| PARKING
Parking on a Hill
Because of California's unique geography, parking
correctly on hills is extremely important in order to prevent injuries and property damage
if your vehicle were to roll away.
Legally, a hill as slight as a 3 degree grade requires
you to use hill parking techniques:
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When you park facing downhill,
turn your front wheels so they face into the curb and set the parking brake. |
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When you park facing uphill,
turn your front wheels so they face away from the curb and let your vehicle roll back a
few inches until the rear of one front wheel gently touches the curb. Then set your
parking brake. |
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If there is no curb, turn the
wheels so that if the car rolls, it will roll off the road if the brakes fail, and set
your parking brake. |
When you park on a sloping driveway, turn the wheels so
that the car will not roll into the street if the brakes fail.
Regardless if you park on the street or on a driveway:
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If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, leave it "in gear" when you park. |
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If it has an automatic
transmission, put your vehicle in "park". |
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Always set your parking brake. |
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Make sure your vehicle will
not roll into or down the street. |
Parking at Colored Curbs
A painted curb means that you must follow special rules
to park there. The colors on curbs mean:
| White: |
You may stop only long enough to pick up or
drop off passengers or mail. |
| Green: |
You may park for a limited time. The time
is usually shown on a sign next to the green zone, or painted on the curb. |
| Yellow: |
You may stop here only long enough to load
or unload things or people -- but no longer than the posted regulation allows. Drivers of
non-commercial vehicles are usually required to stay with their vehicle. |
| Red: |
No stopping, standing, or parking. (A bus
may stop at a red zone marked for buses.) |
| Blue: |
This
indicates parking for the disabled only. You must
have a placard (window sign) or your license plates
must be specially marked.
If you fail to park at least 3 feet
from a blue curb, you may be eligible for a fine
of $275.
You
can't park in a space assigned to disabled drivers
using a disabled driver's placard, or use that
person's vehicle if it has disabled person/veteran
license plates, unless you transported that person
to the premises nearby. Violation of this provision
could cost you from $250 to $1,000, or jail-time
up to six months, or both. In addition to or instead
of a civil penalty, the court may impose a a fine
of no more than $1,500 for this violation, for
each conviction.
If
such a placard or license plate is forged, counterfeit
or falsified, the court may impose a fine up to
$2,500 for each conviction.
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No Parking
Never park where you will block traffic. Do not park or
leave your car:
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In an intersection. |
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On a crosswalk (marked or
unmarked) or on a sidewalk. |
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Within 15 feet of a fire
hydrant, or a fire station driveway. |
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Within 3 feet of a sidewalk
ramp for the disabled. |
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On a freeway, except in an
emergency or when an officer or device requires a stop, or where a stop is specifically
permitted. |
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In front of a driveway. |
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At a red curb. |
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In a tunnel or on a bridge,
except where permitted by signs. |
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Where signs say "No
Parking." |
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In a parking space for the
disabled (unless you are disabled and have a special plate or placard). |
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In the space next to a
disabled parking space if it is painted with white lines in a crosshatched pattern |
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On or within 7 and a half feet
of a railroad track. |
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Between a safety zone and
curb. |
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On the wrong side of the
street. |
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Never park in the street just
because all the parking places at the curb are taken. That is called "double
parking" and double parking is always against the law. |
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If you must stop on a highway,
park completely off the pavement. You must leave enough space for other vehicles to pass
freely. Your car should be visible 200 feet in each direction. |
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A vehicle that is stopped,
parked, or left standing on a freeway (even if disabled) for more than four hours may be
removed |
Special Parking Rules
When you park alongside a curb, the front and back wheels
must be parallel and within 18 inches of the curb. If there is no curb, parallel parking
is required. Never leave your car until you have stopped the engine and set the parking
brake.
Don’t open your door on the traffic
side unless it is safe to do so and does not interfere
with traffic. Look for passing bicycles and motorcycles.
Do not leave the door open any longer than is necessary
to load or unload passengers.
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