§ 71.08. Metered parking.

(A)

Definitions. The following words and phrases, when used in this section shall, for the purpose of this section, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.

Parking meter includes any mechanical device or meter not inconsistent with this section placed or erected for the regulation of parking by authority of the town.

Parking meter space means any space within a parking meter zone adjacent to a parking meter which is duly designated for the parking of a single vehicle by lines painted or otherwise durably marked on the curb, on the surface of the street, or other area adjacent to or adjoining the parking meters.

Parking meter zone includes any restricted street, or section of street designated by the governing board for use by the public as parking facilities, upon which parking meters are installed and in operation. This parking meter zone may be changed by decision of the governing board.

(B)

Installation and maintenance of meters; time limits.

(1)

The Town Manager is hereby authorized and directed to cause parking meters to be installed, placed and maintained within the parking meter zones as traffic conditions require. Such meters shall be placed upon the curb in the designated parking meter zones. The Town Manager or such officials or other persons as selected shall provide for the installation, regulation, control, operation and use of the parking meters provided for in this section and shall maintain meters in good working condition.

(2)

Each parking meter shall be so set as to display a signal showing legal parking upon the deposit of the fee as established by the Board of Commissioners from time to time. The fee to park in the designated areas is $1.00 per hour or as decided by the governing board.

(C)

Designation of parking meter zones. The areas of Front Street extending from the terminus to Live Oak Street, Turner Street between Front Street and Ann Street, and any other areas as may be established by the Town Manager upon approval by the Board of Commissioners, are designated as parking meter zones within the Town. The fact that a parking meter is in place at any point within this area shall be prima facie evidence that the locality thereof is within a parking meter zone.

(D)

Designation of parking meter spaces; manner of parking therein. The Town Manager or his or her designee is hereby authorized to mark off individual parking spaces in the parking zones with lines painted or durably marked on the surface of the street as well as a number marking each individual spot. At each parking meter space so marked off, it shall be unlawful for any operator to park any vehicle in such a way that such vehicle shall not be entirely within the bounds of the space so designated.

(E)

How parking meters and space are to be used; overtime parking.

(1)

Except in a period of emergency determined by an officer of the Fire and Rescue or Police Department, or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal, when any vehicle shall be parked in any parking space alongside of or next to which a parking meter is located, the operator of such vehicle shall, upon entering the parking meter space, immediately deposit or cause to be deposited in such meter such proper coin of the United States or credit card as is required for such parking meter and as is designated by proper direction on the meter, and when required by the direction on the meter, the operator of such vehicle, after the deposit of the proper coin or credit card, shall also set in operation the timing mechanism on such meter in accordance with directions properly appearing thereon.

(2)

Failure to deposit such proper coin or credit card, and to set the timing mechanism in operation when so required, shall constitute a violation of this section. Upon the deposit of such coin or credit card, and the setting of the timing mechanism in operation when so required, the parking space may lawfully be occupied by such vehicle during the period of time which has been prescribed for the part of the street in which such parking space is located; parking time.

(3)

Operators may increase their parking time for the parking space through depositing additional coins or by using a credit card. The allotted time for the parking space may be increased at any of the meters located in the parking meter zone.

(4)

If such vehicle shall remain parked in any such parking space beyond the parking limit set for such parking space, and if the meter shall indicate such illegal parking time, then and in that event, such vehicle shall be considered as parking overtime and beyond the period of legal parking time, and such parking shall be deemed a violation of this section.

(5)

In lieu of making coin or credit card deposits into a parking meter or kiosk, a pass may be purchased and displayed upon a vehicle's dashboard. Passes are available for differing durations, as provided for in the Town Fee Schedule, and may be purchased at Town Hall (or other locations as determined by the Town Manager).

(F)

When parking meters are to be in operation. Parking meters shall be operated in the parking meter zones set forth in this section every day between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. beginning on May 1 and ending at 8:00 p.m. on September 30.

(G)

Exceeding legal parking time. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this section for any person to cause, allow, permit or suffer any vehicle registered in the name of, or operated by such person to be parked overtime, or beyond the period of legal parking time established for any parking meter zone as described in this section.

(H)

Occupation of parking space when meter shows violation. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this section for any person to permit any vehicle to remain or be placed in any parking meter space in any parking meter zone while such meter is displaying a signal indicating that the vehicle occupying such parking space has already been parked beyond the period of time prescribed for such parking space.

(I)

Exemptions. The following parking spaces within the parking meter zone are exempted from this section:

(1)

Handicapped parking spaces, located in such places as consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or other laws and regulations providing for public access to those individuals with disabilities, for vehicles bearing a handicapped parking permit issued under regulations of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles; and

(2)

Parking spaces the town is required to provide under court order or settlement agreements.

(3)

The Town Manager will cause exempt parking spaces to be laid off and marked.

(J)

Deposit of slugs. It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit or cause to be deposited in any parking meter any slug, device or substitute in place of a United States coin.

(K)

Defacing or injuring meter. No unauthorized person shall deface, injure, tamper with, open or willfully break, destroy or impair the usefulness of any parking meter installed under the provisions of this section.

(L)

Use of meter proceeds. The proceeds derived from the use of parking meters shall be used exclusively for improvements and betterment of the downtown area.

(Ord. passed 5-21-2014; Res. of 3-13-2017(2) ; Ord. of 11-13-2017 )