357.02 NOTICE TO ESTABLISH; HEARING.

   Where fire lanes have not been established on private property devoted to public use an when, in the opinion of the Fire Chief, such lanes should be established to protect and serve the public, the Fire Chief shall have authority to order such lanes to be established; provided, however, that the owner or operator of the property directly affected by such order shall be notified in writing of the designation of the lanes and may request a hearing before the Safety Director to present objections thereto. A request for hearing, directed to the Safety Director, shall be made in writing within twenty days after the mailing of the notice to the property owner/operator. Upon receipt of such request, the Safety Director shall set a reasonable time, within thirty days thereafter, and place for a hearing and give due notice thereof to the property owner/operator. At such hearing, the owner/operator shall be given an opportunity to present objections/alternatives to the proposed fire lanes. The Safety Director shall consider the burden imposed on the property by such fire lane and shall not require an imposition greater than is reasonably necessary to adequately protect the public.

(Ord. 92-294. Passed 12-1-92.)

357.03 WIDTH AND MARKING OF LANES.

   Fire lanes shall be of such width as is reasonably determined by the Fire Chief as necessary to permit access and operation of fire-fighting or other emergency equipment and personnel and the egress of occupants. Fire lanes shall be clearly delineated by appropriate markings on the ground or by displaying signs, or both. The signs and markings shall be furnished, placed and maintained by the property owner/operator, at such owner/operator’s expense, and be clearly visible and approved by the Fire Chief in accordance with standards as prescribed by the Fire Chief in accordance with the Ohio Department of Transportation Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The Fire Chief shall establish a reasonable time schedule for the installation of the signs and markings on each property.

(Ord. 92-294. Passed 12-1-92.)

357.04 OBSTRUCTION BY VEHICLE, FENCE OR BARRICADE.

   (a)   No person shall obstruct a fire lane by stopping, standing, parking or otherwise leaving a vehicle in such a lane, whether such vehicle is attended or unattended.

   (b)   No person shall obstruct a fire lane or access thereto with any fence, barricade or in any other manner whatsoever. A barricade or fence which is readily removable or through which access may be gained by fire-fighting or other emergency equipment and personnel without delay is not prohibited by the terms of this section. Any such permitted barricade or fence shall not be locked in any manner.

(Ord. 92-294. Passed 12-1-92.)

357.05 OBSTRUCTING VEHICLES TO BE MOVED; IMPOUNDING.

   Any attended vehicle found standing or parked in a fire lane shall be immediately moved upon direction of any member of the Department of Public Safety. Any unattended vehicle found standing or parked in a fire lane may be removed and impounded in a manner and subject to the penalties and charges set forth in Chapter 307.

(Ord. 92-294. Passed 12-1-92.)

357.06 NOTICE TO REMOVE OBSTRUCTION; CITY MAY REMOVE.

   Obstructions, other than vehicles, found in a fire lane shall be removed by the owner, occupant or other person in charge of the premises within three days after written notice to remove. Upon failure to comply with such notice, the City may cause the obstruction to be removed and the owner, occupant or other person in charge of the premises shall pay the cost of such removal.

(Ord. 92-294. Passed 12-1-92.)

357.99 PENALTY.

   (a)   Any person who is cited for a violation of this chapter with respect to a vehicle, in addition to the impounding provisions and charges provided by Chapter 307, shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) per offense if paid within five days and sixty dollars ($60.00) per offense if paid after five days.

   (b)   Except as provided in subsection (a) hereof, whoever violates any provision of this chapter, or fails to comply with any order made hereunder, shall for each violation or noncompliance be guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for each offense. Each ten days that a prohibited condition is maintained or allowed shall constitute a separate offense. The imposition of a penalty shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and such violation shall be remedied or abated.

(Ord. 04-086. Passed 5-4-04.)