§ 22-97. Prohibited parking.

(a)

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended in any area designated by signs or otherwise as a no-parking zone.

(b)

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended upon the paved or main traveled portion of any highway or highway bridge within the town unless the vehicle is disabled to such an extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving the vehicle upon the paved or main traveled portion of the highway or highway bridge.

(c)

It shall be illegal to park or leave standing any vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, or in a manner so as to block private driveways, and driveways to the fire department and rescue squad, or in a manner so as to disrupt a business from conducting its regular business. However, these provisions shall not apply to the parking of emergency vehicles, fire trucks or equipment, police cars, or other vehicles used to make emergency repairs or maintenance.

(d)

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle upon the shoulder of a public highway within the town unless the vehicle can be clearly seen by approaching drivers from a distance of 200 feet in both directions and does not obstruct the normal movement of traffic.

(e)

The operator of any automobile, truck, trailer, semitrailer, or other vehicle, which is disabled upon any portion of the highway shall display warning signals not less than 200 feet in the front and rear of the vehicle. During daylight hours, such warning signals shall consist of red flags. During hours of darkness, such warning signals shall consist of red flares or reflectors of a type approved by the commissioner of motor vehicles. Such warning signals shall be displayed as long as the vehicle is disabled.

(f)

The owner of any vehicle parked or left standing in violation of law shall be deemed to have appointed any investigating law enforcement officer his agent for the purpose of removing the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway or to some other suitable place, and for the purpose of arranging for the transportation and safe storage of any vehicle which is interfering with the regular flow of traffic or which otherwise constitutes a hazard, in which case the officer shall be deemed a legal possessor of the vehicle within the meaning of G.S. 44A-2(d).

(g)

When any vehicle is parked or left standing upon the right-of-way of a public highway for a period of 48 hours or more, the owner shall be deemed to have appointed any investigating law enforcement officer his agent for the purpose of arranging for the transportation and safe storage of such vehicle and such investigating law enforcement officer shall be deemed a legal possessor of the motor vehicle within the meaning of that term as it appears in G.S. 44A-2(d).

(h)

The owner or person entitled to possession of any such stored vehicle may reclaim possession by paying for any towing fees actually incurred, plus any charged storage fee, and any penalties assessed as the result of the violation of this section.

(i)

No vehicle shall be parked or left standing in violation of the provisions of the parking regulations set forth in this article.

(j)

It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand, park, load or unload a vehicle, attended or unattended; except for designated emergency vehicles or town-owned service vehicles:

(1)

On the bike path.

(2)

Within an intersection or in front of a private driveway.

(3)

On a crosswalk.

(4)

Within 25 feet from an intersection of property lines at an intersection of highways or streets.

(5)

Upon any area designated as a fire lane, or on any street, highway, roadway, or publicly paved portion of the rights-of-way.

(6)

In any area other than those designated by lines indicating parking spaces in town-owned parking lots.

(7)

On Shore Line Drive, and in the cul-de-sac at the end of Shore Line Drive.

(8)

On Inlet Drive, and in the cul-de-sac at the end of Inlet Avenue.

(9)

In between any no parking signs along Ocean Boulevard.

(10)

In spaces marked and designated for handicapped parking.

(k)

It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave standing a vehicle behind or parallel to a vehicle that has already parked in a space that is designed and intended for single vehicle parking.

(Code 1979, § 7-1061; Code 1990, § 10-96; Mo. of 3-9-1988; Ord. No. 98-009, § 1, 8-12-1998; Ord. No. 2016-001, § 1, 10-12-2016)