Article IV. Stopping, Standing and Parking

Section 17-16. Manner of parking generally.

All vehicles, not in motion, shall stand, or be parked with their right side as near the right-hand side of the street as practicable and not more than twelve (12) inches from any curb, except in streets where traffic is permitted, or may hereafter be permitted to move in one direction only, in which case they shall stand with their right side as near as practicable to the right-hand side, or their left side as near as practicable to the left-hand side of said street and not more than twelve (12) inches from any curb; provided, however, that where a series of three (3) or more lines are painted in a diagonal direction extending from the curb toward the center of any street, on either one or both sides of said street, parking of vehicles on the side of said street so marked or painted shall be in the general direction of and between said lines and at the angle indicated by said lines; and the vehicle shall face the curb with the right-hand front wheel against the curb, and, in moving away from said parking place the vehicle shall be driven in the direction prescribed for traffic. (Ordinance 263 effective 1/5/1994, historical reference 3)

Section 17-17. Parking so as to obstruct traffic.

It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle on the streets of the town in a manner as to obstruct traffic. (Ordinance 3 effective 1/1/1941)

Section 17-18. Parking near fire hydrant.

It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle on any street within 15 feet of a fire plug. (Ordinance 3 effective 1/1/1941)

Section 17-19. Parking near intersection.

It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle on any street within 15 feet of an intersection, unless otherwise indicated by painted line or symbol. (Ordinance 3 effective 1/1/1941)

Section 17-20. Parking on sidewalk.

It shall be unlawful for any truck or vehicle to stand upon or be driven over, along, or upon any sidewalk in the town, except at regularly established driveways or entrances from street roadways or private property. (Ordinance 3 effective 1/1/1941)

Section 17-21. Stopping for purposes of washing, repairing, or altering.

The washing, repairing, or altering of any motor vehicle on any of the public streets, lanes, alleys, and sidewalks within the corporate limits of the town shall be unlawful, except in those cases where it may be necessary to make emergency repairs in order to permit the moving of any such vehicle so as to clear the street, lane, alley and sidewalk of traffic. (Ordinance 10 effective 1/1/1941)

Section 17-22. Restrictions on truck parking on improved streets.

It shall be unlawful for any motor truck to be parked or stand on any of the improved streets of the town for a period exceeding two (2) hours. (Ordinance 3 effective 1/1/1941)

Section 17-23. No parking areas.

(A) It shall be unlawful for any vehicle to be parked on any street or part thereof in the town, which street or part thereof has been designated by the council, by resolution, as a "no parking" area and posted by signs setting forth that fact. (Ordinance 3 effective 1/1/1941)

(B) It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle at or along the curb of any street at any point where the curb is painted or between lines painted on the street indicating a walkway or driveway. (Ordinance 267 effective 1/28/1994, historical reference 3)

(C) It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle at or along any area located in the Town, whether publicly or privately owned, which has been designated by resolution of the Town Council as a "Fire Lane Area", and which has been posted by signs or designated by markings on the curb setting forth that fact. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall not be unlawful to park a vehicle at or along those portions of a Fire Lane Area posted by a "Parcel Pick-Up Only" sign so long as the vehicle is parked for parcel pick-up, or by a "Handicapped Parking" signs so long as the vehicle displays a lawfully issued registration plate for disabled persons or a lawfully issued parking permit for disabled person.

Before designating an area of property privately owned a Fire Lane Area, the Town shall sent to the last known address of the owner of the property, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a request that written consent be given to such a designation. In the event such written consent in not given within thirty (30) days after it has been requested, the Town Council may proceed to designate the area privately owned a Fire Lane Area after consideration of the following factors:

(i) whether or not designating the area of property privately owned as a Fire Lane Area is necessary to protect the safety of persons and property;

(ii) the recommendation of the Town's Fire Board; and

(iii) the recommendation of the Town's Police Board.

(Ordinance 182 effective 9/18/1990)

(D) It shall be unlawful for any vehicle to be parked on any street or part thereof in the Town, which street or part thereof has temporarily been designated for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days as a “no parking area” by the Town’s Chief of Police or his agent and posted setting forth the fact. (Ordinance 266 effective 1/5/1994)

Section 17-24. Parking time limits.

(a) Between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. the parking of all vehicles shall be limited in time on those streets as may be designated by the town council, by resolution, and posted by signs setting forth the limits. (Ordinance 460, effective 10/11/2005, historical reference 3, 85)

(b) No person shall park a vehicle for more than three cumulative hours in any one day in one or more free, time controlled parking spaces between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. This regulation does not apply to metered spaces or spaces reserved for permitted parking. (Ordinance 607, effective 6/25/2012, historical reference 3 and 460)

Section 17-25. Nighttime parking limits.

Between the hours of 1:00 A.M. and 5:00 A.M. parking of all vehicles shall be limited to one hour on those streets in the town as may be designated by the council, by resolution, and posted by signs setting forth the limit. (Ordinance 3 effective 1/1/1941)

Section 17-26. 1 Parking Meter rates.

On-street and off-street parking meter rates for the Town of Easton shall be established from time to time by the Town Council by resolution. (Ordinance 109 effective 11/7/1982, historical reference 52, 67, 77, 108)

Section 17-26.2 Penalty for overtime parking.

The fine for overtime parking shall be at those rates as the town council shall from time to time determine by resolution. (Ordinance 77 effective 7/8/1977, historical reference 67, 92)

Section 17-27. Illegally parked vehicles to be removed.

