Georgia parking laws: understanding the basics
Drivers in the state of Georgia need to be aware of the various parking laws and regulations to ensure they do not inadvertently park in the wrong location. If you park where you aren’t supposed to, you can expect to receive a fine. You may even have your vehicle towed and impounded. These are costly mistakes, and as long as you know where you can park, you should not run into any trouble.
Parking laws in Georgia
Double parking is not allowed in Georgia. This is the term used for parking on the street side of any vehicle that’s stopped or parked at a curb. In addition, you are not allowed to park on the sidewalk or within an intersection. You cannot park in a crosswalk or on railroad tracks either.
Drivers are not permitted to park in a safety zone, or within 30 feet of the end of the safety zone. You cannot park on the same side of the road, or opposite, of any excavations happening on the street that could impede traffic. Never park on the highway, in a tunnel, or on a bridge. You can’t park in front of a public driveway either. This would stop people from getting into and out of the driveway.
In Georgia, you are not allowed to park a car outside of a business or residence if there is a convenient place to pull off the roadway. If there is not an area where you can pull off the road entirely, you must make sure that your vehicle does not hamper traffic in any manner.
You cannot park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or within 20 feet of a crosswalk. You can’t park within 30 feet of a stop sign, traffic light, or flashing signal. Drivers can’t park within 20 feet of a fire station without signs. If they post signs, you are not allowed to park within 75 feet of the station. Unless you are loading or unloading, you are not allowed to park within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
The cost of the fines
What if you do end up parking in the wrong location and you get a ticket? You will have to pay the fine in the amount indicated on the ticket within the indicated timeframe. If you don’t, the price of the fine can increase. Keep in mind that the cities and towns will generally determine the amount of the fines for parking penalties that occur within their jurisdiction. If you are in Athens, for example, the price of the fines could be different from Atlanta. You may want to look up the price of the fines in your area. Of course, the best course of action is to make sure you only park in the proper locations in the first place.
Generally, fines for the first offense are going to be no more than $50. For a second offense, they will be no more than $100, and for a third offense, the fines will be no more than $100.
Make sure that you pay attention to signage as well. This can help to keep you from parking in a prohibited area, as most of the no parking zones will have some type of indicator, such as a sign or a yellow or red curb.
