§ 30-2. Fire lanes.

(a)

Obstruction prohibited. There shall be no parking, standing or placing of any cars, trucks, trailers, apparatus, vehicles, portable buildings or any item deemed as an obstruction by the fire inspector 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 in any other area as deemed necessary for the protection of life and property from fire or explosion.

(b)

Designation. Fire lanes shall be designated by the fire inspector of the city, and there shall be no parking, standing or placing of any cars, trucks, trailers, apparatus, vehicles, portable buildings or other item deemed as an obstruction by the fire inspector within such designated fire lanes.

(c)

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 areas designated as fire lanes pursuant to this section. Such signs shall contain the following wording: "No Parking Fire Lane—By Order of the New Iberia Fire Inspector—Tow-Away Area." Such signs shall be white with red lettering and shall be located a maximum of 50 feet apart with signs facing in both directions. Signs indicating the amount of the fines provided for in this section may be required to be placed by the fire inspector if necessary in cases of repeated violations.

(d)

Marking of pavement. It shall be the responsibility of the owners and operators of any facilities subject to this section to paint lines outlining the area designated by the fire inspector as fire lanes. The painting of these lanes shall be red in color, and the width of the stripes shall be four inches, and the total length shall be that designated as the fire lane by the fire inspector. Painted lanes shall be located five feet from any curb or as specified by the fire inspector.

(e)

Existing fire lanes. All existing fire lanes previously approved by the fire inspector prior to July 7, 1987, will remain unchanged until the building is remodeled or the next occupancy permit is issued.

(f)

Penalty. Any owner or operator of facilities or a motor vehicle who shall violate any of the provisions of this section shall be punished as provided in section 1-8.

(g)

Responsibilities of property owner. 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 the fire inspector's requirements for visibility, and that signs are replaced when necessary.

(h)

Towing of vehicles or other obstructions. 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 or fire inspector or their 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)

Presumption regarding violations. In any prosecution charging a violation of this section, proof that the vehicle described in the violation 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.

(Code 1976, § 10-1(b))

Cross reference

Stopping, standing and parking, § 86-151 et seq.