(A) No person shall stop a vehicle, leave it standing or cause it to stop or to be left standing upon any portion of the roadway; however, this section shall not be construed to prevent parking in front of a private residence off the roadway or street in the city where that parking is otherwise permitted, as long as the vehicle so parked does not impede the flow of traffic. This division shall not apply to:
(1) A vehicle that has been disabled on the right-of-way of a highway in a manner and to the extent that it is impossible to avoid the occupation of the shoulder of a street or impracticable to remove it from the shoulder of the street until repairs have been made or sufficient help obtained for its removal. In no event shall a disabled vehicle remain on the shoulder of a street for 24 hours or more;
(2) Motor vehicles when required to stop in obedience to the provisions of any section of the Kentucky Revised Statutes or any traffic ordinance, regulation or sign or the command of any police officer; or
(3) Vehicles operating as common carriers of passengers for hire and school buses taking passengers on the vehicle or discharging passengers therefrom, provided that no vehicle shall stop for that purpose at a place on the street which does not afford reasonable visibility to approaching motor vehicles from both directions.
(4) Any vehicle required to stop by reason of an obstruction to its progress.
(B) When any police officer finds a vehicle standing upon a highway in violation of this section, he or she may move or cause the vehicle to be moved, or require the operator or other person in charge of the vehicle to move it. The police officer may cause the vehicle to be removed by ordering any person engaged in the business of storing or towing motor vehicles to remove the vehicle to a site chosen by the person. Ownership of the vehicle shall be determined by the city through the vehicle's license plates, serial number or other means of determining ownership. Within ten business days of the involuntary removal, the city shall notify the owner by certified mail that the vehicle was illegally upon public property; the name and address of the storage facility where the vehicle is located; that removal of the vehicle from the storage facility will involve payment of towing and storage charges; and that the vehicle may be sold pursuant to the provisions of KRS 376.275 if not claimed within 45 days. The notice shall include the make, model, license number and vehicle identification number. No notification shall be required if ownership cannot be determined.
(C) When any police officer finds a vehicle unattended upon any bridge or causeway or in a tunnel where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic, the officer may provide for the removal of the vehicle to the nearest garage or other place of safety as provided in division (B) above.
(D) No person shall stop or park a vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in the following places:
(1) On a sidewalk;
(2) In front of sidewalk ramps provided for disabled persons;
(3) In front of a public or private driveway;
(4) Within an intersection;
(5) At any place where official signs prohibit stopping or parking; or
(6) Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.
(E) No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his or her control into any prohibited area.
(F) The restrictions in division (D)(5) above shall not apply to sheriffs and their deputies or police officers when operating properly identified vehicles during performance of their official duties.
(2000 Code, § 7-51) Penalty, see § 71.99
Statutory references:
Notice of removal of vehicle, KRS 376.275
Stopping, standing, parking, see KRS 189.450