HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 144 Traffic and VehiclesCity of Gem Lake, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Traffic & Vehicles
Ordinance No. 144
AN ORDINANCE TRAFFIC, PARKING, VEHICLES, AND USE OF STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GEM LAKE ORDAINS:
Section 1. Purpose and Intent. The purpose of this ordinance is to protect public safety, reduce interference with public
travel, and allow for the orderly use of vehicles within the City. This ordinance is intended to protect life, property, and to
prevent public nuisances.
Section 2. Traffic and Vehicles.
1. Snowmobiles.
1. Incorporation by Reference. The provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Sections 84.84 through 84.90, and
the provisions of the Regulations of the Minnesota Commissioner of Natural Resources contained in
Sections 7460.5100 and 7460.5200 of Minnesota Rules 1989, and any amendments to those statutes or
regulations or substitutes for those statutes or regulations that may from time to time become effective,
are hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference.
2. Limitation of Operation. No person shall operate a snowmobile in the City of Gem Lake except on
public trails, waterways, and highways specifically designated for such use, or on private property
where lawful permission has been obtained from the property owner, occupant, or lessee. No
snowmobile shall be operated within any public right-of-way or on a public sidewalk or trail provided
or used for pedestrian or bicycle travel.
3. Hours of Operation. No person shall operate a snowmobile in the City of Gem Lake between the
hours of eleven (11) o'clock p.m. and seven (7) o'clock a.m. prevailing time in Ramsey County,
Sunday through Thursday, and from one (1) o'clock a.m. to seven (7) o'clock a.m. on other days,
including the day preceding a national holiday.
4. Speed. No person shall operate a snowmobile in the City of Gem Lake at a speed in excess of limits
specifically posted for such use or as a speed in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour within one
hundred fifty (150) feet of any fisherman, fish house, pedestrian, skier, skater, skating rink, sliding area,
ski tow area, or other areas where such operation would conflict with or endanger other persons or
property.
5. Tow Bars. No person shall operate a snowmobile so as to tow any person, sled, or other conveyance,
except by the use of a rigid low bar attached to the rear of such snowmobile. Persons towing disabled
snowmobiles shall be exempt.
6. Mandatory Lights. No person shall operate a snowmobile unless such vehicle is equipped with a head
light and tail light that are illuminated at all times during such operation. Snowmobiles equipped with
an engine of five (5) horsepower or less shall be exempt.
7. Mandatory Pennant. No person shall operate a snowmobile unless such vehicle is equipped with a red
or orange blaze pennant flag of at least forty (40) square inches in area and displayed at a height of not
less than five (5) feet above the roadway.
8. Authorized Snowmobiles. Authorized snowmobiles may be used on any public property within the
City for rescue, emergency or law enforcement purposes.
2. All -Terrain Vehicles (ATV's).
1. Limitation of Operation. No person shall operate an all -terrain vehicle in the City of Gem Lake except
on public trails, waterways, and highways specifically designated for such use, or on private property
where lawful permission has been obtained from the property owner, occupant, or lessee. No all -terrain
Traffic & Vehicles Ordinance No. 144
vehicle shall be operated within any public right-of-way or on a public sidewalk or trail provided or
used for pedestrian or bicycle travel.
2. Hours of Operation. No person shall operate an all -terrain vehicle in the City of Gem Lake between
the hours of eleven (11) o'clock p.m. and seven (7) o'clock a.m. prevailing time in Ramsey County,
Sunday through Thursday, and from one (1) o'clock a.m. to seven (7) o'clock a.m. on other days,
including the day preceding a national holiday.
3. Speed. No person shall operate an all -terrain vehicle in the City of Gem Lake at a speed in excess of
limits specifically posted for such use or as a speed in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour within one
hundred fifty (150) feet of any fisherman, fish house, pedestrian, skier, skater, skating rink, sliding area,
ski tow area, or other areas where such operation would conflict with or endanger other persons or
property.
4. Authorized All -Terrain Vehicles. Authorized all -terrain vehicles may be used on any public property
within the City for rescue, emergency or law enforcement purposes.
3. Golf Carts.
1. License and Operation. In order to operate a golf cart on City Streets, operators shall have a valid
driver's license or learner's permit, along with a current City issued Golf Cart Permit and proof of
insurance. Every motorized golf cart operator must have proof of insurance in possession while
operating the motorized golf cart on designated streets, and shall produce such proof of insurance on
demand of a police officer as specified in Minnesota Statutes Section 169.791.
2. Hours of Operation. Golf carts may only be operated on designated roadways from sunrise to sunset.
Golf Carts shall not be operated in inclement weather or when visibility is impaired by weather and
where unsafe road conditions exist, or at any time when there is insufficient light to clearly see persons
and vehicles on the roadway at a distance of 500 feet.
3. Golf Cart Permit and Application.
1. Operators of golf carts may apply for a Golf Cart Permit, using an application prepared for by
the City. Such application shall include an applicant's information, driver's license, a copy of
insurance, information on the golf cart to be operated, and other information as needed by the
City to review and issue approval or denial of the permit.
2. A Golf Cart Permit will be issued for a period of one (1) year and there shall be a fee required
for administrative services as established in the City of Gem Lake Fee Schedule. This permit
may be renewed annually. The Permit may be revoked at any time if there is evidence that the
permittee cannot safely operate the motorized golf cart, or if any other requirements or
sections of this Ordinance are found to be violated, after notice and hearing by the City
Council.
