§ 9-44-1. Obstructing fire access areas and fire hydrants.

A.

No obstruction of any kind, including motor vehicles or trailers, whether attended or unattended, shall be placed, stored, parked or permitted to remain for any period of time in any area required for the access of fire equipment to any public or private residential or business building or complex of such buildings, which may, in the discretion of the director of fire services, and with the consent of the owner when such areas are not public property, be designated as "fire access areas."

B.

Such fire access areas may include both public and private streets and alleys designated by the director of fire services, and off-street driveways or alleyways owned by such hospitals, buildings or complexes of such buildings, designated by the director of fire services with the consent of the owner thereof, and shall be marked by official signs designed and approved by the director of fire services indicating that approval is pursuant to this section, which design shall be used exclusively by the city and fire services division. A record of all approved fire access areas shall be kept on file at the fire services fire prevention bureau.

C.

Any and all signs erected, or areas marked or posted as a fire access area, by any owner of private property must bear different identification and color scheme, and such signs must indicate that such designation is not an official fire access area enforceable by the city fire division and police department. For the purposes of this section the terms "fire access areas" and "fire lanes" are synonymous.

D.

No such obstruction of any kind, including motor vehicles or trailers, whether attended or unattended, shall be placed, stored or parked or permitted to remain for any period of time within ten feet of a fire hydrant, whether such fire hydrant is located on public streets, alleys, off-street driveways or alleyways or on public or private property, including, but not limited to hospitals, residential or business buildings or complexes.

E.

When used herein, "owner" means individuals, partnerships or corporations actually legal owners or otherwise entitled to occupancy, use or possession thereof.

F.

Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and such motor vehicles or trailers found in violation hereof may be impounded and towing and storage charges assessed under the provisions of section 11-40-26 of this code.

G.

The amount of forfeiture which may be paid at the traffic violations bureau for violation of this section is designated as $13.00, which amount shall be added to the traffic violations bureau schedule of forfeitures contained in section 11-8-5(A) of this code.

(Code 1967, § 17-15; Code 1985, § 14-1; Ord. No. 718, § 1, 5-26-1970; Ord. No. 928, § 1, 4-27-1971; Ord. No. 3212, § 1, 6-15-1982)

Cross reference

Motor vehicles and traffic, title 11.