Fees and Fines, Parking Enforcement
PARKING LAWS
What you should know about the parking laws to avoid getting a parking ticket
Getting a parking ticket on your car can be aggravating. Many times, parking violations occur because people do not know the law. It is the responsibility of the citizen to be aware of the laws that are enforced in the city or town in which they reside.
Parking Enforcement is responsible for upholding the parking laws in Longmont. The main focus of enforcement is the downtown area, but Parking Enforcement Officers respond to complaints in residential areas as well. The City employs two Parking Enforcement Officers. Police Officers and Community Service Officers also write tickets for parking violations. The Handicap Parking Patrol can write tickets for handicapped violations.
In an attempt to help the public avoid parking tickets, here is a list of some common violations that you may not be aware of:
- Parking a vehicle on the street with “For Sale” signs in or on it. Fine amount $25.00.
- Parking on any part of a sidewalk. Fine amount $25.00.
- Parking on a crosswalk. Fine amount $25.00.
- Parking within thirty feet on approach and twenty feet beyond a crosswalk not at an intersection. Fine amount $25.00.
- Parking within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection (all crosswalks are NOT marked, if a sidewalk continues on to the other side that is considered a crosswalk). Fine amount $25.00.
- Parking on a roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at a edge or curb of street (double parking). Fine amount $10.00.
- Parking within five feet of a public or private driveway(this DOES include your own driveway). Fine amount $25.00.
- Parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant (there is not always a red marking). Fine amount $35.00.
- Parking within thirty feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon or signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of the roadway. (there is not always a sign or markings). Fine amount $25.00.
- Parking at any other place where official signs or traffic control devices prohibit such standing or parking (such as 2 hour parking signs, No Parking signs, etc.). Fine amount $20.00.
- Every vehicle stopped or parked on a roadway must be stopped or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway in the direction of authorized traffic movement. (ie..Always park in the same direction as the flow of traffic with the right wheel parked within 12’’ of the curb. (No angle parking or “head-in” parking in cul-de-sacs.) Fine amount $10.00.
- It is unlawful to park, or stop, on the street against the direction of traffic (no parking on the wrong side of street). Fine amount $20.00.
- On streets which have been approved and signed for angle parking, do not stop, stand or park a vehicle other than at an angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such signs or markings. Fine amount $10.00.
- No person will park a vehicle within an alley except during the necessary and expeditious loading and unloading of merchandise or freight. (Please use flashers during this instance.) Fine amount $25.00.
- If you park in an area with time restrictions and enforcement is done by placing a chalk mark on your tire, you must move the vehicle far enough that the chalk will come off the tire. It is unlawful to wipe the chalk mark off. Fine amount $20.00.
- A vehicle on the street with expired license plates can be towed as a junked vehicle, so please make sure that your plates are current. Move any vehicle that is parked on the street every twenty-four hours. Parking Enforcement Officers, Community Service Officers, and Code Enforcement follow up on all complaints about junked and abandoned vehicles. Fine amount $50.00.
- No person shall park in a signed fire apparatus access road or fire lane on public or private property. Fine amount $50.00.
Handicapped Parking
A vehicle with distinguishing license plates or an official identifying placard indicating that the occupant of the vehicle is a person with a disability, may park along public streets for any length of time regardless of time limit signage; except that such privilege shall not apply to zones in which:
- Stopping, standing or parking of all vehicles is prohibited at all times
- Only special vehicles may be parked; or
- Parking is not allowed during specific periods of the day to accommodate heavy traffic
If you do not have a valid handicapped placard or valid handicapped license plates you cannot legally park in any handicapped zone that is posted with a clearly visible sign identifying the space as a handicapped zone. (A legal handicapped zone is one that has an upright SIGN, the painting or symbol on the ground is not required. The symbol is only a courtesy.)
Please remember if you or someone with you is handicapped, the person whom the handicapped plate or placard is registered to must go into the establishment. If the person to whom it is registered stays in the vehicle you need to park in a regular parking spot. It is illegal to park in the access aisle next to or in between handicapped space(s). Handicapped parking tickets can be written to violators on public or private property. Fine amount $100.00.
* Effective January 1st, 2009, City Council authorized the increase in parking fine amounts. The amounts are reflected at the end of each parking violation above.
These are only a few of the parking laws in Longmont.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Parking Enforcement
by phone 303-651-8658 or 303-774-4724
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