Parking Education

As the City Council and Staff have focused on improving safety and beautification, including education on parking laws, the Rawlins Police Department has been notified of more parking issues throughout our community. The Rawlins Police Department is educating citizens on our parking ordinances and works with them to fix the violation before any citations are given. If you get a parking warning sticker, please touch base with the issuing officer by calling 307-328-4530. We will work with you for a reasonable amount of time if you are communicating with us. Tickets will be given if necessary. 

We have created a parking tips sheet, which is available in a printer-friendly version here. Please note the parking tips sheet does not include the below diagrams or full text of the codes. 

Parking Ordinances (Facebook Post)

Our 7 tips for understanding parking laws are: 

  1. Follow general parking best practices. Follow general parking best practices. These tips do not cover everything, but you can read them at www.rawlinswy.gov/code. For example, our code says you need to park near the curb, not park semis on city streets, follow all parking signs, not park near fire hydrants, etc. If you ever have any questions, feel free to call 307-328-4530.
  2. Keep intersections clear.  At any intersection except in the business district: Rawlins Municipal Code § 10.33.040   
    • Parking is prohibited within 30 feet of any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic-control signal on the road of approach.Diagram 4 
    • Parking is prohibited within 20 feet of any intersection on the road without a traffic control signal, such as a stop signDiagram 3 
    • Parking of any item which is more than 6 feet tall for more than 6 feet of its length is prohibited in any direction within 40 feet of all intersections.Diagram 5 
    • Full text:

      Section 10.33.040 Prohibited in specified places. Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or other official traffic-control device, no person shall: A. Stop, stand or park a vehicle: 1. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street, 2. On a crosswalk, 3. 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, unless a different length is indicated by signs or markings 4. Along or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic, 5. On any railroad tracks; 6. On any sidewalk in such a way as to obstruct pedestrian traffic and/or access for physically handicapped persons. B. Stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers: 1. Within six feet of a fire hydrant, 2. Within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, except in a business district, 3. Within thirty feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway, 4. 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 the entrance when properly signposted, 5. At any place where official signs prohibit standing; C. Park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers: 1. Within twenty feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing, 2. At any place where official signs prohibit parking; D. No vehicle which exceeds six feet in height for more than six feet of its length shall be parked upon any street or roadway within forty feet of the intersection of that street or roadway with any other street or roadway.

  3. Vehicles and trailers can't be in the right-of-way. Vehicles and trailers can only park outside the travel portion of the street, and must not interfere with vehicle or pedestrian traffic. No personal property or trash shall interfere with vehicle or pedestrian travel, including in alleys or sidewalks. Rawlins Municipal Code § 12.24.050 and Rawlins Municipal Code 10.33.040  Diagram 1Diagram 2parked blocking sidewalk
    • Full text: Section 10.33.040 Prohibited in specified places. Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or other official traffic-control device, no person shall: A. Stop, stand or park a vehicle: 1. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street, 2. On a crosswalk, 3. 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, unless a different length is indicated by signs or markings, Rawlins Municipal Code Page 31 of 73 4. Along or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic, 5. On any railroad tracks; 6. On any sidewalk in such a way as to obstruct pedestrian traffic and/or access for physically handicapped persons. B. Stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers: 1. Within six feet of a fire hydrant, 2. Within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, except in a business district, 3. Within thirty feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway, 4. 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 the entrance when properly signposted, 5. At any place where official signs prohibit standing; C. Park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers: 1. Within twenty feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing, 2. At any place where official signs prohibit parking; D. No vehicle which exceeds six feet in height for more than six feet of its length shall be parked upon any street or roadway within forty feet of the intersection of that street or roadway with any other street or roadway.

      Section 12.24.050 Other Obstructions. No person shall store, or cause to be stored, any personal property or waste material on any public right of-way in the City or cause any obstruction upon any sidewalk or in any alley within the City. Operable vehicles and currently licensed trailers may be parked upon the streets of the City, provided that such do not interfere with travel by other vehicles, unless such parking is specifically prohibited elsewhere in this code. In locations where curb and gutter have been installed, vehicles and trailers may not be parked upon the right-of-way of any street, except outside the travel portion of the street or the street pavement, except on two-way streets of less than 24 feet in width, and only then when such does not interfere with vehicle or pedestrian travel.

  4. Private Property.Do not park for more than 24 hours on the street in front of someone's property without consent. § 10.33.170 Don't park or drive on private property without permission. You can be towed at your expense. Rawlins Municipal Code § 10.33.160 
    • Full text:

      Section 10.33.160 Unauthorized parking on private property. No operator of a motor vehicle shall permit the vehicle to stand or be parked or be driven upon any private property without the express consent of the owner or lessee of the private property. The police department is authorized to cause any vehicle parked in violation of this section to be removed from the private property at the expense of the registered owner or operator of the vehicle.

      Section 10.33.170 Unauthorized parking in front of property of another. It is unlawful for any person to park any vehicle for a continuous period of more than twenty-four hours on a street within the city in front of property belonging to or occupied by another person without the express consent of the owner or occupant

  5. Public Nuisance Vehicles.Abandoned, derelict, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles AND unlicensed vehicles on private or public property are a public nuisance and can be removed at the owner's expense. Rawlins Municipal Code §8.16.010 
    • Full text:

      Section 8.16.010 Violation prohibited. The accumulation or storage of derelict, abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, unlicensed or inoperative vehicles litter or junk on private or public property, including public utility easement (P.U.E.) and public thoroughfares is found to create a condition tending to reduce the value of private property, to promote blight and deterioration, to invite plundering, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, to create a harborage for insects, rodents, skunks and other vermin and to be injurious to the health, safety and general welfare of the public. Therefore, the presence of litter, or an abandoned, derelict, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, or unlicensed vehicle on private or public property, except as expressly permitted, is declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. It is unlawful for any person to maintain or permit the existence of any nuisance on any property within the city. Any person who may be in violation of this section shall, in addition to any penalty that may be imposed for the violation of this code, be subject to the provisions of this chapter and be required to reimburse the City for expenses incurred in the abatement of the nuisance.

