Ordinance No. 16-1

TRAFFIC ORDINANCE

Table of Contents

Section 1.

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms defined in Chapter169 of Minnesota Statutes shall have the meanings ascribed to them therein.

Section 2.

The provisions of this chapter relating to the operation of vehicles refer exclusively to the operation of vehicles upon highways, streets, and roadways situated in the City of Mazeppa except where a different place is specifically referred to in a given section.

Section 3.

Chapter 169 of Minnesota Statutes is hereby adopted and made a part of this ordinance, and violation of any of the statutes shall be a violation of this ordinance and shall be punishable as prescribed in the statutes.

Section 4. Limited Parking.

No person shall park or leave unattended any vehicle upon any street or highway for a longer period than 10 consecutive days. Any vehicle moved a distance of less than one block shall be deemed to have remained stationary. Whenever any law enforcement officer finds a vehicle standing upon a street or highway in violation of this provision, such officer is hereby authorized to remove the same. If the officer moves the vehicle, it shall be moved to an off-street parking facility, and the vehicle shall be impounded until all towing and storage charges have been paid. The towing and storage charges shall constitute a lien against the vehicle.

Section 5. Unnecessary Exhibition of Speed.

No person shall demonstrate an unnecessary exhibition of speed on any public or private way.

(a) Prima facie evidence of such unnecessary exhibition of speed shall be unreasonable squealing or screeching sounds emitted by the tires of a motor vehicle, or the throwing of sand and gravel by the tires of said vehicle, or both.

(b) Evidence of the unnecessary exhibition of speed shall be considered without regard to whether the speed of said motor vehicle is increasing, constant, or decreasing.

(c) Violation of this Section 5 shall constitute a misdemeanor.

Section 6. Limited Parking.

No person shall park or leave unattended a motor vehicle weighing more than 7,000 pounds gross weight for more than 2 hours upon the streets listed below. For purposes of this ordinance, the term “motor vehicle” shall mean that term as defined under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 169.

(a) The streets affected by this provision are:

Maple Street from 1st Street to 2nd Street

1st Street from Highway 60 to Oak Street

Walnut Street from 1st Street to 2nd Street

Chestnut Street from 1st Street to 2nd Street

Walnut Street from 1st Street to the Zumbro River

Cherry Street from 1st Street to 2nd Street

The east side of 1st Street from Highway 60 to Cedar Street

(b) The Council shall enforce the provisions of this ordinance by posting signs on the affected streets and issuing Minnesota Uniform Traffic Tickets for violations. Violation shall constitute a petty misdemeanor.

Section 7. No Parking.

The City Council may by resolution designate certain streets or portions of streets as “no parking” or “no stopping or standing” zones and may limit the hours in which the restrictions apply. The Public Works Director shall mark, by appropriate signs, each zone so designated. Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device, no person shall stop or park a vehicle in an established “no parking”, or “no stopping or standing” zone, when parking, stopping, or standing is prohibited. A vehicle may be parked temporarily in a “no parking” zone for the purpose of forming a funeral procession.

Section 8. One-Way Street Designation/Diagonal Parking.

Second Street in the City, south to north, from Maple Street to Walnut Street, is hereby designated as a oneway street. Parking along this portion of Second Street shall be diagonal only. The Council shall enforce the provisions of this ordinance by posting signs on the affected streets and issuing Minnesota Uniform Traffic Tickets for violations. Violation shall constitute a petty misdemeanor.

Section 9. Truck Braking.

No dynamic engine brakes shall be used or applied anywhere within the city limits of Mazeppa. Appropriate signs prohibiting such brake use shall be erected at all highway entrances into the City accordingly. Violations of this ordinance shall constitute a petty misdemeanor, subjecting the offender to the penalties provided in Minnesota Statutes §609.02, Subd. 4(a).

Section 10. Commercial Vehicle Parking.

