(a) Any driveway that provides ingress or egress for the continuous flow of vehicular traffic, whether or not leading to or from parking areas, shall be considered a fire lane.
(b) Any driveway or portion of a parking area, whether on public or private property, that is determined to be an emergency fire lane by the Fire Chief of the Village and is posted as required by Ohio R.C. 4511.681, shall be considered a fire lane.
(c) No person shall park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device, in any fire lane so as to obstruct the use of such fire lane by persons entitled thereto, except for the purpose and during the time reasonably necessary for loading and unloading of goods or persons, but in no event to exceed fifteen (15) minutes.
(d) Provisions of this section are not applicable unless public or private property fire lanes are posted in a conspicuous manner, setting forth the prohibition of parking in such fire lane, the amount of fine for such violation, and stating that the violating vehicles shall be towed at owner's expense.
(e) At the request of the property owner or his/her duly authorized agent, any vehicle found violating this section may be towed by the Police Department, at the expense of the owner of the vehicle provided that the owner of the property, or his/her duly authorized agent agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Village from all expenses, cost or liability for such action.
(Ord. 7-1989. Passed 2-7-89.)
(f) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.