The city council finds that the operation of vehicles on streets covered by a heavy accumulation of snow and the parking of vehicles on emergency snow routes is a matter affecting the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city because parked, stalled and abandoned vehicles impede snow removal operations and cause serious traffic congestion.
(Code 2019)
Whenever snow has accumulated or there is a possibility that snow will accumulate to such a depth that snow removal operations will be required, the mayor, or in the absence of the mayor, the chief of police may declare a traffic emergency and will then implement the following phases depending upon the severity of the traffic emergency and until such traffic emergency is terminated, it shall be unlawful:
Phase I. To operate a motor vehicle during a traffic emergency caused by snow and ice without first having equipped such vehicle with tire chains, except that motor vehicles with four-wheel drive need not be equipped with tire chains;
Phase II. In addition to Phase I, it will be unlawful to park a vehicle on any street designated an emergency snow route in section 5-905 of this article.
Phase III. To operate any vehicle upon any city streets except that vehicles designated by the chief of police as snow removal or emergency vehicles.
(Code 2019)
Upon declaring a traffic emergency, the mayor, chief of police shall forthwith cause appropriate notice to be given to the local press, radio, and other media on the severity of the emergency and the phase upon which the mayor or chief of police has invoked. The traffic emergency shall be terminated by notice substantially in the same manner as it was declared.
(Code 2019)
All vehicles parked on emergency snow routes must be removed within two hours after declaration of a traffic emergency has been given. All stranded or abandoned vehicles impeding snow removal or causing traffic congestion on any city street shall be removed immediately. After declaration of a traffic emergency, any vehicle parked on an emergency snow route after the two hour notice and any vehicle impeding snow removal operations or causing traffic congestion may be removed or caused to be removed by a police officer to the nearest garage or other place of safety and the vehicle may not be recovered until the towing and storage charges are paid by the owner of the vehicle.
(Code 2019)
The following streets are hereby established as emergency snow routes within the city.
(a) On Main St. from Ninth St. going North to K-18.
(b) On Section Line starting at Ninth St. going North to Street Barn.
(c) On Ninth St. starting at Section Line going East to Washington Ave.
(d) On Mill St. starting at Colorado St. going East to 183 Highway.
(Code 2019)
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this code and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not to exceed $100.00, or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Code 2019)