Definitions:

a) The term “commercial vehicle or equipment” shall mean and include trailers, commercial vehicles, dump trucks, truck trailers, travel trailers, trailers, semi-trailers, and heavy equipment, with a gross vehicle weight in excess of 15,000 pounds.

b) “Government vehicle” means a vehicle owned or controlled by the federal government, the State of Minnesota, or a political subdivision of the State, including the City of Mazeppa.

Provisions:

a) It is unlawful for a person to park a commercial vehicle or equipment on a public street or alley in any area of the City, except for the purpose of loading and unloading, or within one block of a vehicle repair shop. This subdivision does not apply to governmental vehicles engaged in governmental business.

b) A vehicle parked in violation of this subsection may be impounded by a duly authorized employee of the City or a law enforcement officer of the City and will be returned to the owner only after payment of the impoundment fees established by Council resolution. The impoundment of a commercial vehicle or equipment under this section does not preclude the prosecution of the owner of the vehicle or equipment for violation of this subsection.

c) The Public Works Director and the County Sheriff and the Deputy Sheriffs may issue citations in lieu of arrest for violation of this subsection.

Penalties:

Violation of this ordinance is a petty misdemeanor.

Section 11. Heavy Traffic Routes:

a) Hereafter, any commercial vehicle or equipment carrying a weight of 4 ton or more per axle shall travel in the City of Mazeppa only upon the streets, avenues, alleys, and routes designated as “heavy traffic routes”.

b) Exceptions:

1. Loading and unloading merchandise.

2. Travel to and from a vehicle repair shop.

c) The City of Mazeppa shall designate “heavy traffic routes” by resolution from time to time. The following streets are hereby designated as heavy traffic routes:

County Road 1 from Highway 60 to North City limits

Highway 60

Chestnut Street Northeast

First Avenue South from Highway 60 to South Street Southeast

Maple Street Northeast from First Avenue North to Second Avenue

Northeast

101

Second Avenue Southeast from Highway 60 to South Street Southeast

All of Oak Street Northeast to County Road 1 (City limits)

Thirteenth Avenue Southeast to Cherry Street East ending at Highway 60

All of Maple Street Northwest

South Street Southeast from First Avenue South to Second Avenue

Southeast

d) Violation of this subsection is a petty misdemeanor.

Section 12. Winter Parking Regulations.

a) Applications. The owner, driver, operator, or person in charge of any motor vehicle within the city limits of the City of Mazeppa shall conform to and observe the regulations set forth in this Ordinance.

b) Definitions. As used and set forth in this ordinance, the following terms shall have the following meanings and definitions:

1. “Motor vehicles” shall mean any self-propelled motor vehicle or other vehicle on wheels, which would ordinarily travel on public streets.

2. “Snowmobile” shall mean the self-propelled vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice, steered by skis or runners.

3. “Trailer” shall mean any vehicle designed for carrying property or passengers on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle.

4. “Park”, “Parked”, or “Parking” shall mean stopping, leaving, or allowing any motor vehicle, snowmobile, or trailer to stand upon the public street.

5. “Public street” shall mean the improved portion between boundary lines of any way or place within the city limits, when any part thereof is open to public use for vehicular traffic, and shall include public ways commonly referred to as alleys, avenues, or boulevards.

c) Winter Parking Restrictions. Between November 1 and April 1, it shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave a motor vehicle, snowmobile, or trailer on any public street when continuous or intermittent snow, ice, or similar precipitation has accumulated to a depth of two inches or more on any public street until all snow, ice, or similar precipitation has been plowed or removed from the full width of the public street. It shall be the responsibility of the public works director or his designee to determine whether or not the snow, ice, or other precipitation has accumulated to a depth so as to require the parking restriction herein provided for.

d) The Council shall enforce the provisions Section 12 by posting signs on the affected streets and issuing Minnesota uniform traffic tickets for violations.

Violations shall constitute a petty misdemeanor.