§ 38-5. Fire lanes (City of Lafayette).

(a)

Territorial applicability. This section applies only in the city.

(b)

Blocking access, sprinkler system or fire department connection at places of public assemblage.

(1)

There shall be no parking, standing or placing of any cars, trucks, trailers, apparatus, vehicles, portable buildings or other items deemed as an obstruction by the fire prevention bureau within 50 feet of any exit, entrance, sprinkler system or fire department connection, or access to utility services serving any shopping center, mall, bowling alley, theater, hospital, church, apartment complex, institution or other location in which there is ordinarily an assemblage of more than 20 persons or any other area as deemed necessary for the protection of life and property from fire or explosion.

(2)

There shall be an exception to subsection b(1) herein as it relates to all public and private schools (excluding daycares, universities and colleges) located within the City of Lafayette that provides kindergarten through twelfth grade. Parking, standing, or the placing of any vehicles or other items listed in subsection b(1), shall be allowed in the area described in subsection b(1) at all public and private schools, beginning one-half hour before the school bell rings in the morning, throughout the day until one-half hour after the school bell rings at the end of the day. This exception shall only be allowed from Monday through Friday of each week during the school session, for the time stated herein. However, subsection b(1) shall apply to such schools during evening hours and all day and night on Saturday and Sunday of each week, as well as school holidays.

(3)

All buses and vehicles shall be allowed in the area described in subsection b(1) only for pick up and drop off of children. Furthermore, the buses and automobiles shall not be left unattended at any time so that they can be easily removed from this area in the event of an emergency situation.

(4)

Any public or private school that was built prior to 1965 that desires to be exempt from the requirements of this chapter shall only be allowed to do so upon written permission from the Lafayette Fire Chief.

(c)

Erection of signs. It shall be the responsibility of the owners and operators of facilities subject to this section to pay for and to have erected signs indicating any such area designated as fire lanes by the bureau.

(1)

Fire lane signing on private property shall contain the following wording: "No Parking—Fire Lane—Tow Away Zone". The signs shall be a minimum of 12 by 18 inches in size, with a white background with red lettering and border. Symbol signs may be used in lieu of the legend. Symbols shall be as shown in sketches of the fire lane sign requirements. Signs shall be located a minimum of 50 feet apart and a maximum of 100 feet apart, with signs facing in both directions. Signs indicating the amount of the applicable fines may be required to be placed by the bureau, if necessary, for repeated violations.

(2)

Fire lane signs on public streets or alleys shall be in compliance with the current Louisiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

(d)

Designation by painted lines. It shall be the responsibility of the owners and operators of any private facilities subject to this section to paint lines outlining the area designated by the fire prevention bureau as fire lanes on private property. The painting of these lines shall be yellow in color, and the width of the stripes shall be four inches, and the total length be that designated as a fire lane by the bureau. Painted lanes shall be located five feet from the curb or edge of the pavement. Curb painting may be allowed in place of painted lines, if approved by the fire prevention bureau.

(e)

Existing fire lanes. All existing fire lanes previously designated and approved by the fire prevention bureau prior to the final adoption of the ordinance from which this section is derived will remain unchanged until the building is remodeled or the next occupancy permit is issued.

(f)

Adoption of specifications for signs. The drawings and charts entitled "Fire Lane Sign Requirements," attached to City Ordinance No. O-2885, are adopted as part of this section by reference. Copies of such drawings and charts shall be made available to any interested party by the fire prevention bureau.

(g)

Maintenance of signs and striping. It shall be the responsibility of the owner and operator to see that the fire lane striping of the areas designated are maintained according to bureau requirements for visibility, and that signs are replaced when necessary.

(h)

Impoundment of vehicles and structures parked or placed in fire lane. Any car, truck, trailer, vehicle or portable building found parked, standing or placed in a designated fire lane shall be towed away and impounded by any police officer, fire inspector or authorized representative. The owner of the car, truck, trailer, vehicle or portable building shall be responsible for all costs of impounding and storing of the car, truck, trailer, vehicle or portable building. Upon the payment of such cost, the owner shall be entitled to have the property released.

(i)

Vehicle owner presumed responsible for violation. In any prosecution charging a violation of this section, proof that the vehicle described in the violations ticket was parked, standing or placed in violation of this section, together with proof that the defendant named in the violations ticket was, at the time of such parking, standing or placement, the registered owner of such vehicle, shall constitute in evidence a prima facie presumption that the registered owner of such vehicle was, in fact, the person who parked, stood or placed such vehicle at the point where, and for the time during which, the alleged violation occurred.

(j)

Any owner or operator who shall violate any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100.00 or more than $200.00, or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days or both. Each day's violation of the provisions hereof shall be deemed a separate offense.

(City Code 1965, §§ 12-12, 12-14; Ord. No. O-038-2008, § 2, 2-20-08)

Cross reference

Traffic and vehicles, ch. 86.