(a) The provisions contained in Chapter 8, Article 5 of the City Code apply to all vehicles, whether they are self-propelled, animal drawn or towed, except for:
(1) Emergency vehicles when responding to an emergency call or in pursuit of an alleged law violator;
(2) Highway construction vehicles when engaged in construction work; and
(3) Other vehicles that are exempt from municipal parking ordinances under applicable law.
(b) The fine for the violation of any provision of this Article 5 shall not exceed the sum of $500 per violation, each day constituting a separate violation. In addition to the fine assessed pursuant to this section, a vehicle violating any provision of this Article 5 may be towed and impounded at the owner's expense, such towing and impoundment costs to be paid in full prior to the release of said vehicle.
(c) (1) Any police officer or community service officer who observes the violation of any provision of Chapter 8, Article 5 of the City Code shall attach to the offending vehicle a notice to the owner/operator thereof that such vehicle has been parked in violation of same and advising that such person may, on or before the date and time set forth on the ticket to appear before the City of Carmel Ordinance Violation Bureau Clerk, pay to the City of Carmel Ordinance Violation Bureau Clerk, as a fine for and in full satisfaction of such violation, the sum of $25 for the first violation and a sum of $100 for each subsequent violation, except that, in the case of a vehicle that is unlawfully parked in a properly marked handicapped parking space, or that has been backed into a parking space in violation of § 8-50 of the City Code, such fine shall be in the sum of $50 for the first violation and a sum of $125 for each subsequent violation.
(2) If this fine is not paid in full on or before the date and time set forth on the ticket to appear before the City of Carmel Ordinance Violation Bureau Clerk, Corporation Counsel shall initiate proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction against the owner/operator who has been issued said ticket who shall be subject to the general penalties provided for violations of the provisions of Article 5 of this Chapter. Nothing contained in this subsection shall limit the City’s right to also tow and impound any vehicle found to be parked in violation of any provision of Article 5 of this Chapter, the costs of such towing and impoundment to be paid by the vehicle owner in addition to the payment of any fine assessed hereunder.
(d) All fines received by the City Court or the City of Carmel Ordinance Violation Bureau Clerk for violations of Article 5 of this chapter shall be deposited into the City’s General Fund pursuant to applicable law.
(e) The use of any Resident Vehicle Sticker, Temporary Guest Parking Permit or Merchant Vehicle Sticker in violation of Article 5 of this chapter shall void the sticker and/or permit and make the registered owner of the vehicle to whom the sticker or permit was issued ineligible to obtain another such sticker or permit for a period of one year from the date of such violation. Any vehicle that displays a Resident Vehicle Sticker, Temporary Guest Parking Permit or Merchant Vehicle Sticker that was not issued to that vehicle or to circumvent the parking regulations under this Chapter may also be ticketed, towed and impounded pursuant to subsection (c) above.
(f) The City Court shall have jurisdiction over all violations of the provisions of Article 5 of this chapter.
(Ord. D-1538-01, 9-4-01; Ord. D-1549-01, § 2, 12-3-01; Ord. D-2061-11, As Amended, 11-21-11; Ord. D-2505-19, 12-16-19; Ord. D-2606-21, As Amended, § 2, 12-6-21; Ord. D-2626-22, § 12, 4-18-22)