Dismiss California Stop, Standing or Parking (CVC 22500)

California Vehicle Code 22500

Many of us have interacted with a vehicle that is parked, disabled, or is obstructing access to a road or major highway.

Often, these vehicles present danger of limiting the view of drivers on road. Motorists are unaware of children that potentially are playing and not in site of visibility.

There are circumstances where safety vehicles responding to an emergency require access to specified areas of the road or highway to save a life.

Seasoned drivers understand their responsibility on the road. Roadway accountability includes knowing exactly where and where not to park a vehicle.

Vehicles have the capability to malfunction or have a defect. Therefore, different factors such as the neighborhood and location of the area a driver desires to park can endanger the lives of pedestrians or block traffic.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles suggests that drivers commit to defensive driving and being responsible by focusing on the following:

• Regardless of how a driver feels or wants to be right, yield to the right of way for pedestrians present.
• Use mirrors to assist in backing up.
• Do not drive in bus or bike lanes, except when allowable.
• If a driver is approaching a crosswalk, it is good practice to stop ahead and allow ample space behind the limit line.
• Keep your eyes open for pedestrians in common areas such as schools, school zones, near buses, crosswalks, or parked cars.

What does the California Code say about CVC 22500?

According to CVC 22500 California, drivers should refrain from parking, stopping, or leaving a standing vehicle whether a person occupies or vacates a vehicle, except when it is important to prevent conflict with existing traffic or directives given by a peace officer or an official traffic control device, as well as in any of the listed places:

(a) At an intersection within permitted local ordinance, except adjacent to curbs.

(b) At an unmarked crosswalk that is acting as a connector for a bus or taxicab passengers to load or unload safely when it is authorized by legislative of a local city ordinance.

(c) A designated spot adjacent to the right-hand curb or space considered a safety area, marked by a sign or red paint on the curb placed by local authority in compliance to local ordinance.

(d) Within 15 feet of the fire station driveway entrance. However, this subdivision is not applicable to any vehicle owned or operated by fire department personnel and regarded as a fire department vehicle.

(e) (1) Any personal or public driveway may not be utilized, except in the event of a bus a common mode of transportation to load and unload passengers as described by local authorities pursuant to an ordinance.

(2) An obvious indication of a driveway such as a surfaced, paved, or any visibly marked vehicle using the driveway entrance or private road by an opening in the curb or curb construction that is represent.

(f) Areas of a sidewalk that is used by a vehicle when the body of the vehicle extends over a part of the sidewalk, not including electric cars as stated in Section 21114.5. Devices, mirrors, and lights mounted on a vehicle are permissible to extend from a vehicle but within no more than a 10-inch distance of the sidewalk.

(g) Does not apply alongside an opposite street or a highway that is in use for the sole purpose of digging or obstruction such as parking, stopping, and standing that knowingly obstructs traffic.

(h) A portion of the road occupying a vehicle that is parked, stopped, or standing at the edge of the highway or the curb, except for a business or residential area with the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hours or less for a school bus stopped to load and unload students.

(i) Unless provided under Section 22500.5, beside a curb space for loading and unloading passengers interacting on a bus used for local transportation marked with a sign or red paint visibly raised on the curb by local authorities pursuant to an ordinance.

(j) Not in a tunnel or tube, except for permissible vehicles that require maintenance, inspection of a facility, in the process of repair, or authorities in charge.

(k) Upon a bridge, except for permissible vehicles that require maintenance, inspection of a facility, in the process of repair, or authorities in charge, furthermore, buses acting as local transportation to stop to load and unload passengers on a bridge where the sidewalks are provided, or authorization by local authorities pursuant to ordinance. In addition, an ordinance provided by the Department of Transportation within particular jurisdictions, may permit parking on bridges with adequate sidewalk width that do not interfere with a smooth flow of traffic on the highway. When a resolution or ordinance approved in writing first is present by the Department of Transportation, parking on a bridge on state highways may be permissible in respective jurisdictions. Parking is not allowed unless obvious signs are in place to show provisions of local ordinances or orders of the Department of Transportation.

(l) Any section of the front of the sidewalk or part of the curb that is modified, altered, lowered, or cut down to provide accessibility for a wheelchair to the sidewalk.

(m) A designated area of the highway specifically identified for special use of public transit buses.

These may seem like a lot of stipulations, but most of them are common sense once you look them over. Many of the locations mentioned here would not be safe to stop at, or would obstruct vehicle or pedestrian traffic by areas of the roadway designated for specified use such as driveways or bus stops.

Drivers for Lyft, Uber or other ride-share companies are often in situations in which passengers may request they pick up or drop off in a zone that would violate CVC 22500.

Exercise caution to ensure you are not obstructing any of the zones listed above, especially in busy urban areas where making stops may not always be easy or convenient.

Many cities are implementing designated ride-share pick-up points to help drivers perform their jobs efficiently while successfully navigating within the law.

Have you received a California Traffic Ticket for CVC 22500?

A violation of CVC 22500 is one of the most expensive violations you can be cited for carrying a base fine of $1,105.

As drivers, we want to protect others and ourselves on the roads. Many accidents occur when a driver is not familiar with their surroundings. Paying attention, driving recommended speed limits, and eliminating distractions create the best responsible driving behavior.

If you received a traffic ticket under CVC 22500, contact us, to ask how we can help you avoid court, fines, and increased insurance rates. You can also submit your citation for a free ticket review.