(A) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
DRIVER. The rider or driver of a horse, the riders of bicycles and the operator of a vehicle, motorcycle or public conveyance.
PARKWAYS or DRIVE. Every way or place under jurisdiction of the City Council located within any park under the jurisdiction of the City Council which is open to the use of the public as a matter or right for purposes of vehicular traffic.
VEHICLE. Every device in, upon or by which any person or thing is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks and also excepting snowmobiles.
(B) (1) Vehicles shall be driven in a careful manner and with due regard for the safety and convenience of pedestrians and all other vehicles.
(2) (a) Upon all parkways and drives of sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven as closely as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the road unless it is impracticable to do so and except as otherwise provided for herein.
(b) Drivers of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions shall pass each other to the right and upon roadways having width for not more than one line of traffic in each direction, each driver shall give to the other at least one-half of the main traveled portion of the roadway, as nearly as possible.
(3) No vehicle shall stop on any crosswalk so as to interfere with the passage of pedestrians.
(4) On all parkways or drives divided by walk, viaduct, grass area or, in any other manner, where divisions are sign-posted or otherwise marked or indicated, vehicles shall keep to the right of the divisions.
(5) A vehicle passing around a rotary traffic island shall be driven only to the right of the island.
(6) Upon a parkway or drive where the Council has established a one-way drive and the drive is sign-posted or otherwise marked or indicated, a vehicle shall be driven only in the direction designated.
(7) The driver or a vehicle on a parkway about to be overtaken and passed by another vehicle approaching from the rear shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on suitable and audible signal being given by the driver of the overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.
(8) No vehicle or horse is permitted on any footwalk, lawn or any other grounds or parks or parkways not designated for traffic, riding or parking purposes.
(9) No vehicle shall be left standing on a drive, parkway or park at night without light unless lights thereon are displayed so as to be visible from the front and rear.
(10) When taking up or discharging freight or passengers, vehicles shall be headed in the direction of traffic on the right of the driveway.
(11) (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or manipulate in any park or upon any parkway designated as a city park, any detached or attached spotlight or flashlight, except for emergency purposes.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to agents, servants or employees of the hospital, police or fire departments of the city or county or township when the operation or use of the lights by them are connected with, and necessary to the performance of their duties.
(C) Every motor vehicle shall, at all times, be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and no person shall use a muffler cutout, by-pass or similar devise upon a motor vehicle on any parkway or drive. Every motor vehicle shall, at all times, be equipped with such parts and equipment so arranged and kept in a state of repair as to prevent carbon monoxide gas from entering the interior of the vehicle.
(D) No person shall park a vehicle or permit it to stand within any district or section of a parkway or drive where the Council has established a “no parking zone” when the zone is marked by yellow curb, sign or otherwise marked or indicated. Parking at regularly designated parking concourses shall be in accordance with the markings and no person shall park his or her car in any other manner, except as so designated.
(E) (1) No person shall drive a vehicle on a street or highway at a speed greater, than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event, speed shall be so restricted as may be necessary in order to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.
(2) No vehicle shall be driven thereon, at a speeding excess of 15 mph on any street or highway or parkway on which a different speed has not been established by the Commissioner of Highways under M.S. § 169.14, as it may be amended from time to time. No vehicle shall be driven at a speed in excess of ten mph on the “campground loop” at Tipsinah Mounds Park. On any parkway where a different speed zone has been so established and signs have been posted calling attention to the zone, no vehicle shall be driven at a speed greater than that indicated on the signs.
(3) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with the law.
(4) The driver of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements, drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway and when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrian or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway or street conditions.
(5) In every charge of violation of any speed regulation in this section, the complaint, also the summons or notice to appear, shall specify the speed at which the defendant is alleged to have driven, also the speed limit applicable within the district or at the location.
(6) The provisions of this section declaring speed limitation shall not be construed to relieve the plaintiff in any civil action from the burden of proving negligence on the part of the defendant as to the proximate cause of an accident.
(F) No driver of any vehicle shall tow behind or on the side or push in front of it any toboggan; sled, ice skates, roller skates, bicycle, coaster, toy vehicle or any other sliding or coating device, nor permit any person riding in or upon the device to attach same or himself or herself to the vehicle, nor permit any person to board or alight from. nor hang onto the vehicle when in motion.
(G) Specifically excluded from this section are boat and utility trailers licensed by the state and meeting the safety requirements for the licensing.
(H) No vehicle of any kind or character shall be permitted to drive across or on park lands, expect on roadways, except vehicles and machines as operated by the Council or its authorized agents and employees.
(I) (1) The driver of every vehicle shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop where there is in place any light, sign, standard or marking upon which appears the word “STOP.”
(2) The driver shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk or, if none, then before entering the intersection or at any stop sign or other sign or markings indicating where to stop.
(3) The driver may then proceed with caution yielding to vehicles not so obligated to stop which are within the intersection or approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, the vehicles approaching the intersection shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle so proceeding into or across the intersection.
(J) Every person riding a bicycle or an animal or driving any animal upon a roadway or parkway shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of this chapter which, by their nature, can have no application. This shall not be deemed as authorization to ride or drive animals in a park or on a parkway without permission of the Council.
(Ord. 175, passed 6-7-92) Penalty, see § 10.99