TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney prepare an ordinance prohibiting the parking of limousines in residential zones except for loading and unloading passengers; and to set a fine accordingly for violation of the ordinance.
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND
Parking is an essential component of making a neighborhood attractive. Limousines are commercial vehicles intended for the transportation of guests who pay for the transit service. However, when limousines are not in service they are often parked in residential neighborhoods and remain parked, becoming an eyesore and "attractive nuisance" to the neighborhood.
Further, many residential neighborhoods are considered to be parking impacted, and the problem is only further exacerbated when a limousine is parked in a residential neighborhood.
A limousine is defined in Section 5371.4 of the Public Utilities Code as "any luxury sedan, of either standard or extended length, with a seating capacity of not more than 9 passengers including the driver, used in the transportation of passengers for hire on a pre-arranged basis within the state."
Chapter 8 of the State Public Utilities Code contains the laws regulating those who use motor vehicles to transport passengers for hire. In accordance with this chapter, the State PUC issues "charter-party carrier of passengers" certificates (Class A, B or C) and permits (P, S or Z). Charter-party carrier of passengers in Section 5360 of the Public Utilities Code "means every person engaged in the transportation of persons by motor vehicle for compensation, whether in common or contract carriage, over any public highway in this state." Motor vehicles designed to carry not more than 8 passengers, including the driver, must display a PUC issued decal on the lower right hand corner of their rear bumper. However, in lieu of the decal, limousines must display special "livery" license plates issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pursuant to Section 5011.5 of the Ca...
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