street, avenue, alley, driveway, parkway or place, under the control of the state or town, dedicated, appropriated or open to public travel or other use.

(d)     MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT: An area under the control of the Town of Stonington which is dedicated to and posted for the parking of motor vehicles.

Section 2. Liability of Owner.

Whenever there occurs a violation of this ordinance, proof of registrationnumber of any motor vehicle involved shall be prima facie evidence, in any criminal action or in any action based on an infraction or parking ticket, that the owner was the operator of said motor vehicle except, in the case of a leased or rented motor vehicle, such proof shall be prima facie evidence that the lessee was the operator thereof.

Section 3. General Parking Restrictions.

A. No vehicle shall be parking in the following manner on a highway or a municipal parking lot in the Town of Stonington:

1.  Upon a Highway:

        a.      Within ten feet (10') of any fire hydrant.

        b.      Parallel and adjacent to a vehicle already parked in a particular area.

        c.      Upon any public sidewalk except when in the process of crossing said sidewalk or when necessary to perform sidewalk construction, maintenance or snow removal or when other emergency circumstances require.

        d.      Insuch manner as to obstruct or interfere with the ingress or egress from a private driveway or alleyway, except with the permission of the owner of such private driveway or alleyway.

        e.      Upon the traveled portion of any highway except upon the right hand side of such highway in the direction in which such vehicle is headed.

        f.      With the right hand wheels further than twelve  inches (12") from the curb or edge of the highway.

        g.      Within twenty-five feet (25') of any intersection marked crosswalk or stop sign.

        h.      At a bus stop, taxi-stand, loading and unloading zones except vehicles performing the intended purpose in those designated areas.

        i.      In such manner as to obstruct the flow of traffic.

        j.      In violation of any sign posted by the Legal Traffic Authority of the Town of Stonington, the Borough of Stonington or the State of Connecticut which prohibits, limits or regulates the parking of vehicles within the Town of Stonington.

2. In a Municipal Parking Lot:

        a.      In violation of any restrictions posted by order of the Board of Selectmen or the Legal Traffic Authority of the Town of Stonington.

        In such manner as to obstruct or interfere with the ingress or egress   from the lot.

       In such a manner as to obstruct or prevent the movement of other parked vehicles within the lot.

Section 4. Enforcement & Penalties.

A.  Enforcement - Any patrol officer, or other designated representative of the Chief of Police may attach to any vehicle found in violation of any of the regulations outlined in the foregoing sections, a notice to the owner or operator that such vehicle has been parked in violation of law, which such notice shall indicate the nature of the violation and instruct such owner or operator to pay the penalty for such violation, by appearing in person at Stonington Police Headquarters or by mailing such notice, with the amount of the penalty, to the Stonington Department of Police Services.

B.  Penalties -  The penalty for any violation of Section 3 shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

Section 5. Collection & Disbursement of Funds Received as  Penalties.

The Chief of Police is authorized and empowered to accept payment of the penalties provided in this ordinance from any person found to be in violation of this ordinance.  The Chief of Police is empowered to take such action as is required to cause such payment and shall keep a record of all such penalties paid to him for such violations and the registration information of all such vehicles found to be in violation and present the same to the Board of Selectmen at the first meeting of said Board in each month thereafter.  Such report shall be kept for record in the Town Hall in Stonington.

Section 6. Effective Date.

This ordinance shall become effective fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the Town of Stonington.

Adopted December 17, 1984
Effective January 10, 1985
Amended Section 4 May 20, 1985
Effective June 10, 1985
Amended Section 4 November 28, 1994