§ 8-8180. Definitions.

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)

"Business hours" means the period from one hour before a business is open for customers until the business's closing time for customers. For parking spaces designated for users of automated teller machines, or for employee, tenant, or other non-customer reserved parking "business hours" shall mean 24 hours a day.

(b)

"Chief of police" means the chief of police of the City of Lafayette or his/her designee.

(c)

"Mail-in parking fee" or "mail-in parking charge" means a charge for parking in an off-street parking lot affixed to a vehicle whose driver is not authorized by signs to park in the off-street parking lot for no fee.

(d)

"Notice of a parking charge" means a written document affixed to a vehicle which notifies the vehicle driver of a mail-in parking fee that is due as a result of unauthorized parking in an off-street parking lot.

(e)

"Off-street parking lot" means privately owned property that is generally held open to the public, or a discernible portion thereof, for the parking of vehicles at no fee.

(f)

"Person" shall mean any natural person, firm, company, corporation, partnership, or association.

(g)

"Private parking operator" means any person who owns or controls, or person who acts on behalf of or at the behest of a person who owns or controls, an off-street parking lot.

(h)

"Unauthorized parking" or "parked without authorization" means (i) parking in an off-street parking lot in violation of parking restrictions established by a private parking operator and indicated by signs at the off-street parking facility; (ii) failing to pay (or properly display proof of payment) for parking at any pay and park off-street parking lot; (iii) leaving a vehicle parked over-time at an off-street parking lot for a period of time in excess of the amount paid for or permitted (as determined by the private parking operator); (iv) parking in a "no parking," red zone, yellow zone, loading zone, fire lane, or non-designated parking space of an off-street parking facility; or (v) parking in a manner that has the effect of blocking, impeding, or restricting another vehicles ability of egress or ingress or otherwise obstructing the orderly flow of traffic.

(Ord. No. 654, § 2(exh. A), 11-14-2016)