HomeMy WebLinkAbout172 - 12/17/2013 - AMENDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE FORT COLLINS TRAFFIC CODE ORDINANCE NO. 172, 2013
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE
FORT COLLINS TRAFFIC CODE
WHEREAS, on February 18, 2003, by Ordinance No. 016, 2003, the City Council
adopted the Fort Collins Traffic Code (the "Traffic Code"); and
WHEREAS, at the time of the adoption of the Traffic Code, it was the expectation of
staff and the City Council that the Traffic Code would likely be subject to future amendments,
not only for the purposes of clarification and correction of errors, but also to ensure that the
Traffic Code remains consistent with State law; and
WHEREAS, the Colorado General Assembly has amended certain statutory provisions
relating to proof of insurance and the gross weight of vehicles or vehicle combinations; and
WHEREAS, City staff has made suggestions for clarifying the provisions of the Traffic
Code related to parking and definition changes to be consistent with state law; and
WHEREAS, it is the City Council's desire to amend the Fort Collins Traffic Code to
reflect the changes made by the General Assembly and to adopt the clarifying modifications
proposed by the City staff; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the Traffic Code amendments which
have been proposed are in the best interest of the City and are necessary for the health, safety and
welfare of its citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That Section 508 of the Fort Collins Traffic Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
508. Gross weight of vehicles and loads.
(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2) of this Section, a person shall not move or
operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles on any highway or bridge when the
gross weight upon any one (1) axle of a vehicle exceeds the limits prescribed
below:
(a) The gross weight upon any one (1) axle of a vehicle shall not exceed the
limits set forth in Section 507.
- 1 -
(b) Subject to the limitations prescribed in Section 507, the maximum gross
weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed that
determined by the formula W =1,000 (L + 40), where W represents the
gross weight in pounds and L represents the length in feet between the
centers of the first and last axles of such vehicle or combination of
vehicles; except that, in computation of this formula, the gross vehicle
weight shall not exceed eighty-five thousand (85,000) pounds. For the
purposes of this Section, where a combination of vehicles is used, a
vehicle shall not carry a gross weight of less than ten (10) percent of the
overall gross weight of the combination of vehicles; except that these
limitations shall not apply to specialized trailers of fixed public utilities
whose axles may carry less than ten (10) percent of the weight of the
combination. The limitations provided in this Section shall be strictly
construed and enforced.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, except as may be
authorized under Section 510, a person shall not move or operate a vehicle
or combination of vehicles on any highway or bridge that is part of the
national system of interstate and defense highways, also known as the
interstate system, when the gross weight of such vehicle or combination of
vehicles exceeds the amount determined by the formula W = 500 [(LN/N-
1) + 12N + 36], up to a maximum of eighty thousand (80,000) pounds,
where W represents the overall gross weight on any group of two (2) or
more consecutive axles to the nearest five hundred (500) pounds; L
represents the distance in feet between the extreme of any group of two (2)
or more consecutive axles, and N represents the number of axles in the
group.
(d) For the purposes of this Subsection (1), where a combination of vehicles is
used, a vehicle must not carry a gross weight of less than ten (10) percent
of the overall gross weight of the combination of vehicles; except that this
limitation does not apply to specialized trailers whose specific use is to
haul poles and whose axles may carry less than ten (10) percent of the
weight of the combination.
(2) The gross weight limits provided in Subsection (1) of this Section are increased
by one thousand (1,000) pounds for any vehicle or combination of vehicles if the
vehicle or combination of vehicles contain an alternative fuel system and operates
on alternative fuel or both alternative and conventional fuel. The provisions of
this Subsection (2) apply only when the vehicle or combination of vehicles is
operated on a highway that is not on the interstate system as defined in Section
43-2-101, C.R.S. For the purposes of this Subsection (2), alternative fuel has the
same meaning provided in Section 25-7-106.8(1)(a), C.R.S.
- 2 -
Section 2. That Section 605(1) of the Fort Collins Traffic Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
605. Flashing signals.
(b) When a circular yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers
of vehicles may cautiously proceed past the signal and enter the intersection as
long as the driver's contemplated action is not prohibited by other official traffic
control devices. Drivers shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and bicyclists
lawfully within the associated crosswalk, and to other vehicles lawfully within or
approaching the intersection.
