The City Council finds that the operation of vehicles on streets and alleys of the City which have been covered by a heavy accumulation of snow is a matter affecting the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of St. Francis, Kansas, for the reason that parked, stalled, and abandoned vehicles disrupt emergency medical and police procedures, impedes snow removal operations and causes serious traffic congestion and hazards.

(Ord. 540, Sec. 1; Code 2015)

For the purpose of this article, the words and phrases listed below shall have the following meanings:

(1)   Traffic Emergency. When snow and/or ice has accumulated or there is a forecast that snow and/or ice will accumulate to such a depth that city snow removal operations will be required.

(2)   Heavy Snow Traffic Emergency. When snow and/or ice has accumulated or there is a forecast of accumulation to such depth as to make travel extremely hazardous and difficult.          

(Ord. 540, Sec. 2; Code 2015)

Whenever snow has accumulated or there is a possibility that snow will accumulate to such a depth that snow removal operations will be required, the mayor or the city superintendent in the absence of the mayor, may declare a traffic emergency and until such traffic emergency is terminated it shall be unlawful:

(a)   to park a vehicle on any street designated an emergency snow route in section 13-506; or

(b)   to operate a motor vehicle on any emergency snow route in such a manner or condition that such motor vehicle stalls and is unable to proceed by reason of the fact that the driving wheels are not equipped with tire chains or snow tires.

(Ord. 540, Sec. 3; Code 2015)

Upon declaring a traffic emergency the mayor or city superintendent shall forthwith cause appropriate notice thereof to be given throughout the local press, radio, cable television, and other media. The parking emergency shall be terminated by notice given substantially in the same manner as the parking emergency was declared.

(Ord. 540, Sec. 4; Code 2015)

All vehicles parked on emergency snow routes must be removed within two hours after notice of a traffic emergency has been given. Any vehicle parked on an emergency snow route after such period of time may be removed or caused to be removed under the direction of the city to the nearest garage or other place of safety and the vehicles may not be recovered until the towing and storage charges are paid.

(Ord. 540, Sec. 5; Code 2015)

The following streets are hereby established as emergency snow routes within the city:

(a)   College Street from US Highway 36 to North Street;

(b)   Benton Street from US Highway 36 to North Street;

(c)   River Street from US Highway 36 to Jackson Street;

(d)   Washington Street from College Street to Valley Street;

(e)   First Street from Quincy Street to Adams Street;

(f)   Quincy Street from US Highway 36 to Washington Street;

(g)   Adams Street from First Street to Spencer Street.

Appropriate signs shall be installed along each of said streets designated emergency snow routes.

(Ord. 540, Sec. 6; Code 2015)

Whenever snow has accumulated or there is a possibility that the snow will accumulate to such a depth that the mayor, or in the absence of the mayor the city superintendent, determines, in his or her sole discretion, that the depth of snow and/or condition of the streets makes travel extremely hazardous and difficult, said city official may declare a heavy snow traffic emergency and until such heavy snow traffic emergency is terminated it shall be unlawful to operate any motor vehicle on any city street or alley without first having equipped such vehicle with tire chains, except that motor vehicles with four (4) wheel drive need not be equipped with tire chains.

(Ord. 540, Sec. 7; Code 2015)

As quickly as is advisable, the heavy snow traffic emergency shall be terminated by notice substantially in the same manner as it was declared.

(Ord. 540, Sec. 8; Code 2015)

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished with a fine not to exceed $250 or by imprisonment not to exceed five (5) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 540, Sec. 9; Code 2015)