Definitions

For the purpose of this chapter, certain abbreviations, terms, phrases, words and their derivatives shall have the following meanings:

Calendar days mean each day of the week, and include Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Thus, in computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by this chapter, the day of the act, event, or default from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included; however, the last day of the period so computed shall be included, even if it is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, any provision of this Code to the contrary notwithstanding. If any period of time under this chapter is sought to be complied with by means of mailing, the date of actual receipt of the mail by the parking division, not the date of posting, shall be deemed the date of compliance.

Camera enforced parking means a technological method of enforcement of public parking and may be beneficial due to the limited resources of city staff's ability to monitor all public parking lots and garages. Unauthorized parking reduces spaces for legitimate paying customers. Camera enforced parking shall be permitted in public paid parking lots or garages after a study has determined locations where the costs of operating camera enforced parking is preferred to solely enforcement through the direct issuance of parking tickets with personal observation. The director shall determine the location of the camera enforced parking locations.

Coin means any legal tender, authorized for currency by the United States Government, required to be inserted in pay stations or collected electronically via digital payment platforms by city resolution or ordinance.

Delineated space means any on-street space that is defined through the use of pavement markings.

Delinquent status means the status of a ticket where payment is past due and includes the status of tickets that have not been paid, or for which a request for a parking violation hearing has not been made. A ticket which has been found to be in violation after a hearing shall be in delinquent status if not paid within the time period set. A violation set for a parking violation hearing which results in default shall immediately be in delinquent status. A ticket will remain in delinquent status until paid in full unless dismissed or found not to be a violation.

Director means the director, or their designee, of the department referred to as the City of Tampa Mobility Department but shall include any department which may subsequently assume such duties.

Digital payment platform means any City of Tampa approved and partnered mobile phone application or digital technology that allows for customers to pay the required parking fees either on-street or in a garage.

Duly certified code enforcement officer for purposes of this chapter means any designated employee or agent of the city whose duty it is to enforce codes and ordinances enacted by the city and has been trained and certified to issue parking tickets pursuant to Florida law.

Habitual parking status means the status of any vehicle bearing a license plate that has been issued five (5) or more parking tickets for any violation of this chapter within the past three hundred sixty-five (365) calendar days.

Hearing officer means the code enforcement special magistrate assigned to hear parking violation hearings and challenges to parking ticket violations and immobilization of vehicles in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

Metered space means any on-street space that requires a payment of authorized legal tender by manual or electronic means for the purposes of regulating or controlling parking.

Motor vehicle means any self-propelled vehicle not operated upon rails or guideway, but not including any bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, mobile carrier, personal delivery device, swamp buggy, or moped.

Operator means either the owner or driver of a vehicle.

Owner means any person, firm, corporation, or association controlling any motor vehicle or mobile home by right of purchase, gift, lease, or otherwise as defined under F.S. § 320.01, as of the date of the violation. The owner of a vehicle bearing a license plate that has been issued a ticket shall be liable for payment of all penalties and costs.

Park or parking means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except for the temporary purpose of and while engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.

Parking division means the division referred to as the City of Tampa Mobility Department Parking Division but shall include any division which may subsequently assume such duties.

Parking enforcement specialist means a person designated as a parking enforcement officer who has successfully completed a training program established and approved by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

Permit parking only zones mean those areas where the permit parking permit system is in effect. Such areas are designated by the director or their designee and are identifiable to the public with proper signage.

Parking violation hearing means a hearing by a hearing officer in which a operator or owner of a vehicle bearing a license plate that has been issued a ticket or an owner of a vehicle who was issued a notice of default status may contest the issuance of a parking ticket or notice of default status. Parking violation hearings shall provide the opportunity for testimony and evidence to be presented, and the rules of evidence shall be liberally construed to allow for the presentation of testimony and evidence. Parking violation hearings shall also be used by a person wishing to challenge the immobilization of a vehicle in a post-immobilization hearing.

Pay station means a type of parking meter which is electronic and which parking time limits are designated on a receipt issued from the pay station.

Residential guest parking permit means a temporary parking pass issued digitally or physically to a resident located within a designated residential parking permit only area approved by the city in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Residential parking permit shall mean a parking pass issued digitally or physically to a resident or business located within a designated residential parking permit only area approved by the city in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Stand or standing means the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except for the temporary purpose of and while engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.

Stop or stopping, when prohibited, means any halting, even momentarily, of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to comply with the direction of a law enforcement officer or traffic control sign or signal.

Trailer means any vehicle without motive power designed to be coupled to or drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that no part of its weight or that of its load rests upon the towing vehicle.

Ticket means a citation issued for a violation of the Code as described in this chapter.

Vehicle means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon any public street within the city, including electric/motorized bicycles and scooters.

(Ord. No. 2025-43, § 2 (Exh. A), 4-17-2025)