§ 58-41. Privately owned parking lots.

(a)

Generally. It shall be unlawful for the operator of any motor vehicle to park said vehicle in any privately owned parking lot adjacent to any wholesale or retail place of business, commercial activity or manufacturing plant, except while actually in or upon one or more of the aforesaid wholesale or retail businesses, commercial activities or manufacturing plants adjacent to and for which the parking facility is provided, together with a reasonable time beforehand in which to park said vehicle and afterward in which to return to said vehicle.

(b)

Owner responsibility. In the event the driver of the vehicle parked in violation of this article cannot be found, it shall be presumed that the registered owner as reflected by the current records of the state department of motor vehicles, was the driver so illegally parking said vehicle and the registered owner shall be charged accordingly.

(c)

Signs. The provisions of this article shall apply only when a permanent sign not less than two feet square in size and kept illuminated at night, is posted in a conspicuous location at each and every entrance to said privately owned parking area, and in such other locations as the city manager may require, warning trespassing parkers, in lettering not less than two inches in height, that said trespassing parkers are subject to fine or imprisonment.

(d)

Parking area owner. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or other person in control of the privately owned area to initiate appropriate regulatory procedures to establish whether any vehicle is parked in violation of this article and the period of time for which it has been so parked.

(Code 1985, § 5-5-1; Ord. No. 04-09, § 5(5-5-1), 8-17-2004)