(A) Except in a period of emergency determined by an officer of the Fire Department or Police Department, or except in compliance with a uniformed police officer engaged in directing traffic, any vehicle parked or standing in a space regulated by a parking meter between the hours and on the days specified on the meter shall be lawfully parked or standing only when the owner, operator or driver of such vehicle, upon parking or standing a vehicle in the metered parking space, shall immediately deposit payment as specified on the meter regulating such parking space. Failure to deposit the proper payment as required shall constitute a violation of this section. When the “VIOLATION” indicator is showing, it shall be presumptive evidence that any vehicle found parked or standing in a regulated metered space is parked or standing in violation of this section. The provisions of this section shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions prohibiting or limiting the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles.
('74 Code, § 9-5-19.5)
(B) In areas where on-street parking is regulated by parking meters, at least three on-street parking spaces shall be designated as free motorcycle, moped, or motorscooter parking for every three contiguous blocks of metered on-street parking. This provision does not apply if it would require the removal of any regular on-street metered parking space. This provision should not be interpreted as exempting motorcycles, mopeds, or motoscooters from payment when a meter is present.
(C) A green vehicle that is registered in the State of New Mexico to a New Mexico resident or business is exempt from paying to park in an on-street space regulated by a parking meter. A green vehicle parked in an on- street space regulated by a meter shall have city issued identification posted on the left rear bumper or the left rear window that authorizes the exemption set forth in this paragraph. A green vehicle shall not be parked in an on-street space regulated by a meter for more than two hours. After the free two-hour timeframe has expired, the vehicle cannot park within a one block radius of that parking space free of charge for 24 hours.
(D) Within 90 days of the adoption of these divisions (C) - (D), the Mayor shall develop the following:
(1) a form of identification to post on the vehicles;
(2) the procedures to issue such identification;
(3) a training program for police officers and other City employees authorized to issue parking citations; and
(4) a reasonable and nominal fee the City can impose for the issuance of a green vehicle permit.
(E) To qualify for an exemption for a green vehicle, the owner must present the vehicle to the city's Parking Division for verification of green vehicle eligibility.
(F) This program shall be evaluated by the Department of Municipal Development every two years. This evaluation will be brought before the City Council with recommendations of alteration to the Green Vehicle Program, as necessary.
(Ord. 65-1974; Am. Ord. 61-2004; Am. Ord. 1-2006; Am. Ord. 4-2008; Am. Ord. 11-2011; Am. Ord. 2016-011; Am. Ord. 2017-010)