A Guide to Colored Borders in Louisiana
Drivers in Louisiana must be aware of all traffic laws, including rules about where they can and cannot park their vehicle. If they don't take care of where they park, they can expect to receive tickets, and they may also find that their car has been towed and taken to the impound lot if they parked in the wrong place. There are a number of indicators that will let you know if you are about to park in a spot that might cause you problems.
Colored border areas
One of the first things drivers will want to look at when parking is the color of the curb. If there is paint on the border, you need to know what those colors mean. The white paint will indicate that you can stop at the curb, but it should be a short stop. Typically, this means getting passengers on and off the vehicle.
If the paint is yellow, it's usually the loading area. You can unload and load cargo into the vehicle. However, in some cases, yellow may mean that you cannot park at the curb at all. Always look for signs along the edge of the curb or signs that will indicate if you can stop there or not.
If the paint is blue, it means that this place is for disabled parking. The only people who are allowed to park in these spaces must have a special sign or sign certifying their right to park there.
When you see red paint, it means it's a streak of fire. You are not allowed to park in these places at any time.
Of course, there are a number of other parking laws that you should also take into account so that you don't get in trouble when you stop your car.
Where is it illegal to park?
You can not park on the sidewalk or at the intersection. Vehicles are not allowed to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, and they may not park within 50 feet of a railroad crossing. You are also not allowed to park in front of the driveway. This is an inconvenience for people trying to use the access road and is against the law. Do not park less than 20 feet from an intersection or crosswalk and make sure you are at least 20 feet from a fire station entrance. If you are parking across the street, you must be at least 75 feet from the entrance.
Drivers are not allowed to park twice and cannot park on bridges, tunnels or overpasses. You cannot park within 30 feet of a traffic light, stop sign, or give way sign.
Always look for signs when you are about to park, as they usually indicate if you can park in the area or not. Obey Louisiana parking laws so you don't risk getting a ticket.
