Parking

Parking On A Hill

When you park headed downhill, turn your front wheels into the curb or toward the side of the road. Set the parking brake.

When you park headed uphill, turn your front wheels away from the curb and let your vehicle roll back a few inches until the rear of one front wheel gently touches the curb. Then set the parking brake.

For either uphill or downhill parking, if there is no curb, turn the wheels toward the side of the road so the car will roll away from the center of the road if the brakes fail.

When you park on a sloping driveway, turn the wheels so that the car will not roll into the street if the brakes fail.

Always set your parking brake. Leave the vehicle in gear. Use the “parking” position if your vehicle has an automatic transmission.

Parking At Colored Curbs

A painted curb means that you must follow special rules to park there. The colors on curbs mean:

White: You may stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers or mail. (Usually at airport passenger terminals.)

Green: You may park for a limited time. The time is usually shown on a sign next to the green zone, or painted on the curb.

Yellow: You may stop here only long enough to load or unload passengers or freight—no longer than posted. Drivers of noncommercial vehicles are usually required to stay with their vehicle.

Red: No stopping, standing, or parking. (A bus may stop at a red zone marked for buses.)

Blue: This indicates parking for the disabled only. You must have a disabled person parking placard (window sign) or disabled person or disabled veteran license plates.

This blue symbol also marks parking spaces and special areas for disabled people. Disabled persons may apply for disable person or disabled veteran license plates and/or a disabled person parking placard at any DMV office. With these plates or a placard, disabled people may park in these special areas. No one else may park there. Holders of disabled person plates or placards may park for unlimited periods of time in parking spaces where a sign indicates a restricted length of time.

NOTE: Placard abuse can result in cancellation or revocation of the placard and the loss of special parking privileges. Placard abuse is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of $250 to $1000, imprisonment in county jail for up to six months, or both.

No Parking

Never park where you will block traffic. Do not park or leave your car:

• In an intersection.

• On a crosswalk (marked or unmarked); or on a sidewalk.

• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, or a fire station driveway.

• Within 3 feet of a sidewalk ramp for the disabled.

• On a freeway, except in an emergency or when an officer or device requires a stop, or where a stop is specifically permitted.

• In front of a driveway.

• At a red curb.

• In a tunnel or on a bridge, except where permitted by signs.

• Where signs say "No Parking."

• In a parking space for the disabled (unless you are disabled and have a special plate or placard).

• In the space next to a disabled parking space if it is painted in a crosshatched pattern regardless of color. (This space may not display the handicapped sign.)

• On or within 7¹/₂ feet of a railroad track.

• Between a safety zone and curb.

• On the wrong side of the street.

Never park in the street just because all the parking places at the curb are taken. That is called "double parking" and double parking is always against the law.

If you must stop on a highway, park completely off the pavement. You must leave enough space for other vehicles to pass freely. Your car should be visible 200 feet in each direction.

A vehicle that is stopped, parked, or left standing on a freeway (even if disabled) for more than four hours may be removed (Vehicle Code [VC] §22651 [f]).

Special Parking Rules

• When you park alongside a curb, the front and back wheels must be parallel and within 18 inches of the curb. If there is no curb, parallel parking is required (VC §22502[a]).

• Never leave your car until you have stopped the engine and set the parking brake.

• Don't open your door on the traffic side unless it is safe to do so and doesn't interfere with traffic. Look for passing bicycles and motorcycles. Do not leave the door open any longer than is necessary to load or unload passengers.