Chapter 365: STOPPING, STANDING OR PARKING RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED ON CERTAIN STREETS

Section 365.010. Application of Chapter.

The provisions of this Title prohibiting the standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times herein specified or as indicated on official signs except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a Police Officer or official traffic control device.

Section 365.020. Regulations Not Exclusive.

The provisions of this Title imposing a time limit on parking shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions prohibiting or limiting the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.

Section 365.030. Parking Prohibited at All Times on Certain Streets.

When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle at any time upon any of the streets described by ordinance.

Section 365.040. Parking Prohibited During Certain Hours on Certain Streets.

When signs are erected in each block giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle between the hours specified by ordinance of any day except Sunday and public holidays within the districts or upon any of the streets described by ordinance.

Section 365.050. Stopping, Standing or Parking Prohibited During Certain Hours on Certain Streets.

When signs are erected in each block giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle between the hours specified by ordinance of any day except Sundays and public holidays within the district or upon any of the streets described by ordinance.

Section 365.060. Parking Signs Required.

Whenever by this Title or any ordinance of the City any parking time limit is imposed or parking is prohibited on designated streets it shall be the duty of the City Traffic Engineer to erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof and no such regulations shall be effective unless said signs are erected and in place at the time of any alleged offense.

Section 365.070. Parking Trucks, Trailer, Etc., in Residential Areas — Restricted. [Ord. No. 579 §I, 11-10-1987; Ord. No. 08-947 §§I — IV, 1-8-2008]

A. It shall be unlawful to park, on any City of La Plata street, roadway or area owned or controlled by the City, a road tractor, straight truck, large bus, truck, tractor, trailer, house trailer, tractor trailer or truck trailer combination, with a gross weight capacity of twenty-four thousand (24,000) pounds or more, within the City limits of the City of La Plata at any time or under any circumstances except as expressly set forth in this Section.

B. Commercial trailers normally pulled or hauled by a semi-tractor-truck shall not be permitted to park or be placed upon City streets, roadways or area owned or controlled by the City. This portion of this Section specifically prohibits trailers dropped or parked.

C. A "trailer" is defined as having a length greater than fifteen (15) feet, and it is furthered described as commercial trailers, livestock trailers, reefers or any other type trailer having similar characteristics.

D. Trailers having a length of fifteen (15) feet and less are excluded from this Section, but each is subject to ordinances and regulations applicable to their use within the City limits of the City of La Plata.

E. This Section, regarding truck and trailer parking, does not prohibit the right of landowner to lawfully park vehicles, including semi-tractor-truck and trailer, upon his or her private property so long as it does not infringe upon the rights of adjoining property owners. In the parking of such vehicle, the transition from street to private property shall not impact the drainage ditch between the street and private property.

F. Ordinance Authorized Exception. A vendor's delivery truck may be parked in front of a place of business during business hours for a period not to exceed one (1) hour in order to transfer goods or to receive goods at such business.

G. The ordinance shall set forth fines for any person or party violating the ordinance. Each day or any part of that day shall be construed to be a separate offense by the violator. The violator shall be considered guilty of municipal ordinance violation and, if convicted of the municipal ordinance violation, shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per separate offense, nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) per separate offense upon conviction by the court.

Section 365.080. Stopping, Standing or Parking Prohibited — When. [CC 1984 §76.080]

In accordance with Section 365.050 of this Code, and when signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle between the hours specified herein of any day except Sundays and public holidays within the district or upon any of the streets or parts of streets as follows:

No motor vehicle of a rated capacity in excess of three-fourths (¾) ton, or of overall length in excess of two hundred five (205) inches shall be parked or left standing as follows:

Except for the purpose of delivery or pickup only, such vehicles may be so parked or left standing for a period not in excess of fifteen (15) minutes.

Section 365.090. Parking Limited. [CC 1984 §76.090]

A. No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a Police Officer or traffic control device.

B. No vehicle shall be parked upon the public streets in the City of La Plata, Missouri, for a continuous period of more then twenty-four (24) hours; except that this prohibition shall not apply to any passenger vehicle which is in operable condition and which is parked adjacent to the residential property of the family of which the owner of such vehicle is a member.

Chapter 370: TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BUREAU

Section 370.005. Traffic Violations Bureau. [CC 1984 §76.040]

The Municipal Court shall establish a Traffic Violations Bureau to assist the court with the clerical work of traffic cases. The Bureau shall be in charge of such person or persons and shall be open at such hours as the Municipal Judge may designate. The judge of the Municipal Court who hears traffic cases shall designate the specified offenses under this law or under the traffic ordinances of the City and the State traffic laws in accordance with Supreme Court Rule No. 37.49 in respect to which payments of fines may be accepted by the Traffic Violations Bureau in satisfaction thereof, and shall specify suitable schedules the amount of such fines for first (1st), second (2nd) and subsequent offenses, provided such fines are within the limits declared by law or ordinance, and shall further specify what number of such offenses shall require appearance before the court.

Section 370.010. When Person Charged May Elect to Appear at Bureau.

A. Any person charged with an offense for which payment of a fine may be made to the Traffic Violations Bureau shall have the option of paying such fine within the time specified in the notice of arrest at the Traffic Violations Bureau upon entering a plea of guilty and upon waiving appearance in court; or may have the option of depositing required lawful bail, and upon a plea of not guilty shall be entitled to a trial as authorized by law.

B. The payment of a fine to the Bureau shall be deemed an acknowledgement of conviction of the alleged offense, and the Bureau, upon accepting the prescribed fine, shall issue a receipt to the violator acknowledging payment thereof.

Section 370.020. Duties of Traffic Violations Bureau.

A. The following duties are hereby imposed upon the Traffic Violations Bureau in reference to traffic offenses:

It shall accept designated fines, issue receipts, and represent in court such violators as are permitted and desire to plead guilty, waive court appearance, and give power of attorney;
It shall receive and issue receipts for cash bail from the persons who must or wish to be heard in court, enter the time of their appearance on the court docket, and notify the arresting officer and witnesses, if any, to be present.

Section 370.030. Traffic Violations Bureau to Keep Records.

The Traffic Violations Bureau shall keep records and submit to the judges hearing violations of City ordinances summarized monthly reports of all notices issued and arrests made for violations of the traffic laws and ordinances in the City and of all the fines collected by the Traffic Violations Bureau or the court, and of the final disposition or present status of every case of violation of the provisions of said laws and ordinances. Such records shall be so maintained as to show all types of violations and the totals of each. Said records shall be public records.

Section 370.040. Additional Duties of Traffic Violations Bureau.

The Traffic Violations Bureau shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed by the traffic ordinances of the City or as may be required by any laws of this State.

Section 370.050. Suspension of Sentencing. [CC 1984 §76.180]

The Municipal Judge of the court of the City of La Plata when a person has been found guilty of violating any municipal ordinance involving the operation of a motor vehicle may suspend sentencing pending the successful completion by the convicted person of a course of educational training designed to improve the safety habits of drivers or may order the convicted person to attend such a course in lieu of or in addition to the penalty otherwise provided by law for the offense.