SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – This winter, parking rules in the unincorporated area of El Dorado County at Lake Tahoe will be changing. The County Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to create an ordinance that will add restrictions needed to allow for snow removal operations and clarify definitions on County-owned public roads, highways, and right-of-ways from Strawberry east to Tahoma and Meyers.
Restrictions will now be in place from November 1 to May 1 annually.
In the past, vehicles couldn’t park on county roads when “snow removal conditions” existed, but exactly what a snow condition was led to cars parking on the road when the sun was out or it wasn’t actively snowing, but snowplows were in operation. The parked cars at trailheads in neighborhoods have caused issues for both the snowplows and residents in the area in the past, and many times those in the backcountry came back to have tickets on their cars.
The straightforward Nov. 1 – May 1 rules will eliminate confusion.
If there is no snow during these months (especially at the beginning and ending dates), the question arose during the supervisor’s discussion about how parking would be handled. The County Department of Transportation said it would refer to the California Highway Patrol to make a determination at those times.
The way the ordinance is written, there is some flexibility for identified areas to have an adjusted parking rule.
Ed Miller of Tahoma called in to speak during the meeting, stating how his area of the county wanted parking regulations to be the same as neighboring Placer County, especially since there are two counties in Tahoma. He said it’s worked smoothly where people know the rules, and roads are not blocked for travel and first responders. He recommended that the ordinance to have the new rules from Strawberry to Tahoe would be beneficial, and it should be as seamless as the Tahoma-Placer County change was.
“We want people to get in the habit to not park their cars in public right of way,” said Supervisor Brooke Laine, who brought the item forward to the rest of the board.
The ordinance will come back for approval and second reading at the Supervisor’s December 2 meeting. Signs could be up in mid-December.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN THE LAKE TAHOE
WATERSHED AREA
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF EL DORADO
ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 10.12.180 of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code entitled
“Same—Interference Prohibited” is hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 10.12.180. Same—Interference prohibited.
A. In unincorporated areas of the County above the elevation of 3,000 feet, no person shall park any vehicle on a County-owned public road, highway, or right-of-way, except in areas specifically designated by signs to permit such parking, during the period for which the Director of Transportation or designee has declared a “snow removal condition” exists.
This Section does not apply to the Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area extending west to Strawberry.
- In addition to citation powers, any officer specified in Vehicle Code § 22651 may
remove or cause to be removed a vehicle in violation of this section. - For purposes of this section, the term “park” or “parking” means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaging in loading or unloading of merchandise or passengers.
B. Whenever any officer, as defined in Vehicle Code § 22651, finds a vehicle standing upon a highway in violation of Subsection A of this section, the officer may move the vehicle or require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move it, or may remove and store the vehicle.
C. No person shall throw or deposit or cause to be thrown or deposited upon a highway any snow or ice in an amount or manner likely to constitute a hazard to vehicular traffic.
Section 2. Section 10.12.184 of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code entitled
“Same—Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area; interference prohibited” is hereby amended as follows. Sec. 10.12.184. Same—Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area Extending West to Strawberry; interference prohibited.
A. In unincorporated areas of the County within the Lake Tahoe Watershed Area extending west to Strawberry, no person shall park any vehicle on a County-owned public road, highway, or right-of-way, during the period commencing November 1 of each year, and continuing to the following May 1, except in areas specifically designated by signs to permit such parking.
- In addition to citation powers, any officer specified in Vehicle Code § 22651 may
remove or cause to be removed a vehicle in violation of this section. - For purposes of this section, the term “park” or “parking” means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaging in loading or unloading of merchandise or passengers.
B. Whenever any officer, as defined in Vehicle Code § 22651, finds a vehicle standing upon a highway in violation of Subsection A of this section, the officer may move the vehicle or require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move it, or may remove and store the vehicle.
C. No person shall throw or deposit or cause to be thrown or deposited upon a highway any snow or ice in an amount or manner likely to constitute a hazard to vehicular traffic.
Section 3. This ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days following final
adoption.