(a) Whenever, during any period of twenty-four hours or less, snow falls in the Village or in any section thereof to a depth of two inches or more, an emergency is declared to exist in that such a depth of snow constitutes a serious public hazard, impairing transportation, the movement of food, fuel and other supplies, medical care, fire, health and police protection, and other vital facilities of the Village.
(b) The Mayor, the Service Director of the Chief of Police shall make a reasonable effort to announce the existence of the emergency by the use of the local press and radio and television stations. Such emergency shall continue until such time as the snow accumulation is reduced to less than two inches or until the Mayor, the Service Director or the Chief of Police announces that the emergency is terminated. However, owners and operators of motor vehicles shall have the responsibility of determining existing weather conditions and depth or extent of snowfall and to comply with emergency parking regulations when such emergency in is effect.
(c) During the period of the emergency, the Mayor, the Service Director or the Chief of Police may prohibit the parking of vehicles upon any or all of the Village streets. During such emergency no person shall cause to be parked, or permit to be parked, or abandon or leave unattended, any motor vehicle of any kind or description on any of the Village’s streets or roads. However, vehicles may be parked for a period of not longer than three minutes for the actual loading or unloading of passengers, or thirty minutes for the actual loading or unloading of property or goods, provided that the operator of such vehicle is immediately available, and provided, further, that no other ordinance restricting parking as to time and place is violated.
(d) Snow emergency streets shall be designated by the Mayor and posted with appropriate signs. Any motor vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be towed to a place designated by the Mayor or Chief of Police, at the owner’s expense, pursuant to Section 303.08.
(Ord. 92-1996. Passed 1-21-97.)
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.