3. A Golf Cart Permit shall be issued for a specific golf cart. A current city -issued operator's
permit tag or sticker shall be plainly visible from the front and/or sides of the golf cart, as
determined by the City Council.
4. The golf cart shall be in good working condition and safe for the transportation of passengers.
4. Signage Required on Golf Carts. Golf carts shall display the slow moving vehicle emblem provided
in Minnesota Statutes Section 169.522, when operated on designated roadways; and be equipped with a
rearview mirror capable of viewing at least 200 feet behind the cart.
5. Uses prohibited. No person shall operate a motorized golf cart on a public sidewalk or trail, unless
otherwise authorized by the City.
Traffic & Vehicles Ordinance No. 144
4. Use of Streets and Highways' Incorporating State Traffic Laws.
1. Highway Traffic Regulation Act Incorporated by Reference. The regulatory provisions of
Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 169, and any amendments thereto or substitutes therefor that may from
time to time become effective, are hereby adopted as a traffic Ordinance regulating the use of
highways, streets, and alleys within the City of Gem Lake and are hereby incorporated in and made part
of this code as completely as if set out here in full.
2. Penalty. Any violation of the statutes adopted by reference in 6.2.1 is a violation of this Code when it
occurs within the City of Gem Lake.
Section 3. Parking Regulations.
1. In General. It is unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict
with other traffic or in compliance with the specific 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 ten (10) feet of a fire hydrant;
5. On a crosswalk;
6. Within twenty (20) feet of a crosswalk at any intersection;
7. In a sign -posted fire lane;
8. Within thirty (30) feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control signal
located at the side of a roadway;
9. Within fifty (50) feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;
10. Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such stopping, standing or parking
would obstruct traffic;
1. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;
2. On any bridge or elevated structure of a street;
3. At any place where official signs prohibit stopping;
4. In front of a mailbox during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Postal carriers must be able to drive into and out of the delivery area without backing up.
2. Passenger Vehicles. No passenger vehicle shall be parked on any street within the City of Gem Lake for more
than seventy-two (72) consecutive hours.
3. Winter Parking Restrictions. The parking of any motor vehicle upon any road or street in Gem Lake is
prohibited between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. from November 1 st through April 1 st of each year
unless otherwise posted.
4. Snowfall Restrictions. No motor vehicle shall be parked on any street or boulevard within the City of Gem Lake
after a snowfall of one (1) inch or more which necessitates the plowing and removal of snow from the streets and
boulevards in the City until such time as the plowing and snow removal is completed. No motor vehicle, trailer,
Traffic & Vehicles Ordinance No. 144
or other obstruction shall be located within two (2) feet of any street or boulevard after a snowfall of one (1) inch
until such time as the plowing and snow removal has been completed.
Enforcement of Parking Regulations. When the City Council, or an officer or agency as designated by the City
Council to enforce this Ordinance, finds a vehicle standing or parked on any street in violation of this Ordinance,
such officer is hereby authorized to move such vehicle or require the driver or other person in charge of the
vehicle to move the same. When the City Council, or an officer or agency as designated by the City Council to
enforce this Ordinance, finds a vehicle unattended and standing or parked in violation of this Ordinance, such
officer is hereby authorized to provide for the removal of such vehicle and remove the same to the nearest
convenient garage, outdoor area or other place of safety, and such vehicle shall not be removed therefrom until
reasonable costs of moving and storing the same have been fully paid. In the event that any vehicle held or stored
under the direction of a police officer upon which there are charges for storage or towing, or both, is not
reclaimed, recovered or taken by the vehicle owner thereof, there shall be deemed to be imposed upon such
vehicle a Possessory Lien in the amount so charged and unpaid, and should the owner thereof fail to pay the
same, then the Possessory Lien may be foreclosed in the manner provided by law.
6. Penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
Section 4. Enforcement. It shall be the duty of the Council to enforce the provisions of this Ordinance. The Council may,
by resolution, delegate to other officers or agencies power to enforce particular provisions of this Ordinance, including the
power to inspect private premises, and the officers or agencies charged with enforcement of this Ordinance shall take all
reasonable precautions to prevent violations of this ordinance.
Section 5. Penalties. In addition to any fines, costs, or assessments provided for by this Ordinance or other City
Ordinances, the City may prosecute a violation of any provision of this Ordinance as a misdemeanor, and a person, if
convicted, may be punished by the maximum fine and term of imprisonment provided by Minnesota Statutes § 609.02,
subd. 3, as that statute may be amended from time to time.
Section 6. Incorporation of Ordinance No. 132.Ordinance No. 132 is hereby incorporated into Section 2.3 of this
Ordinance.
Section 7. Repeal. This Ordinance supersedes, replaces and repeals all prior Ordinances relating to the same subjects
contained within this Ordinance. Any portion of such prior Ordinances not incorporated within this Ordinance is expressly
repealed.
Section 8. Severability. Should any section, subdivision, clause or other provision of this Ordinance be held to be invalid
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole, or of any
part thereof, other than the part held to be invalid.
Section 9. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and publication.
Traffic & Vehicles Ordinance No. 144