(a) Whenever, during any period of twenty-four hours (24 hrs.) or less, snow falls in the City or in any section thereof to a depth of two inches (2 in.) or more, as reported by the National Weather service or any other media weather service, 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 City. Included in the declaration of emergency is a parking ban on all City streets in order to clear the streets and areas of snow accumulations.
(b) During such snow emergency no person shall park or 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 City’s streets or City parking lots. However, vehicles may be parked for a period of not longer than five minutes (5 min.) for the actual loading or unloading of passengers, or 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.
(c) The City Safety-Service Director or the Chief of Police or their designee shall make a reasonable effort to announce the existence of the emergency by the local media and radio and television stations. Such emergency shall continue until such time as the snow accumulation is reduced to less than two inches (2 in.) or the City Safety-Service Director, Chief of Police, or their designee announces 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 is in effect.
(d) All City streets are designated as snow emergency streets, and signs will be posted at all entrances to the City stating the time. Any motor vehicle parked in violation of this section may be towed to a place designated by the City Safety-Service Director, Chief of Police, or their designee at the owner’s expense, or require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to remove the same.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor, and subject to the fine prescribed in Section 351.99 of these Codified Ordinances. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate traffic offense under this Ordinance, 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 offenses under this Ordinance, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(Ord. 10-15. Passed 4-13-15.)