(A) It shall be unlawful for the owner, driver or operator of any vehicle to park or stop such vehicle or to permit such vehicle to be parked or to stand at any time, or to place any other personal property found to be obstructing a fire lane and he or she shall be cited by any law enforcement officer with jurisdiction or fire department personnel.
(B) In addition, any vehicle or other personal property may be towed away upon the request of any law enforcement officer or fire department personnel having jurisdiction. The owner of the vehicle or personal property shall be liable for all towing and resulting storage charges.
(C) The Fire Department shall, to the greatest extent feasible, inspect the area surrounding all buildings in which the public would have access, and the chief of the fire department, or duly authorized representative, shall determine and establish the emergency vehicle lanes and notify the property owners affected therein in writing.
(D) Fire lanes shall be established and marked as follows.
(1) Fire lanes shall be 12 feet from the sidewalk, driveway, or service areas immediately adjacent to any building or structure deemed necessary by the chief of the Fire Department.
(2) Where acceptable, the pavement of the fire (emergency) lane shall be marked with the words “no parking fire lane” in large visible letters and a strip of no less than four inches in width installed 12 feet from the sidewalk, curb or other items adjacent to the building in question. The words “no parking fire lane” shall be between the stripe and the sidewalk, curb or other item adjacent to the building.
(3) All curb striping and language required on pavement shall be marked in yellow coloration with paint or other types of substances that may be approved by the Chief of the Fire Department.
(4) Signs stating “no parking fire lane” meeting the Indiana Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices shall be installed no less than every 30 feet apart.
(E) The Chief of the Fire Department, in designating fire lanes, may determine that any blockage of the portions of those lanes, because of the location of hydrants, standpipes or other fire prevention devices or because of the necessities for ingress and egress, constitutes a fire hazard.
(F) Areas so determined shall be designated tow-away zones and shall be marked and posted. Any vehicle parked in such zones shall be removed at the direction of any fire official or police officer.
(Prior Code, § 58-216) (Ord. 96-21, passed 8-12-1996; Ord. 97-3, passed 1-18-1997) Penalty, see § 72.99