Chapter 8.20
CITY REGULATIONS

Sections:

8.20.010    Generally.

8.20.020    Speed limits.

8.20.030    Parking regulations.

8.20.040    Parking over twenty-four hours.

8.20.050    Parking regulations during snow removal operations.

8.20.060    Snow removal.

8.20.070    Yielding to emergency vehicles.

8.20.080    Crossing a fire hose.

8.20.090    Bicycle riding on sidewalks.

8.20.010 Generally.

The city council may establish speed limits, no parking zones, loading zones, bus stops, taxi stands, crosswalks, parking time limits, through streets, stop streets and one-way streets, and all other such regulations which it determines to be desirable for the regulation of vehicles on streets or highways, and may designate persons to post signs, signals, markers, and other clear and appropriate notice of the above. Violation of appropriately marked regulations adopted pursuant to this section is an offense punishable by a penalty of up to two hundred fifty dollars plus any surcharge required to be imposed by AS 12.55.039. (Ord. O-99-11-3 § 11, 1998: Ord. O-93-6-6 § 1 (part), 1994)

8.20.020 Speed limits.

(a) Basic Speed. No person shall drive a vehicle upon a street or highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent, having due regard for the traffic, and the surface and width of the street or highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.

(b) The prima facie speed limit on streets and highways is twenty-five miles per hour unless otherwise posted by the United States of America, state of Alaska or other governmental agency having jurisdiction over a street or highway.

(1) The speed of any vehicle upon a street or highway not in excess of the limit specified in this subsection or established as provided by law is lawful unless clearly proved to be in violation of the basic rule declared in subsection (a) of this section.

(2) The speed of any vehicle upon a street or highway in excess of the limit specified in this subsection or established as provided by law is prima facie unlawful unless the defendant establishes by competent evidence that any such speed in excess of said limits did not constitute a violation of the posted speed limit, or the basic rule declared in subsection (a) of this section at the time, place and under the conditions then existing. (Ord. O-93-6-6 § 1 (part), 1994)

8.20.030 Parking regulations.

(a) Limited Parking Areas. The following locations are established as limited parking areas:

(1) One-Hour-Maximum Locations.

(A) The south side of Front Street, consisting of one hundred three feet immediately adjacent to the Federal Building between the hours of eight a.m. and four-thirty p.m. Monday through Friday;

(B) The south side of Front Street, consisting of one hundred sixty-five feet immediately adjacent to the State Office Building, between the hours of eight a.m. and four-thirty p.m. Monday through Friday.

(2) No Parking Areas.

(A) The west side of Bering Street between River Street and Sixth Avenue on Mondays and Wednesdays from four a.m. to eight a.m.

(b) Parallel Parking. On-street parking throughout the city will be done in a manner so that the vehicle shall be parallel to the curb.

(c) Posting. The city manager shall cause the locations designated to be marked in a manner so as to advise vehicle operators of the limitations proscribed.

(d) Violation and Penalty. No person may park a vehicle in a designated location in a manner contrary to the posted restrictions. Upon conviction, the court may impose a penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars plus any surcharge required to be imposed by AS 12.55.039.

(e) Registered Owner Responsible. The registered owner of a vehicle parked in violation of subsection (d) of this section is responsible for that conduct unless he establishes that the vehicle was being used without his consent. (Ord. O-99-11-3 § 12, 1998: Ord. O-93-6-6 § 1 (part), 1994)

8.20.040 Parking over twenty-four hours.

An owner, possessor or person authorized to control a vehicle left parked or standing on any street or public property for more than twenty-four consecutive hours must move the vehicle if so directed by a police officer in person or by written notice. Violation of this section is an offense punishable by a penalty of up to two hundred fifty dollars plus any surcharge required to be imposed by AS 12.55.039. (Ord. O-99-11-3 § 13, 1998: Ord. O-93-6-6 § 1 (part), 1994)

8.20.050 Parking regulations during snow removal operations.

(a) Removal Required After Notice. No person may permit a vehicle under his ownership or control to be parked or remain on a city street or alley for more than one hour after being advised by the city that snow removal operations will commence on said street or alley. The director of public works may prescribe a longer time period, of up to twenty-four hours, in situations where immediate snow removal is not necessary to protect the general public, to assist the movement of traffic and is compatible with the overall snow removal operation conducted by the city. Whenever a longer period is established no person may permit his or her vehicle to remain beyond the time prescribed. Upon completion of the snow removal operation this prohibition and notice shall have no further force or effect.

(b) Form of Notice. The city shall provide notice that snow removal operations will commence on a street or alley by providing every radio station based in Nome, and every cable television utility providing cable television service in Nome, a public service announcement at least four hours before snow removal operations will commence, and by the time which vehicles are to be removed from the streets and alleys identified in the notice. The public service notice shall also be posted at city hall at least four hours before snow removal operations begin.

(c) Penalties for Noncompliance. The city may remove and impound vehicles which remain in violation of the notice. The city shall send certified notice of impoundment to the registered owner promptly after removing a vehicle. Failure to send notice shall not prejudice the city’s ability to collect fees and penalties. The owner or custodian must remit to the city the actual expense incurred by the city or its agent in removing and stowing the vehicle prior to release of the vehicle. Unclaimed vehicles may be sold in accordance with the procedures set forth in Alaska Statutes. In addition the owner or custodian convicted of a violation of this section is subject to a penalty of up to two hundred fifty dollars plus any surcharge required to be imposed by AS 12.55.039.

(d) Impound Appeal. The owner of a vehicle impounded by the city may request a hearing before the city manager to contest the propriety of the impound. The request shall be in writing and shall be postmarked no later than ten days after receipt of the notice of impound. (Ord. O-03-12-1 §§ 1, 2, 2003; Ord. O-99-11-3 § 14, 1998: Ord. O-93-6-6 § 1 (part), 1994)

8.20.060 Snow removal.

No vehicle may be operated or parked on streets closed by the city council for purposes of removal of snow and ice, provided that notice of closure is given by public announcement, advice or warning by a police officer, sign posted on such streets by order of the city council, or other means reasonably designed to achieve notice. (Ord. O-93-6-6 § 1 (part), 1994)

8.20.070 Yielding to emergency vehicles.

(a) An emergency vehicle is an ambulance, fire truck, car, apparatus or police vehicle, giving clearly audible signal of its emergency character by horn, bell, siren, whistle or flashing light.

(b) The operator of a nonemergency vehicle, upon hearing or seeing an emergency vehicle which is in motion within one thousand feet of his or her vehicle on the same street or an intersecting street, shall immediately drive the vehicle as far to the right as possible and parallel to the edge of the street and stop, not blocking any intersection, until the emergency vehicle passes the vehicle or street.

(c) The operator of a nonemergency vehicle shall yield the way to an emergency vehicle.

(d) Violation of subsection (b) or (c) of this section is an offense punishable by a penalty of up to two hundred fifty dollars plus any surcharge required to be imposed by AS 12.55.039. (Ord. O-99-11-3 § 15, 1998: Ord. O-93-6-6 § 1 (part), 1994)

8.20.080 Crossing a fire hose.

Operating of a vehicle on a street so as to cross a fire hose without the consent of the fire chief or of a police officer is an offense punishable by a penalty of up to two hundred fifty dollars plus any surcharge required to be imposed by AS 12.55.039. (Ord. O-99-11-3 § 16, 1998: Ord. O-93-6-6 § 1 (part), 1994)

8.20.090 Bicycle riding on sidewalks.

No person shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk within the city. (Ord. O-93-6-6 § 1 (part), 1994)