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Illegally Stopping,
Standing and Parking
Due to the increasing amounts of traffic surrounding our
schools in Keizer, it is important to understand where stopping,
standing or parking is prohibited in these areas.
“Park" means the standing of a vehicle whether occupied or not,
otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually
engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers.
“Stand" means the halting of a vehicle whether occupied or not,
otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually
engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.
“Stop” means the halting of a vehicle whether occupied or not,
even momentarily, except when necessary to avoid conflict with
other traffic or upon the direction of a police officer or
traffic control device.
Stopping, standing or parking is generally prohibited in the
following areas: on a roadway outside a business or residential
district when it is practical to stop, stand or park off the
roadway; on a shoulder, unless a clear and unobstructed width of
the roadway opposite the standing vehicle is left for the
passage of other vehicles and the standing vehicle is visible
from a distance in each direction of at least 200 feet; on a
sidewalk; within an intersection; on a crosswalk or within 20
feet of a crosswalk at an intersection; alongside or opposite a
public improvement project when stopping, standing or parking
obstructs traffic; on a bridge; within a highway tunnel; on any
railroad or within seven and one half feet of a railroad track;
at any place where a traffic control device prohibits stopping,
standing or parking; in front of a public or private driveway;
within 10 feet of a fire hydrant; within 50 feet upon the
approach to a signal, stop sign or other traffic control device
if the standing or parking obstructs the view of any traffic
control device; within 50 feet of a railroad crossing; on a
bicycle lane or path.
In the area of Gubser Elementary School on 14th Av NE, parents
arriving to pick up children in the afternoons often stop within
the travel lane creating increasing amounts of congestion for
other vehicles. This congestion usually results in a single
available lane for traffic competing for both directions and
unsafe passing situations. Passing is unsafe when a driver does
not have clear visibility of on-coming traffic or other vehicles
entering the roadway. Parents are encouraged to move to the edge
of the roadway while waiting to pull forward into the school lot
or waiting for children to arrive on foot. If you do stop, stand
or park in this area, be sure you're not blocking an
intersection, parking on sidewalk or crosswalk or blocking a
residential driveway.
Other congested areas include Alder Dr NE in front of Claggett
Middle School and Sandy Dr N and Robindale Dr N adjacent to
McNary High School where drivers often park on the crosswalk or
bicycle lane to wait for arriving children or block access to
private driveways resulting in verbal confrontations with local
residents.
When in an area where you can legally park a vehicle, remember
to park no more than 12 inches from the curb or shoulder of the
roadway. If your vehicle is greater than 12 inches from the curb
or edge of the roadway, you are in violation of Improperly
Positioning a Parallel Parked Vehicle.
So remember to use common sense and keep yourself and other
motorists and pedestrian safe in these congested areas. Be
courteous to the residents who reside around our local schools.
Prohibited stopping, standing or parking is a Class D traffic
violation punishable by a base fine of $97.00. Unattended
vehicles illegally parked are subject to tow at the owner's
expense.
Officer Dan Kelley
Traffic Safety Unit
Keizer Police Department
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