§ 20-40. General prohibition upon stopping, standing and parking in certain places.

Within the unincorporated areas of Hernando County, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of any law enforcement officer, or fireman at the scene of an emergency or official traffic-control device, no person shall:

(a)

Stop, stand or park a vehicle:

(1)

On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;

(2)

On a sidewalk;

(3)

Within an intersection;

(4)

On a crosswalk;

(5)

Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic;

(6)

Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel;

(7)

On any railroad tracks;

(8)

At any place where an official traffic-control device prohibits stopping;

(9)

Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty (30) feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a different length is indicated by signs or markings;

(10)

On a bicycle path;

(11)

On the roadway or shoulder of a limited access facility or on the paved portion of a connecting ramp; except that a vehicle which is disabled or in a condition improper to be driven as a result of mechanical failure or accident may be parked on such shoulder for a period not to exceed six (6) hours. This provision is not applicable to a person stopping a vehicle to render aid to an injured person or assistance to a disabled vehicle in obedience to the directions of a law enforcement officer or fireman at the scene of an emergency, or to a person stopping a vehicle in compliance with applicable traffic laws;

(12)

a.

Whether attended or unattended, upon the paved or main-traveled part of the highway when it is practicable to stop, park or so leave the vehicle off such part of the highway; but in every event an unobstructed width of the highway opposite a standing vehicle shall be left for the free passage of other vehicles, and a clear view of the stopped vehicle shall be available from a distance of two hundred (200) feet in each direction upon the highway.

b.

This paragraph shall not apply to the driver or owner of any vehicle which is disabled while on the paved or main-traveled portion of the highway in such manner and to such extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving the disabled vehicle in such position, or to passenger-carrying buses temporarily parked while loading or discharging passengers, where highway conditions render such parking off the paved portion of the highway hazardous or impractical.

c.

Whenever any law enforcement officer finds a vehicle standing upon a highway in violation of any of the foregoing provisions of this section, the officer is authorized to move the vehicle, or require the driver or other persons in charge of the vehicle to move the same, to a position off the paved or main-traveled part of the highway.

d.

Officers are hereby authorized to provide for the removal of any abandoned vehicle to the nearest garage or other place of safety, cost of such removal to be a lien against the motor vehicle, when said abandoned vehicle is found unattended upon a bridge or causeway or in any tunnel, or on any public highway in the following instances:

1.

Where such vehicle constitutes an obstruction of traffic;

2.

Where such vehicle has been parked or stored on the public right-of-way for a period exceeding forty-eight (48) hours, in other than designated parking areas, and is within thirty (30) feet of the pavement edge; or

3.

Where such vehicle has been parked or stored on the public right-of-way for a period exceeding ten (10) days, in other than designated parking areas, and is more than thirty (30) feet from the pavement edge. However, the agency removing such vehicle shall be required to report same to the department of highway safety and motor vehicles and the Florida Highway Patrol within twenty-four (24) hours of such removal.

e.

Any vehicle moved under the provisions of this article which is a stolen vehicle shall not be subject to the provisions hereof unless the moving authority has reported to the Florida Highway Patrol the taking into possession of the vehicle within twenty-four (24) hours of the moving of the vehicle.

(13)

On a pay designated parking space where no parking fee has been paid to cover the duration of time the vehicle is stopped, standing or parked in said space.

(14)

Within the entire county right-of-way, for a distance up to seven hundred and fifty (750) feet from the driveway or entrance of any real property owned by or leased to any public or private elementary, middle, or high school, or school board and used for elementary, middle, or high school education , during the following time periods:

a.

From one (1) hour prior to the start of a school session to one (1) hour after the start of the school session; and

b.

From two (2) hours prior to the conclusion of a school session to one (1) hour after the conclusion of a school session.

Notwithstanding the precise hour and two-hour time standards above, the times posted on signage shall be rounded to the nearest hour or half-hour mark. The prohibitions of this subsection shall not be effective until posting of signage including prohibited stopping, standing and parking times.

(b)

Stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers:

(1)

In front of a public or private driveway;

(2)

Within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant;

(3)

Within twenty (20) feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;

(4)

Within thirty (30) feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or official traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway;

(5)

Within twenty (20) feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrances to any fire station within seventy-five (75) feet of said entrances, when properly signposted;

(6)

At any place where an official traffic-control device prohibits standing;

(7)

On an exclusive bicycle lane.

(c)

Park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers:

(1)

Within fifty (50) feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;

(2)

At any place where an official traffic-control device prohibits parking;

(3)

Within thirty (30) feet of any rural or curbside mailbox between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except on Sundays or legal holidays.

(d)

Park a commercial motor vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers, in any residential area.

(e)

Park a vehicle upon any street for the principal purpose of:

(1)

Displaying such vehicle for sale;

(2)

Washing, greasing or repairing such vehicle, except repairs necessary in an emergency;

(3)

Displaying advertising;

(4)

Selling merchandise from such vehicle except in a duly established market place, or when so authorized or licensed under the ordinances of this county;

(5)

Storage, or as junkage or dead storage for more than twenty-four (24) hours.

(f)

Except as otherwise provided in this article, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a two-way street or highway shall be so stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within twelve (12) inches of the right-hand curb or edge or the street or highway.

(g)

Except as otherwise provided in this article, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a one-way street or highway shall be so stopped or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway, in the direction of the authorized traffic movement, with its right-hand wheels within twelve (12) inches of the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, or its left-hand wheels within twelve (12) inches of the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway.

(Ord. No. 2011-1, § I, 1-11-11; Ord. No. 2013-4, § I, 1-22-13)