(A) It shall be unlawful to cause or permit any vehicle or other obstacle to stand or remain in any lane, alley, privately-owned public parking lot, driveway, or service area, within 16 feet of any building, accessory structure, or sidewalk which is immediately adjacent to or attached to any building, where the building is occupied by more than two families or is occupied for commercial, professional, religious, or other type of occupancy or assembly, in a manner as would obstruct the free passage of Fire Department vehicles, police cars, emergency or rescue vehicles, or any other vehicles performing a public or emergency function. This section shall apply except for a time as is necessary for the taking on or unloading of passengers or merchandise, except properly identified vehicles of handicapped or disabled individuals, unless a nearly suitable designated space is available.
(B) Where there are areas inaccessible to vehicular traffic between a lane, alley, privately-owned public parking lot, driveway, or service area and any building, accessory structure, or sidewalk immediately adjacent to or attached to any building, the restricted area of 16 feet shall be measured from the inaccessible areas abutting the land, alley, privately-owned public parking lot, driveway, or service area and a 16 foot emergency vehicle lane established so as to permit free and continuous passage of emergency vehicles.
(C) The Fire Department shall inspect the area surrounding all buildings to which this section applies, and the Fire Chief shall determine the location of emergency vehicle lanes established herein and notify the property owners affected thereby in writing, together with a notation as to the number of signs deemed necessary by the Fire Department in order to properly notify vehicle drivers of the existence and location of emergency vehicle lanes. Where it is the technical, expert opinion of the Fire Chief that compliance with division (A) or (B) above would not serve to further the purposes intended by this section, he shall advise the affected property owners or managers that compliance, in part or in full, is waived.
(D) The traffic-control devices designating the emergency vehicle lanes shall be approved by the Board of Public Works and Safety but shall not be in conflict with the State Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The erection and maintenance of the traffic-control devices shall be the responsibility of each property owner.
(E) It shall be the joint duty of the officers of the Police Department and the officers of the Fire Department to enforce the provisions of this section.
(F) To aid in the enforcement of this section, the Fire Chief shall obtain from each property owner, lessee, or person in possession of property covered by this section an affidavit granting permission and consent to the towing away of any personal property which is obstructing emergency vehicle lanes. The original affidavits shall be kept on file in the Police Chief’s office with duplicates filed in the Fire Chief’s office.
(G) Failure to erect or maintain the emergency vehicle lane signs or lanes as directed by the Fire Department shall be unlawful and subject to the penalties provided in § 74.999.
(Ord. 43-1980, passed 11-18-80) Penalty, see § 74.999