§ 46-122. Parking for handicapped persons.

(a)

Applicability. This section shall apply to all new and existing nonresidential sites that have a parking area for twenty (20) or more vehicles, including but not limited to, shopping centers, office buildings, commercial buildings, mercantile buildings, warehouses, storage buildings, manufacturing buildings, convalescent homes, schools and public buildings. In addition, the traffic authority of the City of Danbury or his designee may designate handicapped parking spaces on City streets which shall be of such size and location as he may specify.

(b)

Use of specially designated spaces. After establishment of specially marked parking spaces for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities, no person shall park a motor vehicle in such space unless a person who is blind or who has a disability is either a passenger or operator of the vehicle, and the vehicle displays an identification card or license plate or other designation issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or other governmental authority pursuant to C.G.S. § 14-253a, which designation shall be visible in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes, except that any ambulance, as defined in C.G.S. § 19a-175, which is transporting a patient may park in such area for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes while assisting such patient.

(c)

Number of spaces to be provided; location.

(1)

On each site having parking spaces for at least twenty (20) but not more than twenty-five (25) vehicles, at least one (1) space shall be specially designated and reserved for handicapped parking. Additional spaces for handicapped parking shall be in accordance with the following:

Total Parking on Site	Required Number of Handicapped Parking Spaces
26—50	2
51—75	3
76—100	4
101—150	5
151—200	6
201—1,000	10
1,001—2,000	10 plus 0.8% of spaces over 1,000
2,001—3,000	18 plus 0.6% of spaces over 2,000
3,001—4,000	24 plus 0.4% of spaces over 3,000
4,001 or more	28 plus 0.2% of spaces over 4,000

 

(2)

Parking spaces for the handicapped shall be located as close as possible to elevators, ramps, walkways and entrances, and located so that the handicapped person is not compelled to wheel or walk behind parked vehicles to reach entrances, ramps, walkways and elevators.

(3)

The exact location of the parking spaces shall be approved by the traffic authority of the City of Danbury or his designee.

(4)

Subsection (c)(1) of this section shall not apply in the event the State Building Code imposes more stringent requirements as to the size of the private parking area in which special parking spaces are required or as to the number of special parking spaces required.

(d)

Marking of spaces. Each such space designated for handicapped parking shall be not less than fifteen (15) feet in width, including three (3) feet of cross hatch, unless the same would create a nonconforming condition, in which event, the existing parking stall width shall be permitted. Each space shall be designated by above grade signs with white lettering against a blue background and shall bear the words "HANDICAPPED PARKING STATE PERMIT REQUIRED." Such signs shall be erected, installed and maintained by and at the expense of the owner, operator, lessee or tenant of said site and shall further indicate that unauthorized use of said space shall subject the violator to a fine. If the signs and markings called for herein are not installed within thirty (30) days after written request by the traffic authority of the City of Danbury, the City may proceed to install the same and impose the cost thereof against the owner of the site.

(e)

Penalty. Whenever any vehicle shall be found parked in violation of this section any Police Officer of the Danbury Police Department may issue a summons or citation for such violation, which violation shall provide for a fine in accordance with section 46-116(a) payable to the City of Danbury within seven (7) days of the citation date. If any fine is not paid within thirty (30) days, a penalty in an amount equal to the fine shall immediately become due and payable in addition to the original fine.

(f)

Owner's responsibility for violations. The registered owner of any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be presumed to be the operator at the time of the violation.

(Code 1961, § 19-35; Ord. No. 267, §§ 1—6, 2-3-1981; Ord. No. 364, 6-7-1988; Ord. No. 690, 8-5-2008)

State law reference

Parking for persons with disabilities, C.G.S. § 14-253a; parking privileges of disabled persons, C.G.S. § 14-254.