The Natchitoches Police Department would like to notify the public of Louisiana state statute 32:143 due to the number of complaints we have received about vehicles stopping in intersections during peak traffic hours. This has become a major traffic hazard in the intersections of the Pine Street Bridge at Jefferson Street, Church Street at Front Street and Church Street at Williams Avenue.
The statute states that:
§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.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Captain Billy Meziere at (318) 352-3986 or the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101.
How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:
You can also report a tip anonymously by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smart phone or by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388. All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $3,000 for the arrest of an offender.
