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DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The Director of the Department of Transportation (Department), pursuant to the authority set forth in sections 5(3)(D) and 6(b) of the Department of Transportation Establishment Act of 2002, effective May 21, 2002 (D.C. Law 14-137; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-921.04(3)(D) and 921.05(b)) (transferring the parking management function previously delegated to the Department of Public Works under section III (H) of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1983) hereby gives notice of the adoption of the following rulemaking to amend Chapter 24, “Stopping, Standing, Parking, and other Non-Moving Violations,” of Title 18, “Vehicles and Traffic,” of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).
The proposed rulemaking would allow motorcycles and motorized bicycles to be parked perpendicular to the curb, clarify areas where a person is unauthorized to purchase more time for a metered space, and update parking restrictions in residential areas of the District. Final rulemaking action shall not be taken in less than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.
Chapter 24, “STOPPING, STANDING, PARKING, AND OTHER NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS,” of Title 18, “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC,” of the DCMR is amended as follows:
Section 2400, “PROPER PARKING: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS,” is amended as follows:
Subsection 2400.1 is amended to read as follows:
2400.1 Except as provided in 2400.8 or as otherwise authorized by a posted sign, a person shall stand or park a vehicle in a roadway parallel with the edge of the roadway headed in the direction of traffic.
A new subsection 2400.8 is added to read as follows:
2400.8 A person may park a motorcycle or motorized bicycle in a direction other than parallel with the edge of the roadway, including perpendicular with the curb, if the motorcycle or motorized bicycle does not obstruct the flow of traffic.
Section 2404, “PARKING METERS AND PARKING METER ZONES,” is amended by amending Subsection 2404.7 to read as follows:
2404.7 No person shall purchase more time than allowed for parking in a parking meter zone as indicated by the signs in the zone and on the parking meter.
Section 2405, “STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED: NO SIGN REQUIRED,” is amended to read as follows:
2405 STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED: NO SIGN REQUIRED
2405.1 No person shall stop, stand, or park a motor vehicle or trailer in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, in compliance with law, or at the direction of a police officer or traffic control device:
(a) Within an intersection;
(b) On a crosswalk;
(c) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing, or parking would obstruct traffic;
(d) Upon any bridge, viaduct, or other elevated structure, freeway, highway tunnel, or ramps leading to or from such structures, or within a highway tunnel;
(e) On any median, channelizing island, or safety zone, whether made of concrete, grass, or other material and with curbs or otherwise delineated by solid yellow or white lines;
(f) In any driveway, alley entrance, or other way when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct the flow of pedestrians or other lawful traffic upon any sidewalk;
(g) In a bicycle lane; or
(h) On the sidewalk.
2405.2 No person shall stand or park a motor vehicle or trailer, whether occupied or not, in any of the following places (including for the purpose of loading or unloading materials), except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or at the direction of a police officer, traffic control sign, or signal; provided, that a vehicle may stop momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers:
(a) In front of or within five feet (5 ft.) of an alley, public driveway, or private driveway;
(b) Within ten feet (10 ft.) of a fire hydrant;
(c) Except as provided in § 2411.21 of this title, within forty feet (40 ft.) of the intersection of curb lines of intersecting streets or within twenty-five feet (25 ft.) of the intersection of curb lines on the far (non-approach) side of a one-way street; except that trucks vending ice cream shall park curbside when stopping to make a sale, as close as possible to a pedestrian cross-walk without entering the intersection, and without unduly interfering with the flow of traffic;
(d) Within twenty-five feet (25 ft.) of the approach side of any “STOP” or “YIELD” sign located at the side of the roadway;
(e) Within fifty feet (50 ft.) of a railroad crossing;
(f) Within twenty feet (20 ft.) of a fire station driveway entrance;
(g) In or on any street or roadway when such parking will reduce the width of the open roadway to less than ten feet (10 ft.);
(h) In front of any barricade or sign that has been placed for the purpose of closing the street; or
(i) In a fire lane located on public or private space.
2405.3 No person shall park a motor vehicle or trailer, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading of passengers or freight in any of the following places:
(a) On the public parking between the sidewalk space and the building line, except parking shall be permitted on public parking at those locations designated under this title and at locations authorized by permit and upon payment of rent;
(b) Between a safety zone or channelizing island and the adjacent curb or within ninety feet (90 ft.) of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone or channelizing island unless otherwise indicated by official signs;
(c) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;
(d) Within twenty-five feet (25 ft.) of either side of motorists’ courtesy mail boxes;
(e) In any public alley; provided, that parking shall be permitted in a public alley where authorized by a public space permit or where designated by posted sign; and
(f) In a manner to obstruct the entrance to any garage, parking lot or yard, door, or gate used for service purposes.
2405.4 [REPEALED]
2405.5 The following may not be parked on any public thoroughfare in front of, alongside, or in the rear of any private dwelling or apartment, house of worship, school playground, or hospital; provided, a vehicle may be parked in front of, alongside, or in the rear of such property while engaged in work at such place for which the vehicle is reasonably necessary:
(a) Any passenger vehicle with a seating capacity of more than fifteen (15) passengers;
(b) A boat;
(c) A trailer, whether loaded or unloaded;
(d) Any vehicle longer than twenty-two feet (22 ft.) or wider than eight feet (8 ft.); or
(e) Any vehicle that has been designed or modified to haul trash, junk, or debris.
2405.6 No vehicle described in § 2405.5(a) through (e) may be parked alongside or around any public park except in stands established in accordance with this chapter.
Chapter 26, “CIVIL FINES FOR MOVING AND NON-MOVING INFRCTIONS,” of Title 18 DCMR is amended as follows:
Section 2601, “PARKING AND OTHER NON-MOVING INFRACTIONS,” is amended as follows:
The fine for parking on the sidewalk is amended where it appears in the section to read as follows:
Sidewalk, on [§ 2405.1(h)]
100.00
The fine for parking a commercial vehicle, bus, or sightseeing vehicle in front of a residence is amended where it appears in the section to read as follows:
Any passenger vehicle with a seating capacity of more than fifteen (15) passengers, a boat, a trailer, any vehicle longer than twenty-two feet (22 ft.) or wider than eight feet (8 ft.), or any vehicle that has been designed or modified to haul trash, junk, or debris parked on a public street in front of any private dwelling, or apartment, house of worship, school playground or hospital. [§ 2405.5]
1,000.00
All persons interested in commenting on the subject matter in this proposed rulemaking may file comments in writing, not later than thirty (30) days after the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register, with Karina Ricks, Associate Director, District of Columbia Department of Transportation, 2000 14th Street, N.W., 7th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20009. You may also send comments electronically to publicspace.committee@dc.gov. Copies of this proposed rulemaking are available, at cost, by writing to the above address, and are also available electronically, at no cost, on the District Department of Transportation’s website at www.ddot.dc.gov.
