A. Purpose: The purpose of this section is to preserve the integrity of the paved streets within the city limits and to protect the public safety and efficient use of the public streets by limiting the weight of vehicles that are allowed to operate on the paved streets and setting the maximum speed limit.
B. Definitions: As used in this section:
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: The weight of a vehicle without load, plus the weight of any load on that vehicle.
VEHICLE: As provided in Idaho Code title 49, chapter 1.
C. Weight Prohibition; Exceptions: It is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight in excess of twenty six thousand (26,000) pounds on any street within the city limits, with the following exceptions:
1. Emergency vehicles;
2. Vehicles making a delivery which terminates within the city limits;
3. Vehicles traveling on Main Street from Highway 200 to the north city limits, with the following limitations:
a. All vehicles hauling sawdust, gravel, rock, dirt or other items that are loose shall be covered;
b. Truck traffic with a gross vehicle weight in excess of twenty six thousand (26,000) pounds shall be limited to Monday through Friday between the hours of seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. and four o'clock (4:00) P.M., and no weekends.
The above noted exceptions shall only apply to emergency vehicles when load and speed limits are imposed due to climatic conditions.
D. Speed Limits:
1. Purpose: The purpose of this subsection D is to set the speed limits for the streets within the city limits. The speed limits are based upon the residential, urban or business character of the neighborhoods within the city limits and which abut the roadways within those residential, business or urban districts.
2. Limit Specified; Exception: Unless posted signage indicates to the contrary, the speed limit for vehicles operating within the city limits, except for State Highway 200, shall be fifteen (15) miles per hour, except for N. Main Street and McGhee Road, which shall be twenty five (25) miles per hour, with the following exception:
Emergency service vehicles operating with lights and sirens activated.
3. Temporary Limits: The city engineer, with the approval of the mayor, may adopt a temporary speed limit lower than the customary speed limit in a given area when such speed limit is deemed necessary to cover special conditions arising from construction zones or other hazardous conditions. The temporary speed limit shall be posted in conformance with Idaho Code title 49, chapter 2.
4. Unlawful To Exceed Limit: It is unlawful to exceed the posted speed limit.
E. Climatic Restrictions:
1. Purpose: The purpose of this section is to set temporary weight limits for the streets within the city limits that, due to climatic conditions, require adjustment based upon the then existing conditions and to authorize the imposition of temporary weight restrictions and associated signage. The weight limits are to be based upon the climatic conditions, the condition of the road and the associated support structures, and shall apply to all vehicles, with the exception of emergency service vehicles operating with lights and sirens activated.
2. Temporary Limits: The city engineer, with the approval of the mayor, may adopt temporary weight limits lower than the customary weight limits in a given area when such weight limits are deemed necessary to cover special conditions arising from climatic conditions. The temporary weight limits shall be posted in conformance with Idaho Code title 49, chapter 2.
3. Unlawful To Exceed: It is unlawful to exceed the posted weight limits. (Ord. 203, 3-22-2014)
F. Penalty: Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, with the exception of the speed limitation, which shall be an infraction, both subject to penalty as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code. (Ord. 203, 3-22-2014; amd. 2017 Code)