An ordinance to provide for the regulation of the parking of vehicles, and to provide penalties for the violation thereof.

THE TOWNSHIP OF _________, _________ COUNTY, MICHIGAN, ORDAINS:

Section 1: Title
This ordinance shall be known and cited as the ____________ Township Parking Ordinance.

Section 2: Definitions
The word “parking” wherever used in this ordinance is defined to mean allowing a vehicle to remain standing.

Section 3: Regulations
A. No vehicle used in the transportation of inflammable or explosive materials or substances shall be parked within the limits of any street, or other public place, except supervised public parking lots, between the hours from sunset to sunrise, provided, however, that this restriction shall not apply to the incidental stopping or parking of such vehicle in the carrying out of loading or unloading operations or in the performance of errands incidental to the business use of such vehicles if such vehicle is lighted with at least two white headlights and two red rear lights so constructed and so placed as to be observed under ordinary atmospheric conditions at a distance of not less than 500 feet.

B. No truck, trailer, semi-trailer, tractor, or other such type of vehicle shall be parked within the limits of any street or other public place, except public parking lots, for a period of greater than two hours between twelve o’clock (12:00) midnight and seven o’clock (7:00) in the morning and then only if such vehicle is lighted with two white headlights and two red rear lights so constructed and so placed as to be observed under ordinary atmospheric conditions at a distance of not less than 300 feet.

C. No automobile, truck or other vehicle shall be parked within the limits of any street or other public place for the purpose of repairing, remodeling or otherwise working upon said vehicle.

D. No automobile, truck or other vehicle shall be parked within the limits of any street during the hours between sunset and sunrise unless parked in a well lighted portion of such street or unless it displays two headlights and at least one rear light lighted in such manner as to be clearly visible under ordinary atmospheric conditions at a distance of not less than 300 feet.

E. No automobile, truck or other vehicle shall be parked or allowed to stand on the portion of street or highway between the curb or gutter and the sidewalk nor on any sidewalk or parkway except temporarily and during the process of loading or unloading.

F. No automobile, truck or other vehicle shall be parked or allowed to stand within the limits of any street and in a perpendicular position to the curb except temporarily for loading or unloading.

G. No automobile, truck or other vehicle other than fire trucks, ambulances or vehicles of law enforcement agencies during the performance of their respective duties, shall be parked or permitted to stand within 15 feet of any fire hydrant nor nearer than 25 feet from the nearest street line of any intersecting street, nor in front of any crosswalks or driveways, nor in any passenger bus loading zones.

H. No automobiles, trucks or other vehicles shall be parked or permitted to stand within the boundaries of any street and within 500 feet of any building on fire.

I. No automobiles, trucks or other vehicles shall be parked further than two (2) feet from the curb line if there is one, and if there is no curb, they shall not be parked within the main traveled portion of the street or highway.

J. No automobile, truck or other vehicle shall be parked or permitted to stand unless the brakes thereon are in good working order and properly set, nor shall such vehicle be parked or permitted to stand with its motor running, unless a competent operator is in charge and at the controls thereof.

K. When signs have been erected by any competent authority designating a “no parking” zone, the parking by any automobile, truck or other vehicle contrary thereto shall be a violation of this ordinance.

Section 4: Violation, Penalties
Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with or resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be fined not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) and costs of prosecution, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court for each offense.

Note: This ordinance is written to be enforced as a criminal misdemeanor. If your township intends to enforce this ordinance as a civil infraction, the penalty provision will need to be revised. Please consult your local attorney, or contact Michigan Townships Association for sample civil infraction penalty provisions and enforcement guidelines.

Section 5: Validity
Should any section, clause or provision of this ordinance be declared by the courts to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any part thereof, other than the part so declared to be invalid.

Section 6: Conflicting Provisions Repealed
Any ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with any of the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.

Section 7: Effective Date
This ordinance shall take effect on the _____ day of __________.

The purpose of this sample ordinance is to provide a suggested guideline for the types of items that should be included within an ordinance. Certainly, no sample ordinance should be used unless, after careful review, it is the professional judgment of your legal counsel that using the sample will accomplish the particular objectives and intentions of your township. Although these sample ordinances are the result of much thought and effort, neither the authors nor the Michigan Townships Association assumes any responsibility for the results of using these samples word-for-word in individual cases.