CHAPTER 14. TRAFFICCHAPTER 14. TRAFFIC\Article 8. Truck Routes

The City Council finds that the operation of vehicles with a gross weight in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds on city streets affects the safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of St. Francis, Kansas, and substantially contributes to the deterioration of city streets and alleys.

(Ord. 620)

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

(a)   Street means any road, highway or route within the city limits of St. Francis, Kansas.

(b)   Semi-trailer means every vehicle with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by some other vehicle.

(c)   Trailer means every vehicle with or without motive power, designated for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.

(d)   Truck means every motor vehicle that is designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property, except a pick-up truck or van designed to carry loads of no more than one (1) ton.

(e)   Truck-tractor means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles, and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.

(f)   Person includes an agency, company, organization, firm, association, partnership, joint venture, corporation, trust or equivalent entity or a combination of any of them as well as a natural person.

(Ord. 620)

Any word or term not defined herein shall be considered to be defined in accordance with its common or standard definition.

(Ord. 620)

The following streets and roads within the City of St. Francis, Kansas, to the exclusion of all other streets, roads and alleys, are hereby designated as truck routes and classified for truck traffic:

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

(b)   North Street from College Street to Benton Street.

(c)   Benton Street from North Street to Washington Street.

(d)   Jackson Street from Benton Street to River Street.

(e)   Adams Street from Jackson Street to Washington Street.

(f)   River Street from US Highway 36 to Emerson Street.

(g)   Washington Street from Angle Road to Adams Street.

(h)   Angle Road from US Highway 36 to Washington Street.

(Ord. 620)

Except as expressly permitted under this article, no person shall operate a truck or truck-tractor and semi-trailer or truck-tractor and trailer combination, or truck and trailer combination with a gross weight of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or more in St. Francis, Kansas, on any street other than a designated truck route.

(Ord. 620)

The truck route limitations prescribed in this article shall not apply to:

(a)   Fire trucks or other emergency vehicles or vehicle on emergency business involved in the saving of life or property, or

(b)   Road repair, construction or maintenance vehicles while involved in the repair, construction or maintenance of roads within the city, or

(c)   Garbage service vehicles while involved in the provision of services to residents of the city.

(Ord. 620)

A vehicle that would otherwise be restricted to truck routes and which is being used to make pick-ups, deliveries or service calls in the city on roads other than designated truck routes shall restrict its travel to a minimum and shall not be driven or moved on other than truck routes except when being used to make pick-ups, deliveries or service calls within the city. Said vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to leave a permitted truck route and proceed to its destination or destinations in the city by the most direct route. Upon completion of the pick-ups, deliveries or service calls, the vehicle shall return to the nearest permitted truck route or leave the city by the most direct route. This section shall not be interpreted as permitting a vehicle otherwise restricted to a truck route from entering or leaving the city by other than a truck route.

(Ord. 620)

Nothing herein contained shall prevent a truck or truck-tractor and semi-trailer, or truck tractor and trailer combination, or truck and trailer combination from leaving or returning to its customary storage location at the owner or operator’s personal residence, or a commercial or industrial location in the city, provided the most direct route to and from a designated truck route is utilized.

(Ord. 620)

The city superintendent shall have authority to grant a written permit in special cases that would otherwise be in violation of the provisions of this article. Such permits, however, shall not be given for more than one round trip, and in no case shall a permit be valid for a longer period than ten (10) days from the date of issue. Said permit shall describe the vehicle, the time and dates of travel, and the route to be taken by the vehicle. The city council shall, by resolution, set a fee for special permits.

(Ord. 620)

The city shall procure and have posted appropriate signs along the designated truck routes as required by the laws of the State of Kansas.

(Ord. 620)

Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than $500 or sentenced to five (5) days in jail or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

(Ord. 620)