      Section 8.16.020 I. Abandoned, Junked, etc., Vehicles. Unlicensed, abandoned or junk vehicles and parts or remains thereof parked upon private property, public property, public streets, alleys, easements, right of ways or other ways are declared to be nuisances. The presence of an unlicensed vehicle, abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, derelict or inoperative vehicle, on private or public property, is declared to constitute a public nuisance that may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The tearing down, stripping or junking of such vehicles shall be permitted only where and when such use is specifically authorized, permitted or licensed under other ordinances of the city and in strict accordance therewith; or which use is conducted entirely within the confines of an accessory garage building, then only provided that such vehicle is the property of the owner or occupier of the lot and that such use is not a commercial use of the property, unless such use is authorized by other ordinances of the city. A vehicle shall be deemed to be "abandoned" under any of the following circumstances; provided, however, that a vehicle left unattended due to adverse road or weather conditions, acts of God, or mechanical difficulties shall not be deemed to be abandoned for the period required to see the passage of the conditions or a reasonable time to remove the vehicle for repairs: 1. If the vehicle is left unattended on a public street, highway, alley, parking lot or other public property within the jurisdictional limits of the city for more than twenty-four hours after a notice has been placed upon the vehicle pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.16.030 or the vehicle has been impounded and the notice of impound has been given pursuant Wyoming Statues §§ 31-13-101, et seq., and the vehicle has not been claimed; or 2. If the vehicle has been left unattended on private property without the consent of the owner or person in lawful possession thereof. Derelict Vehicles. A vehicle, or parts thereof, shall be deemed to be "derelict" if the vehicle is: 1. Inoperable to the extent that it is unable to perform its original intended function; 2. Partially or wholly dismantled; 3. In a condition that prevents legal operation; 4. Junked or intended to be recycled or scrapped; 5. An unlicensed vehicle. This section defining derelict and abandon vehicles shall not apply to the following: 1. A vehicle that is enclosed in a secure building; 2. A vehicle on the premises of a business enterprise operated in a lawful place and manner when necessary to the operation of the business enterprise as determined by the City Manager with written authorization; 3. A vehicle in an appropriate storage or depository facility maintained in a lawful place and manner by a governmental agency; 4. An antique motor vehicle as defined in W.S. 31-2-210 which is licensed as provided by law. 5. A vehicle which is covered by an intact custom car cover made for the specific type and size of Page 26 of 33 vehicle which it covers. a. In no instance may a person have more than two (2) such covered vehicles on his or her property. b. No custom covered vehicle may be stored on public property or right-of-way. 6. A race car that is currently actively engaged in racing and equipped for racing with roll cage, windows removed, drivers name, sponsors and number displayed. Demolition race cars shall be considered derelict vehicles two weeks after the demolition race. 7. An automobile repair shop may only have derelict vehicles on the premises for the time necessary under agreement for repair with business customers; automobile dealers may not have derelict vehicles on the premises for resale. NoLicensePlatedelilict vechiles

  6. Business Regulations. Businesses are not permitted to store their business vehicles or vehicles in for repair on alleys, streets, or sidewalks. Rawlins Municipal Code § 10.33.150 
    • Section 10.33.150 Storage of vehicle in public space prohibited.

      No owner, manager or employee of any garage, salesroom, shop or other place of business shall permit any vehicle, whether it is stock in trade or left for safe keeping, repair or storage, to be or remain in or upon any alley, street or sidewalk or in any space between the street and the property line adjacent to, in front of or beside any premises in the city. (Ord. 6-77 § 1: prior code § 16-335)

  7. State In addition, we enforce all state parking regulations. One of note is that you must park in the direction of the flow of traffic. Wyo. Stat. §31-5-512(a)State Statutes 31-5-501 through 512 are particular to parking. State Statutes can be found at https://www.wyoleg.gov/StateStatutes/StatutesConstitution 
    • Full Text: 31-5-512. Parking alongside curbs or on edge of roadways; angle parking; power of highway department to place devices restricting parking. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section every vehicle stopped or parked upon a two-way roadway shall be stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels of the vehicle parallel to and within eighteen (18) inches of the right-hand curb or as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder.Diagram 6cars facing wrong way

Our officers are committed to educating the citizens on the various ordinances and will work with first-time violators so the codes can be understood.  After education efforts have taken place, officers will take appropriate enforcement actions beginning with warnings.  We began with direct mailings in the Utility Bill, the City View magazine, website news updates, and social media releases explaining our parking ordinances to our community.  When violations are observed, we will continue to attempt to contact residents and educate them one-on-one then provide reasonable time to remedy the issue.  

Our officer’s primary concern is the safety of our citizens, keeping sidewalks open to pedestrians and cyclists, and helping citizens comply with City and State parking regulations.   Officers will attempt to contact citizens with a phone call or at their homes when a violation is observed.  If we are unable to make contact, the officer will leave a notice of the violation on the vehicle.  

If you receive a notice, have a question about the parking codes, or would like to report a parking issue in your neighborhood please call (307)328-4530 or visit www.rawlinswy.gov/concern and click on “parking concerns.”