Question About ‘NO PARKING’ Signs in Sulphur

Published March 4, 2020

A question regarding ‘NO PARKING’ signs in the City of Sulphur was recently asked in a popular local group on Facebook.

The post included a picture of a ‘NO PARKING’ sign and stated:

“I am not aware of any city ordenance [sic] that prohibits parking in streets, except in front of a fire hydrant or near an intersection. How is it that these houses have no parking signs?
If there is no ordenance [sic] can someone be ticketed and pay a fine? Can anyone request a no parking sign?”

The information below is for reference only and is not legal advice.

We looked through the Code of Ordinances for Sulphur, LA and found the following two sections that apply to traffic-control devices, signs and/or speed limits.

The portion in bold pertains to ‘NO PARKING’ signs.

Sec. 21-1. – Highway Regulatory Act adopted.
For the purpose of regulating vehicles and traffic in the city, except as hereinafter provided there is adopted by reference the Highway Regulatory Act, consisting of Chapter 1 of Title 32 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, as amended, of which not less than three (3) copies have been and now are filed in the city secretary’s office and the same is adopted and incorporated herein as fully as if set out at length herein.

Sec. 21-2. – Regulation of traffic; posting of speed limits; installation of traffic signs and controls by department of public works; general speed limit unless otherwise posted.

(a)The department of public works of the city shall regulate all traffic on all streets within the city by utilizing surveys, traffic counts and such other means and methods that, in its judgment and experience, may be deemed advisable in making a determination of the proper rules and regulations necessary for said regulation, and that, after such determination, it shall post such speed limit signs and install such stop signs, traffic lights and/or other traffic regulatory signals or signs as may be deemed necessary as long as they are not inconsistent with the general ordinances adopted by the city relative to streets and their construction, maintenance, use and operation.

(b)The traffic-control devices, signs and/or speed limits shall become effective upon proper signage being placed upon the street by the department of public works with notice of such action being filed with the clerk of the city council.

(c)Unless otherwise determined and posted by the public works department of the city, the speed limit in the city shall be twenty-five (25) miles per hour.

The following information regarding traffic control signs was found on the Louisiana State Legislature website:

The portion in bold pertains to ‘NO PARKING’ signs.

Louisiana Revised Statute  32:143
Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places

A. No person shall stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places:

(1) On a sidewalk;

(2) In front of a public or private driveway;

(3) Within an intersection;

(4) Within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant;

(5) On a crosswalk;

(6) Within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;

(7) Within twenty feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon stop sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway;

(8) Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb, or within twenty feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone;

(9) Within fifty feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;

(10) Within twenty feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station, and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within seventy-five feet of said entrance, when properly posted;

(11) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing, or parking would obstruct traffic;

(12) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;

(13) Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel;

(14) At any place where official signs prohibit such;

(15) Any place where parking will obscure or obstruct visibility of any traffic control device.

B. No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his control into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such a distance as is unlawful.

Acts 1962, No. 310, §1; Acts 2012, No. 811, §9, eff. July 1, 2012.

We were unable to locate any information regarding fines for violations of ‘NO PARKING’ signs in the City of Sulphur. 

For information about having a sign placed:

• Visit Sulphur City Hall located at 101 N Huntington St, Sulphur, LA 70663
• Call Sulphur City Hall at (337) 527-4500
• Send an e-mail to [email protected]

Sources:

Image: Markel AndrePont

Sec. 21-1. – Highway Regulatory Act adopted.

Sec. 21-2. – Regulation of traffic; posting of speed limits; installation of traffic signs and controls by department of public works; general speed limit unless otherwise posted.

Louisiana Revised Statute  32:143 – Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places

City of Sulphur website