The Town Council adopted a new Fire Lanes Ordinance on April 16, 2007. The text of that ordinance is presented here for your reference.
Disclaimer: This page was taken from the South Windsor Book of Ordinances in effect at the time this page was created. This information is not intended as a substitute for obtaining legal advise from an attorney. It is only intended as a general reference, YOU are solely responsible for any actions you take on your own behalf. This page should not be used in any legal action, a copy of the current Ordinance should be obtained from the Book of Ordinances in the Town Clerk's office for such purpose. The Town of South Windsor, its management, staff and webmasters are not responsible for any errors or omissions on this page. If you feel you need more information or assistance,
you should coApriltorney and read related sections of the South Windsor Book of Ordinance, Town Charter, Connecticut General Statutes, and the Connecticut Practice Book. Case law cites and annotations have been omitted in the interest of clarity and space. Both are important parts of any law. This page should not be use for legal research without those cites and annotations. |
ARTICLE V Establishment of Fire Lanes
Sec. 94-140 Fire Lanes
(a) Definitions.
For the purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
Fire lane: Fire lanes are free travel passages for the orderly access of fire apparatus and other emergency equipment to all necessary areas around buildings, facilities, developments and premises. These passages are to be clear in all seasons and in all kinds of weather. Unless site conditions dictate a lesser requirement, a fire lane shall be a designated unobstructed passageway at least 20 feet in width with an outside turning radius of 50 feet.
Parking area: means lots, areas or other accommodations for the parking of motor vehicles off the street, alley or highway and open to public use with or without charge.
Sec 94-141 Establishment of Fire Lanes.
(a) The Fire Marshal, Fire Chief, or the Legal traffic Authority (Chief of Police) of the Town of South Windsor shall establish fire lanes for any new building and/or facility to ensure access for emergency equipment and to ensure the reasonable safety of persons occupying or using said premises.
(b) Fire lanes and parking lots existing prior to the establishment of this ordinance are not required to be upgraded to meet the design requirement of this ordinance except that the Fire Marshal, Fire Chief, or the Local Traffic Authority (Chief of Police) may require the posting of signs or pavement marking to delineate existing fire lanes.
(c) The Fire Marshal, Fire Chief, or the Local Traffic Authority (Chief of Police) may require the establishment of fire lanes around existing buildings and/or facilities where paved areas already exist provided that these fire lanes do not disturb existing, marked parking areas. In said cases the areas will not be required to be upgraded to meet the design requirements of this ordinance except for the posting of signs or curb markings to delineate the fire lanes.
(d) This ordinance does not apply to one and two family dwellings.
(e) The design of roadways and driveways in subdivisions and multi-family residential complexes shall be governed by the Town of South Windsor’s zoning regulations and requirements.
Sec 94-142 Identifying and Posting of Fire Lanes.
(a) Fire lanes, as established, shall be within the driving portions of the vehicle parking area and/or areas designated to accommodate emergency equipment on said premises.
(b) Such fire lanes, as established in accordance with 94-141, shall be posted with signs stating “Fire Lane / No Parking “ by the owner of the property involved. The fire lane sign shall have a white background with red lettering and measure a minimum of 12 inches wide by 18 inches tall. The lettering of the sign shall be a minimum of 2 inches in height. The number of signs shall be determined by the authority having jurisdiction in section 94-141.
(c) All pavement curbs located in a fire lane shall be painted traffic red to designate the fire lane.
Sec 94-143 Fines for Not Establishing or Posting Fire Lanes.
Any property owner who fails to comply within sixty (60) days from being notified in writing to establish or post such fire lanes shall be fined $200 and shall suffer a penalty of $25 a day for each day thereafter until the lane is established.
Sec 94-144 Appeal
A property owner may appeal a decision, made by the Fire Marshal, Fire Chief or the Legal Traffic Authority (Chief of Police) of the Town of South Windsor, requiring the establishment or maintenance of a fire lane to a panel consisting of the Town Engineer, Fire Chief and Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman, or his designee, within 15 days from the receipt of said decision. The notice of appeal shall be filed with the Fire Marshal’s office.
Secs. 94-145 – 94-150. Reserved.
ARTICLE VI. MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS
Sec 94-151. Maintenance of Fire Lanes.
Fire lanes shall be kept free of ice and snow, rubbish containers and all other obstructions.
Sec 94-152. Prohibitions.
No vehicle shall be parked within any established fire lane.
Sec 94-153 Notice; Towing.
Whenever any vehicle is found unattended or standing disabled in an established fire lane, a police officer shall attach to such vehicle a notice to the owner or operator thereof, setting forth that such vehicle has been parked unlawfully; provided, however, that in an emergency, if such unlawful parking constitutes a hazard or impedes the orderly access of emergency equipment, the police officer or the chief fire officer in charge may have the vehicle towed to another portion of the lot or area which is not within a fire lane, all at the expense of the owner of such vehicle.
Sec 94-154. Presumption of Ownership.
In any prosecution or proceeding for unlawful parking in a fire lane for which the operator can not be identified, the registered owner of the vehicle so parked shall be presumed to be the operator thereof.
Sec 94-155.Fines for Violation of Article VI.
A. Violation of this article shall be an infraction as provided for in Connecticut General Statutes §~51-164m and 51-164n, as the same may be modified from time to time.
B. A fine of $25.00 shall be assessed for each violation
Sections 94-156 – 94-160. Reserved.
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