PARKING

Parking on a Hill

Parking correctly on hills is extremely important in order to prevent injuries and property damage, should your vehicle roll away.

Legally, a hill as slight as a 3 degree grade requires you to use hill parking techniques:

• When you park facing downhill, turn your front wheels so they face into the curb and set the parking brake.
• When you park facing uphill, turn your front wheels so they face away from the curb and let your vehicle roll back a few inches until the rear of one front wheel gently touches the curb. Then set your parking brake.
• If there is no curb, turn the wheels away from the pavement so it wouldn't roll onto the road if the brakes fail, and set your parking brake.

When you park on a sloping driveway, turn the wheels so that the car will not roll into the street if the brakes fail.

Regardless if you park on the street or on a driveway:

• If your vehicle has a manual transmission, and you park on a horizontal surface or uphill, leave it in first gear when you park.
• If you have manual transmission and park downhill, leave the car in reverse.
• If it has an automatic transmission, put your vehicle in park.
• Always set your parking brake! Make sure your vehicle will not roll into or down the street.

No Parking

Never park where you will block traffic. Do not park or leave your car:

• In an intersection.
• On a crosswalk (marked or unmarked) or on a sidewalk.
• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, or a fire station driveway.
• Within 3 feet of a sidewalk ramp for the disabled.
• On a freeway, except in an emergency or when an officer or device requires a stop, or where a stop is specifically permitted.
• In front of a driveway.
• In a tunnel or on a bridge, except where permitted by signs.
• Where signs say "No Parking."
• In a parking space for the disabled (unless you are disabled and have a special plate or placard).
• In the space next to a disabled parking space if it is painted with white lines in a crosshatched pattern.
• On or within 7.5 feet of a railroad track.
• Between a safety zone and curb.
• On the wrong side of the street.
• Never park in the street just because all the parking places at the curb are taken. This is called "double parking", and it is always against the law.
• If you must stop on a highway, park completely off the pavement. You must leave enough space for other vehicles to pass freely. Your car should be visible for 200 feet in each direction.
• A vehicle that is stopped, parked, or left standing on a freeway (even if disabled) for more than four hours may be removed.

Special Parking Rules

When you park alongside a curb on a flat road, the front and back wheels must be parallel and within 12 inches of the curb. If you parked up or downhill, you must also comply with the rules described above. If there is no curb, parallel parking is required. Never leave your car until you have stopped the engine and set the parking brake.

Don’t open your door on the traffic side unless it is safe to do so and does not interfere with traffic. Look for passing bicycles and motorcycles. Do not leave the door open any longer than is necessary to load or unload passengers.