How do you park you car on the street?

[SmartPassion]

Originally Posted by Alan_Hepburn

It's not a San Jose law - it's a California law. Take a look in the California Vehicle Code -section 22502:

22502. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway where there are adjacent curbs shall be stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel with and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb, except that motorcycles shall be parked with at least one wheel or fender touching the right-hand curb. Where no curbs or barriers bound any roadway, right-hand parallel parking is required unless otherwise indicated.

So, unless you're a motorcycle then your right-hand wheels must both be within 18" of the right-hand curb. That's how they get to ticket people who like to park facing the wrong way...

So, if I take off my RF wheels and put where the LR wheel is now, can I back my smart into the curb? J/k!

[SMART]

I looked hard an along through the WA state laws but I couldn't find anything... I would say the only thing holding me back is that the front sticks out so far and many of the roads I park on are rather skinny.

[MarkB]

Ummm, maybe I'm wrong here, but if you park perpendicular to the curb in a Smart your tires are still within 18" of the curb. This law does not state which direction your tire is facing and if I got a ticket I would fight it and most definitely win.

Well I just noticed it says "right hand wheels" so I guess that means both front and rear. Hmm, there still must be a loophole here somewhere.

[spdickey]

Here's a couple of examples of non-legal (but it fits) parking.

[CruisingAZ]

Originally Posted by MarkB

Ummm, maybe I'm wrong here, but if you park perpendicular to the curb in a Smart your tires are still within 18" of the curb. This law does not state which direction your tire is facing and if I got a ticket I would fight it and most definitely win.

Well I just noticed it says "right hand wheels" so I guess that means both front and rear. Hmm, there still must be a loophole here somewhere.

You can get a ticket for driving in the opposing lane if your left hand wheels are against the curb like some people do in front of thier house.

[helidrvr]

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[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by nex1

I'm on your side, but just because the car was designed to do so doesn't make it legal! A car can be designed to go 400mph, that doesn't make it legal. I've been wondering about the laws here in FL when/if I get a SMART...

THANK YOU! excellent analogy......

on the other hand, maybe by the time i get MY Smart (#1536), IT will go 400mph and then the "parking laws" won't be the only issue the City of Indianapolis will have with it!

[fuelpincher]

There is precedent for parking a Smart perpendicular to the curb. Here is a quote from the Cal DMV Motorcycle Handbook:
"Parking at the Roadside-
Park at a 90° angle to the curb with the rear wheel touching the curb."
A Smart is just a motorcycle with training wheels! That is what I will tell the judge...

[DavidV]

Many parts of SF already park this way - so much for the CA Vehicle Code being the authority.



Sometimes common sense prevails.

** DavidV