RIPON - The overnight parking of “heavy duty” commercial trucks in any residential or industrial districts for more than three hours is prohibited under the amended Ripon Municipal City Code.

City Council members adopted the nine-page section of the law last week that restricts the parking of any commercial vehicle more than 20 feet in length on a public street connected with their service.

The code restriction involves dump trucks, moving vans, tractors, pole or pipe dollies, house trailers or vehicles having a manufacturer’s rated capacity of over one-and-a-half ton designated for or engaged in carrying merchandise, freight or other material.

Ripon Police officers have also warned that warming up vehicles in the morning hours when the owner is getting ready for work is illegal as well as dangerous when the driver is not in the vehicle.

Many motorists have returned to find their cars and pickup truck missing when they expect them to be there for their commute to work.  Countless vehicles in Manteca and some in Ripon have been a welcome attraction for car thieves.

The amended city code also addresses peddler vehicles and vendor stands.

Lunch wagons and push carts may not stand or be parked on the streets in any one place for a period of more than 10 minutes.  The exception involves the delivering of food or vegetables or other foodstuffs to a commercial business.

Washing or polishing cars for pay is also prohibited on Ripon streets, according to the amended code.

Storing a disabled vehicle in a front or side yard of a residence is also restricted by the city ordinance. 

The ordinance reads: “No person shall park, store, place or allow to remain in public view any disabled or dismantled motor vehicle, part of a motor vehicle, trailer, motorcycle, equipment, machinery, tools or any other metallic material of any kind for a period of more than 48 hours in any front or side yard or any other setback area established except where the property is zoned for such use.”

It has also been deemed illegal for anyone to perform vehicle repair work during the specified hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.  The code states that it is unlawful to disassemble, construct and reconstruct, repair or service motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, boats, household appurtenances and appliances, machinery or equipment upon an residentially zoned property.

The Ripon City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers at 259 North Wilma Avenue.