(c) When a yellow arrow signal is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers
of vehicles may cautiously proceed past the signal and enter the intersection only
to make the movement indicated by the arrow. Drivers shall yield the right-of-
way to pedestrians and bicyclists lawfully within a crosswalk and to other
vehicles lawfully within or approaching the intersection. In addition, vehicular
traffic turning left or making a U-turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way to
other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are within the
intersection or are so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.
Section 3. That Section 707 of the Fort Collins Traffic Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
707. Certain vehicles must stop at railroad grade crossings.
(2) This Section shall not apply at street railway grade crossings within a business
district.
(3) When stopping as required at such railroad crossing, the driver shall keep as far to
the right of the roadway as possible and shall not form two (2) lanes of traffic
unless the roadway is marked for four(4) or more lanes of traffic.
(4) Subsection (1) of this Section shall not apply at:
(a) Any railroad grade crossing at which traffic is regulated by a traffic
control signal;
(b) Any railroad grade crossing at which traffic is controlled by a police
officer, emergency services personnel or human flag person;
- 3 -
(5) For the purposes of this Section, the definition of hazardous materials shall be the
definition contained in the rules and regulations adopted by the Chief of the
Colorado State Patrol pursuant to Section 42-20-108, C.R.S.
Section 4. That Section 1203 of the Fort Collins Traffic Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
1203. Obstructing traffic or highway maintenance prohibited.
No person shall park any vehicle upon any street or highway in such a manner or under
such conditions as to interfere with the free movement of vehicular traffic or street or
highway maintenance.
Section 5. That Section 1214.5 of the Fort Collins Traffic Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
1214.5. Permitted Parking.
(1) Unless official traffic control devices provide otherwise, only vehicles that have
been properly permitted pursuant to the following provisions may park in those
areas:
(a) Section 24-164 of the City Code for parking within a residential parking
permit zone.
(b) Section 23-140 of the City Code for use of facilities owned or operated by
the City, including but not limited to public parking areas.
(5) After vacating a time-restricted parking space in a residential parking permit zone,
no person shall return and park, or direct another person to return and park, that
same vehicle in that same residential parking zone within a twenty-four (24) hour
period, regardless of whether the maximum time restriction has elapsed.
Section 6. That Section 1409(3) of the Fort Collins Traffic Code is hereby amended
to read as follows:
1409. Compulsory insurance - penalty.
(3) When an accident occurs, or when requested to do so following any lawful traffic
contact or during any traffic investigation by a peace officer, an owner or operator
of a motor vehicle or low-power scooter shall present to the requesting officer
immediate evidence of a complying policy or certificate of self-insurance in full
force and effect as required by law.
- 4 -
(a) As used in this Section, "evidence of a complying policy or certificate of
self-insurance in full force and effect" includes the presentation of such a
policy or certificate upon a cell phone or other electronic device.
(b) If an operator of a motor vehicle or low-power scooter uses a cell phone or
other electronic device to present evidence of a complying policy or
certificate of self-insurance in full force and effect as described in this
Section:
(I) The law enforcement officer to whom the operator presents the
device shall not explore the contents of the cell phone or other
electronic device other than to examine the operator's policy or
certificate of self-insurance; and
(II) The law enforcement officer to whom the operator presents the
device and any law enforcement agency that employs the officer
are immune from any civil damages resulting from the officer
dropping or otherwise unintentionally damaging the cell phone or
other electronic device.
Section 7. That Section 1801(5) of the Fort Collins Traffic Code is hereby amended
to read as follows:
1801. Authority to impound and immobilize.
(5) The owner of a motor vehicle may request an administrative hearing to contest
whether, at the time the vehicle was immobilized or impounded, reasonable
grounds existed to immobilize or impound the vehicle by:
(a) Paying the total amount of the fines, fees and penalties, including fees for
immobilization and impoundment, to Parking Services within seventy-two
(72) hours of immobilization or impoundment; and
- 5 -
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 3rd day of
December, A.D. 2013, and to be presented for final passage on the 17th day of December; A.D.
2013.
V OF
FOB
• C) May
ATTEST:
City Clerk BOO
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 17th day of December, A.D. 2013.
MayoAD�Jbz)
TTESTUACity Clerk
- 6 -