The members of the town police force are empowered to remove, or cause to be removed, any vehicle which may be parked contrary to the provisions of this code, and to place the same in some garage within the limits of the Town of Easton and hold the same until the costs of moving such vehicle and the storage charges thereon, shall have been paid. (Ordinance 3 effective 1/1/1941)

Section 17-28. Notice to owner that vehicle has been impounded.

It shall be the duty of the chief of police to notify the owner, claimant, or other person in charge on an impounded vehicle as soon as possible of the nature and circumstances of the traffic violation for which or as a result of which the vehicle was impounded and the procedure for repossessing the same; provided, the vehicle has not already been released. In the event the person has not been contacted within 12 hours from the time of removal of any vehicle, then the chief of police shall notify the owner of record of that vehicle by certified mail; provided, that person can be ascertained, giving the same information as above stated. (1967 Code by Ordinance 519 aka E-34 effective 5/7/1967)

Section 17-29. Repossession of impounded vehicles.

The owner of any vehicle impounded under this code or other duly authorized person shall be permitted to repossess the vehicle up to the time of sale by paying the cost of moving the vehicle and the storage charges thereon. (1967 Code by Ordinance 519 aka E-34 effective 5/7/1967)

Section 17-29.1 Fines and penalties.

The fines for illegal or unauthorized parking in the Town of Easton shall be those amounts that the Town Council shall from time to time determine by resolution. (Ordinance 197 effective 5/27/1991, historical reference 52.)

Section 17-30. Regulations.

(A) Parking in the lots shall be available to the public in accordance with the rules and regulations as may not or hereafter be promulgated by the council, or by the police department. However, the town shall not be responsible or liable for any loss, damage, or injury which may occur to any person or motor vehicle while on the lot.

(B) Parking in any municipally owned or operated parking lot shall be limited to 24 hours at any one time.

(C) Passenger vehicles and pickup trucks without overhanging loads are permitted, but no unlicensed motor vehicle and no trucks shall be parked in the lots.

(D) Motor vehicles permitted to park in the lots shall park within the marked lines and against the barriers with care.

(E) The speed limit in the municipally owned or operated parking lots shall be 10 miles per hour.

(F) All vehicles shall exit from the lots by the center lane only.

(G) All keys are to be removed from the locks of the vehicles while parked.

(H) Being rowdy, the throwing of bottles, cans, papers, or other trash is forbidden.

(I) All vehicles using the lots shall obey the traffic signs there placed and shall enter the lanes as directed. (Ordinance 39 effective 1/20/1953, historical reference 3, 31)

(J) Parking permits shall be available for purchase from the town in those numbers, for these periods of time, and at such fees as the Council shall by motion provide. Said parking permits shall be permanently affixed and prominently displayed on the lower right corner of the rear window of the authorized vehicle and shall authorize said vehicle to be parked at any municipally owned or operated parking lot without payment of parking meter charges. Use of Parking Permits is not authorized for on-street metered parking. Any vehicle having an Easton Parking Permit incurring three or more unpaid parking tickets during any six-month period shall result in revocation of said permit with no refund of fees paid. (Ordinance 69 effective 6/10/1973)

Upon the sale, transfer, or disposal of an authorized vehicle, the Parking Permit shall be surrendered to the Police Department or destroyed under their supervision. A nominal fee will be charged for the issuance of a replacement permit covering the unexpired term of the original. (Ordinance 69 effective 6/10/1973)

(K) All motor vehicles parked in a lot owned by the town shall have the front end of the vehicle parked closest to the meter. (Ordinance 265 effective 1/5/1994)

Section 17-31. Enforcement.

The members of the police force of the town shall have the same authority over the traffic in said lots as on the public streets of the town. (Ordinance 39 effective 1/20/1953)

Section 17-32. Violation.

For the purposes of this division, every vehicle parked for more than twenty-four (24) hours shall be deemed to be in violation, and every twenty-four (24) hour period or fraction thereof shall be considered a separate violation. (Ordinance 39 effective 1/20/1953)

Section 17-33. Removal of illegally parked vehicles.

The members of the police force are empowered to remove or cause to be removed any motor vehicle which violates the provisions of this division and to place the same in some garage within the limits of the town and hold the same until the cost of moving the vehicle, the storage charges thereon, and the fine or penalty for violating this division shall have been paid. (Ordinance 39 effective 1/20/1953)

Section 17-33.1 Fines and penalties.

The fines for illegal or unauthorized parking in a municipal parking lot of the Town of Easton shall be those amounts that the Council of the Town of Easton shall from time to time determine by resolution. (Ordinance 198 effective 5/27/1991, historical reference 95)

Section 17-34. Definition.

1. Trailer means a vehicle that has no motive power and is designed to carry people or property and to be towed by a motor vehicle. The term trailer includes, but is not limited to: "boat trailers", "camping trailers", "pole trailers", "semi-trailers", and "travel trailers", as those terms are defined in the Maryland Vehicle Law (Title 11, Annotated Code of Maryland Transportation Article.)

2. Motor Home means a motor vehicle that is designed and constructed primarily to provide living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use.

3. Bus means a vehicle that is designed to carry more than ten passengers and is used to carry people, or any other motor vehicle that is designed and used to carry people for compensation except for a taxicab. (Ordinance 337 effective 4/4/1996, historical reference 43)

Section 17-35. Parking Restrictions.

It shall be unlawful for any trailer, motor home or bus to be parked or stand on any of the public streets of the Town for a period exceeding two (2) hours. (Ordinance 337 effective 4/4/1996, historical reference 43, 80)