Chapter 189, Snow Emergencies

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Chapter 189, Snow Emergencies

GENERAL REFERENCES

Snowmobiles -- See Ch. 191.

Streets and sidewalks -- See Ch. 197.

Vehicles and traffic -- See Ch. 239.

§ 189-1. Designation of snow emergencies; affected areas; notification; blue light system

A) The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Administrator or Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent, with the approval of the Mayor, may declare a snow emergency and declare certain streets, parking lots, business sectors, routes or all streets and parking lots within the Village of Ilion as snow emergency routes or areas. The streets, routes, business sectors and/or all parts of the Village of Ilion shall be properly marked by placing proper signs along certain streets designated as snow emergency routes at certain locations in the business sectors and at the entrances of the Village of Ilion for the purpose of notification to users of said areas as to when a snow emergency is in effect.

B) Snow emergency markings shall be accomplished by the use of posted signs on designated roadways and/or parking lots where appropriate and by the use of a blue light system that shall be activated by the members of the Street Department at the direction of the Superintendent of the Street Department. No vehicles shall be left parked and/or unattended at any time on streets, etc., designated as snow emergency areas when the blue light system is activated and a snow emergency has been declared by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Administrator or DPW Superintendent and said parking or leaving vehicles unattended shall remain prohibited until such time as the emergency is declared terminated.

C) When the blue light system has been activated at the entrance to the Village of Ilion, it shall signify that a complete village-wide snow emergency has been declared; such declaration shall require that all vehicles be removed from all streets, with the exception of the business sectors. Parking in the business sectors shall be controlled during snow emergencies by a separate set of blue lights which shall be placed at certain locations around the business sector as shall be determined by the Mayor and Board of Trustees of the Village of Ilion.

D) Whenever certain designated streets, etc., have been declared as snow emergency routes, the blue light system affecting those streets shall be activated. However, if a blue light system has not been installed on any street, etc., so designated, the Street Superintendent shall post signs along said street to advise users of the street that no parking is permitted until said emergency has been lifted. The signs need not be posted in a permanent setting, but may be placed when the emergency is called and then be removed at the cessation of the emergency conditions

E) Period covered. The above designation of emergency streets shall be in effect from the first day of November each year until April 15th of the following year.

Declaration of cessation of emergency conditions. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Administrator and/or the DPW Superintendent shall declare cessation of any snow emergency conditions as soon as practicable. Upon this declaration, all traffic and parking patterns shall revert to normal conditions permitted without reference to the restrictions contained in this chapter.

§ 189-2. Designated snow emergency streets.

The following streets in the corporation tax district of the Village of Ilion are hereby designated as emergency streets for snowplowing operations and shall be posted with signs attached to utility poles indicating that such streets have been designated as emergency snow routes:

A) Otsego Street.

B) Main Street.

C) Clark Street (East and West).

D) Central Avenue.

E) Second Street.

F) Benedict Avenue.

G) Sixth Avenue.

H) Barringer Road.

I) West Street

§ 189-3. Authority to remove vehicles.

The Police Department of the Village of Ilion is hereby authorized and empowered to cause the removal and impoundment of any vehicle illegally parked or left standing in any public street or public parking lot of the village in violation of any provision of the traffic and parking ordinances of the village and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the provisions hereof.

§ 189-4. Persons authorized to remove vehicles.

The Village Board shall designate those persons who are authorized to perform towing services pursuant to the terms of the provisions hereof .

§ 189-5. Places of impoundment.

Whenever a vehicle is removed pursuant to this chapter, it shall be transported to any storage space or garage within a four-mile radius of the village limits designated by the Village Board as places of impoundment. Upon request by the owner of the vehicle, the Police Department shall notify the owner of the place where said vehicle is located.

§ 189-6. Liability insurance for towers and places of impoundment.

Prior to designating any place of impoundment or person authorized to perform towing service, the Village Board shall require liability insurance in such amount as said Board may determine.

§ 189-7. Charges for towing and storage.

The owner or keeper of any garage or storage place where such vehicle shall be stored shall charge for towing and storage such rates as do not exceed the maximum amount which shall be, from time to time, established by the Village Board. Said owner or keeper shall have a garageman's lien for such charges as established by law.

§ 189-8. Redemption of vehicle; payment of charges.

Before the owner or person in charge of any vehicle which has been impounded shall be entitled to remove the same, he shall furnish evidence of his identity and ownership, and he shall pay any and all towing and storage charges in connection with the removal and impoundment. Said charges may be paid to the owner of the place of impoundment.

§ 189-9. Record of impounded vehicles.

The Village of Ilion Police Department shall cause to be kept a record of all vehicles impounded by manufacturer's trade name or make, the names of the registered owners of such vehicles, the names of all persons claiming the same, the license number and place of impoundment thereof and such other descriptive matter as may identify such vehicles, the nature and circumstances of the impounding thereof and the violation for which such vehicles were impounded.

§ 189-10. Effect of impoundment upon prosecution.

The removal and impounding of a vehicle shall in no way prevent prosecution for the violation of any provision of the traffic or parking ordinances upon which removal was based, nor shall failure to prosecute affect the legality of the removal and impounding of such vehicle.

§ 189-11. Penalties for offenses.

A) It is a traffic infraction for any person to violate any provision of this chapter or regulations adopted hereunder, unless such violation is designated by the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law or other law of the State of New York to be a misdemeanor or felony.

Every person convicted of a violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifteen dollars ($15.) for the first offense and by a fine of no less than fifty dollars ($50.) for each additional violation committed within any given winter season between November 1 of any given year and April 15 of any following year. No such fine levied after conviction shall supersede any fine as may be defined under the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws.