353 Traffic Rules / Warrants of Arrest
171
ORDINANCE NO. 353
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING TITLE 10, CHAPTER 1, ENTITLED TRAFFIC
RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND RECODIFYING SAID CHAPTER AND ADOPTING
A NEW CHAPTER ON TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS WHICH SHALL
BE KNOWN AS TITLE 10, CHAPTER 1, OF THE REVISED AND COMPILED
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN; FURTHER ADOPTING A NEW
PROVISION AS TITLE 10, CHAPTER 4, KNOWN AS ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS
OF ARREST.
WHEREAS, the City Council and the Mayor of the City of
Meridian, Idaho, have concluded that it is in the best interest
of said city to repeal Title 10, Chapter 1, as it presently
reads, to revise recodify the ordinances contained therein,
and to adopt new ordinances pertaining to traffic rules and
regulations which shall be readopted as Title 10, Chapter 1,
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, ADA COUNTY, IDAHO:
Section 1. That Title 10, Chapter 1, of the Revised and
Compiled Ordinances is hereby repealed.
Section 2. That a new Title 10, Chapter 1 is hereby adopted
far the regulation of traffic which shall read as follows:
SECTION
10-101:
10-102:
10-103:
10-104:
10-105:
10-106:
10-107:
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10 -110 :
10-111:
10-112:
10-113:
10-114:
10-115:
10-116 :
10-117:
10 -11 8 :
10-119:
10-120 :
10-121:
10-122:
10-123:
10-124 :
10-140:
10-141:
10-142 :
10-143:
10-144 :
10-145:
10-146:
10-147:
10-148:
CHAPTER 1
TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS
INDEX
Definitions
Regulation Approved by City Council
Penal ty
Fire Department Members' Vehicles
Regulations and Restrictions set by Chief of Police
Establishment of Fines
Authorized Emergency Vehicles
Stopping, Standing or Parking of Vehicles
Parking within Eighteen (18) Inches of Curb
Parking Spaces Designated by Painting
Overtaime Parking Prohibited
Loading and Unloading Zones Set by Chief of Police
Overnight Parking
Parking in Alley Prohibited
Parking Vehicles with Offensive Loads
Running Engines in Unattended Parked Cars Prohibited,
Set Brakes
unattended Vehicular Animal to be Tied
Repairing Vehicles in City Streets
Moving Vehicle to Illegal Location
Fire Department Emergency Vehicles; Following -
Parking in Area of
School and City Property
Backing of Vehicles
Emergency Vehicles Have Right-of-way
Driving Over Fire Hose
Driving Without License Prohibited
Dri ving Speeds
Driving on Right Half of Street
Driving in Traffic Lanes
Restrictions when Following a Vehicle
Driving on Sidewalk Prohibited
Driving Through Funeral Procession Prohibited
10-149:
10-150:
10-151 :
10-152 :
10-153:
10-154:
10-155:
10-156:
10-157:
10-158:
10-159:
10-160 :
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10-170 :
10-171:
10-172 :
10-173:
10-174:
10-180:
10-181:
10-185 :
10-186:
10-187 :
10-190:
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U-Turns
Partial U-Turn
Left Turn Approached from Left, Right Turn Approached
from Right, Right Turn Against Red Light
Dri ving Away from Curb
Complete Stop Required
Stopping on Crosswalk Prohibited
Passing Vehicles
Signal When Passing
When Passing is Prohibited
Overtaken Vehicle Not to Increase Speed
Reckless and Negligent Driving Prohibited
Driving While Under Influence of Liquor or Narcotics
Prohibited .
Pedestriali Right-of-way
Loaded Vehicles Obstructing View Prohibited
Unlawful Riding in Vehicles
Vehicle in Motion
Pedestrians Cross on Crosswalks Only
Reporting Accident
Stopping at Scene of Accident
Muffler Required
Excessi veExhaust
Sirens, Gongs, Whistles, etc. Prohibited
Impounding of Vehicles
CHAPTER 1
TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS
10-101: DEFINITIONS: For the purpose of this Chapter, the
following words and phrases shall have the meaning
"respectively ascribec to them as follows:
(A) Vehicle: Every device in, upon, or by which any person or
property is or may be transported or drawn upon a street or
highway, except devises moved solely by human power or used
excl usi vely upon.. sta tionary rails or tracts; for the purpose
of this Chapter, a bicycle or a ridden animal shall be deemed
a vehicle.
(B) Authorized Emergency Vehicle: Vehicles of the Fire Depart-
ment, Police Department and such ambulances and emergency
vehicles as may be designated or authorized by the Chief
of Police.
(C) Stop: Means the complete cessation of movement.
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(D) Park or Parking': The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied
or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and
while actively engaged in loading goods, merchandise, or
persons.
(E) Traffic: Either persons or vehicles while using any
street or sidewalk for the purpose of travel.
(F) Person: Shall mean every natural person, firm, copartner-
ship, association or corporation.
(G) Driver: Every person who drives or is in actual physical
control of a vehicle.
(H) Pedestrian: Any person afoot, including infants in a
carriage being pushed or pulled by a person.
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(I) Street, Highway or Roadway: Shall be used interchangeably
and shall mean the entire width of every way or place
open to the public, as a matter or right, for public vehicular
travel; provided that "street" or "roadway" shall not
include alley or where the word "alley" is used, it shall
mean every way or place intersecting a block and open
to the public, as a matter of right, for public vehicular
travel.
(K) Sidewalk: That portion of a street between the curb lines
or lateral lines defining vehicular traffic, and the adja-
cent property lines, and intended for pedestrian travel.
(L) Intersection: The area embraced within the prolongation
or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none,
then the lateral boundary lines of the intersecting highways,
or in the area within which vehicles traveling on different
highways may come into conflict.
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(M) Cross Walk: That portion of a street included within
the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines or
sidewalks at intersections, or on any portion of a street
distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing or traffic
by lines or other marking.
10-102: REGULATION APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL: No regulations
prescribed under authority of Title 10 of these
ordinances shall become effective until such regulation is
approved by the city Council.
10-103:
PENALTY: Any person violating the provisions of this
Chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
10-104: FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS' VEHICLES: Bona fide members
of the Meridian Fire Department are hereby authorized
to use a red light or flashing red light attached to the front
of the motor vehicle such member of the Meridian Fire Department
uses in making runs to fires, provided such member first obtains
a written permit from the City Clerk for use of such red light.
10-105:
REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS SET BY CHIEF OF POLICE:
(1) For the purpose of regulation and control of traffic, the
Chief of Police is hereby authorized to establish regulations
and restrictions to control the movement, stopping, standing
and parking of vehicles upon the highways, roadways, streets,
alleys and public lands located within the city limits of
Meridian, as authorized by the Idaho Vehicle Code under
Section 49-582, and specifically alluded to in Title 10
of the Meridian city Ordinances.
The authority of the Chief of Police to regulate traffic
shall include the following:
(a) Regulating or prohibiting stopping, standing or
parking;
(b) Regulating traffic by means of police officers or official
traffic-control devices;
(c) Regulating or prohibiting processings or assemblages on
the highways;
(d) Designating particular highways or roadways for use by
traffic moving in one direction as authorized in
Section 49-628, Idaho Code;
(e) Establishing speed limits for vehicles in public parks
notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) (c)
of Section" 49-683, Idaho Code;
(f) Designating any highway asa through highway or
designating any intersection or junction of roadways as
a stop or yield intersection or junction;
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( g)
(h)
( i)
( j)
(k)
( 1)
I (m)
(n)
(0)
(p)
( q)
( r)
( s)
( t)
( u)
( v)
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Restricting the use of streets or highways as authorized
in Chapter 9, Title 49, Idaho Code~
Regulating or prohibiting the turning of vehicles or
specified types of vehicles;
Altering or establishing speed limits as authorized in
Section 49-683, Idaho Code;
Requiring written accident reports as authorized in
Section 49~1015, Idaho Code;
Designating no-passing zones as authorized in Section
49-627, Idaho Code~
Prohibiting or regulating the use of controller-access
roadways by any class or kind of traffic as authorized
in Section 49-633, Idaho Code~
Prohibiting or regulating the use of heavily traveled
streets by any class or kind of traffic found to be
incompatible with the normal and safe movement of traffic~
Establishing minimum speed limits as authorized in
Section 49-684, Idaho Code;
Designating and regulating traffic on play streets;
Prohibiting pedestrians from crossing a roadway in a
business district or any designated highway except in a
crosswalk as authorized in Section 49-587, Idaho Code;
Restricting pedestrian crossing at unmarked crosswalks
as authorized in Section 49-588, Idaho Code;
Regulating persons propelling pushcarts~
Regulating persons upon skates, coasters, sleds and other
toy vehicles ~
Adopting and enforcing such temporary or experimental
regulations as may be necessary to cover emergencies or
special conditions~
Prohibiting drivers of ambulances from exceeding maximum
speed limits;
Adopting such other traffic regulations as are specific-
ally authorized by the Idaho Code.
(2) No local authority shall erect or maintain any official
traffic-control device at any location so as to require
traffic on any state highway to stop before entering or
crossing any intersecting highway unless approval in writing
has first been obtained from the Idaho Transportation
Department.
(3) No ordinance or regulation enacted under subdivisions (d),
(e), (r), (g), (h), (i), (k), (1), (m), (n), (0), (p), or
(q) of subsection (1) or this section shall be effective
un til officiaL traffic-control devices giving notice of
such traffic regulations are erected upon or at the entraces
to the highway or part thereof affective as may be most
appropriate.
10-106: ESTABLISH~mNT OF FINES: An ordinance providing for the
establishment of specific penalties for failure to comply
with the provisions of Title 10, Chapter 1 of this ordinance.
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10-110: STOPPING, STANDING OR PARKING OF VEHICLES
(A) On a sidewalk
$ 5
(B) Blocking driveway
5
(e) Within intersection
10
(D) Within 15 feet of fire hydrant
10
(E) On crosswalk
5
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(F) Within 20 feet of crosswalk/
intersection
5
(G Within 30 feet of signal control
device
5
(H) Safety zone
5
(I) Within 50 feet of railroad crossing 10
(J) Fire station driveway 10
(K) Along street excavation 10
(L) Double parked
10
(M)- On/in bridge or tunnel
10
(N) Official no parking signs
10
(0) Handicapped parking
10
(P) Passenger loading zone
5
10-111: PARKING WITHIN EIGHTEEN (18) INCHES OF CURB
lA Two-way roadway
$ 5
IB One-way roadway
5
2 Motorcycles
5
10-112: PARKING SPACES DESIGNATED BY PAINTING $ 5
10-113: OVERTIME PARKING 2
10-114: LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONES 5
10-115: OVERNIGHT PARKING 5
10-116: PARKING IN ALLEY 5
10-117: PARKING VEHICLES WITH OFFENSIVE LOADS 10
10-118: RUNNING ENGINES IN UNATTENDED PARKED CARS 10
10-119: UNATTENDED VEHICULAR ANIMAL TO BE TIED 5
10-120: REPAIRING VEHICLES IN CITY STREETS 5
10-121: MOVING VEHICLE TO ILLEGAL LOCATION 25
10-122: FIRE DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY VEHICLES
25
10-123: SCHOOL AND CITY PROPERTY
10
10-124: BACKING OF VEHICLES
10
10-107: AUTHORIZED Er~RGENCY VEHICLES: Authorized emergency ve-
hicles, as defined in section 49-578(2) of the Idaho
Motor Vehicles Laws shall be exempt from the provisions of Title
10, Chapter 1 Sectioh(s) 10-110 through 10-124, 10-141, 10-143
through 10-157, 10-171 through 10-173 and any other Section that
may hereinafter be adopted, that by its nature would exempt
authorized emergency vehicles, and as described in Section 49-606
of the Idaho Traffic Laws.
10-110: STOPPING, STANDING OR VEHICLE PARKING: It shall be
unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park a vehicle
except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in
compliance with law or the direction of a police officer or
traffic control device in any of the following places:
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(A) On a sidewalk;
(B) In front of a public or private driveway;
(C) Within an intersection;
(D) Within fifteen feet (15') of a fire hydrant;
(E) On a crosswalk;
(F) Wi thin twenty feet (20') of a crosswalk at an intersection;
(G) Within thirty feet (30') to the approach of any flashing bea-
con, stop sign or traffic control signal;
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(H) Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty
feet (30') of points on the curb immediately opposite the
ends of a safety zone, unless the Chief of Police has indicat-
ed a different length of a zone by signs or markings;
(I) Within fifty feet (50') of the nearest rail of a railroad
crossing; .
(J) Within twenty feet (20') of the driveway entrance to any
fire station or on the side of a street opposite the entrance
to any fire station within seventy-five feet (75') of said
entrance when propesT ly signposted;
(K) Along side or opposite any street obstruction or excavation
when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic;
(L) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked
legally or illegally on any roadway or street;
(M) Upon any bridge or oHler elevated structure upon a highway
or wi thin a highway -tunnel;
(N) At any place where official signs prohibit stopping, standing
or parking;
(0) In any area designated and posted, that parking is restricted
and limited to the handicapped;
(P) In any area posted or marked as a passenger loading zone, ex-
cept for the immediate and actual loading and/or unloading
of passengers.
10-111:
PARKING WITHIN EIGHTEEN (18) INCHES OF CURB:
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(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, every vehicle
stopped or parked:
(A) Upon a two-way roadway shall be stopped or parked with
the right-hand wheels parallel to and within eighteen
(18) inches of the right-hand curb or as close as
practicable to the right-hand shoulder.
(2)
(B) Upon a one-way roadway shall be stopped or parked
parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway in the
direction of authorized traffic movement, with its
right-hand wheels within eighteen (18) inches of the
right-hand curb or as close as practicable to the
right-hand shoulder, or with its left-hand wheels within
eighteen (18) inches of the left-hand curb or as close
as practicable to the left-hand shoulder.
Motorcycles, with either two (2) or three (3) wheels, shall
be so parked so as at least one (1) wheel is within eighteen
(18) inches of the curb or shoulder of the road as provided
for in Section lA and lB.
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10-112: PARKING SPACES DESIGNATED BY PAINTING: The Chief of
Police is hereby authorized to cause lines or markings
to be painted or placed upon the curbs and/or upon the streets,
designating the parking space of each vehicle, which said lines
or markings shall be so painted or placed as to show either par-
allel or diagonal parking at such places. It shall be unlawful,
where such spaces are designated, to park any vehicle outside
of or across any such line or markings or to park any vehicle in
such a position that the same shall not be entirely within the
space so designated by such line or markings.
10-113: OVERTIME PARKING PROHIBITED: When signs are erected
or markings made giving notice of the length of time
of parking at any space, -no person shall park a vehicle thereat
for longer than the length of time so designated by said signs;
parking shall be deemed ended only by the removal of the parked
vehicle to a distance at least on x block therefrom.
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10-114: LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONES SET BY CHIEF OF POLICE:
The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to designate
loading and unloading zones, and no person shall stop, stand or
park a vehicle, within or at said designated zones, for any purpose
or length of time other than for the expeditious and actual loading
or unloading of passengers, materials, goods or merchandise.
10-115: OVERNIGHT PARKING: It shall be unlawful for any person
to park a vehicle within the City of Meridian, for a
period of time longer than thirty (30) minutes between the hours of
two o'clock (2:00) A.M., and five o'clock (5:00) A.M., of any day,
except authorized emergency vehicles, physicians on emergency calls,
or for residential parking purposes.
10-116: PARKING IN ALLEY PROHIBITED:
park any vehicle in any alley
any alley, except for the expeditious and
unloading of passengers, materials, goods
It shall be unlawful to
or in the entrance of
actual loading or
or merchandise.
10-117: PARKING VEHICLES WITH OFFENSIVE LOADS: It shall be
unlawful to park any vehicle on city streets when such
vehicle is loaded with any material that creates an offensive odor,
or where the load or contents of the vehicle spills onto any
portion of the highway.
10-118: RUNNING EN"GINES IN UNATTENDED PARKED CARS PROHIBITED,
SET BRAKES: No person having control or charge of a
vehicle, shall allow such vehicle to stand on any street or high-
way unattended without stopping the engine of said vehicle, -Q-F- RND
effectively setting the brakes thereon, or devices to prevent the
vehicle from rolling.
10-119: UNATTENDED VEHICULAR ANIMAL TO BE TIED: It shall be
unlawful to permit any animal used for vehicular
purposes to be left unattended upon a street, alley or other pub-
lic place unless such animal is securely tied to an object adapted
for such purpose.
10-120 :
REPAIRING VEHICLES IN CITY STREETS: It shall be__
unlawful for any person to repair any vehicle in the
of the City, except for emergency repairs necessary to
same to private property.
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s tree ts
move the
10-121: MOVING VEHICLE TO ILLEGAL LOCATION: It shall be
unlawful for any person to move a vehicle not lawfully
under their control into any position or location, which would
cause said vehicle to be in violation of any section of this code
or any Idaho State code.
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10-122:
FIRE DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY VEHICLE: FOLLOWING,
PARKING IN AREA OF, PEDESTRIANS CLOSE TO:
(1) It shall be unlawful for any driver of any vehicle,
other than an authorized emergency vehicle or person, to (a)
follow any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm,
closer than five hundred feet (500') or, (b) park such vehicle
within the block, or within seven hundred fifty feet (750')
where the fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm,
or within seven hundred fifty feet (750') of the fire, whichever
is farthest.
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(2) It shall be unlawful for any pedestrian, other than
authorized personnel, to stand, loiter, walk or otherwise be within
one hundred feet (100') of any fire scene or within fifty feet
(50') of any piece of operating fire equipment. (Operating fire
equipment would include any item being used by any emergency per-
sonnel at a reported fire or other related emergency scene.)
10-123: SCHOOL AND CITY PROPERTY: It shall be illegal for any
person to operate, ride, stop or park any bicycle,
vehicle or animal on any property owned, rented or used by any
school district or any property owned, rented or used by the City
of Meridian, contrary to any sign or marking errected and intended
to control, direct or restrict the movement, stopping, standing
or parking of any bicycle, vehicle or animal. (I.C. 49-594)
10-124: BACKING OF VEHICLES: No vehicle shall be backed a
distrance greater than necessary to go legally and
safely forward again.
This Section shall not apply to those vehicles backing into
driveways, loading zones or areas, or parking spaces, providing
such movement can be, and is, done with reasonable safety.
10-140: EMERGENCY VEHICLES HAVE RIGHT-OF-WAY: The driver of
any vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to authorized
emergency vehicles when the latter are operated with audible signal
by bell, siren or whistle or flashing red light or blue light or
combination thereof.
10-141: DRIVING OVER FIRE HOSE: No vehicle shall drive over
or upon any fire hose unless directed to do so by a
fireman or police officer.
10-142: DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE PROHIBITED: No person shall
drive any vehicle upon the streets or highways within
the corporate limits of Meridian, Idaho, unless such driver is in
possession of an operator's or chauffeur's license required by
the laws of the State of Idaho.
I
10-143: DRIVING SPEEDS: No person shall drive any vehicle,
except emergency vehicles, at a greater speed than
designated as follows:
1. In any public park, 15 miles per hour.
2 ~ When passing a public school building or grounds
the'reof, 15 miles per hour.
3. On all other streets and alleys in Meridian, 25
miles per hour, or as otherwise posted.
10-144: DRIVING ON RIGHT HALF OF STREET: The driver of any
vehicle shall drive such vehicle upon the driver's
right half of the street, except upon one-way streets or alleys,
and except when such right half of the street is out of repair,
or when passing or overtaking another vehicle as provided in
Section 10-155 of this Chapter.
180
10-145: DRIVING IN TRAFFIC LANES: Where the highway or street
is marked by traffic lanes, a vehicle shall be driven
entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved out of such
lane until such movement can be made with safety, and such move-
ment shall be subject to the right-of-way of vehicles in other
lanes.
10-146 :
RESTRICTIONS WHEN FOLLOWING A VEHICLE: The driver of
a vehicle sharI not follow any other vehicle more close-
is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speed
vehicles and traffic upon and conditions of the street.
ly than
of such
10-147: DRIVING ON SIDEWALK PROHIBITED: No vehicles shall
travel upon any sidewalk, provided that vehicles may
cross sidewalks at authorized curb cuts and at alleys.
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10-148: DRIVING THROUGH FUNERAL PROCESSION PROHIBITED: No
driver shall drive a vehicle between vehicles compris-
ing a funeral, parade or other authorized procession while such
vehicles are in motion.
10-149 : U-TURNS: NOU-:turn or turn reversing the direction of
travel, shall be made at any intersection in which
"NO U-TURN" signs are erected, nor at any intersection at which
there is a traffic signal light, nor at any place other than at an
intersection, nor unless there be sufficient space to make such
turn without backing, nor unless prior to and during such turn,
the same be signalled in the manner required by state law.
10-150: PARTIAL U-TURN: It shall be illegal for any turn to
be made commencing from the lane of traffic in which
a vehicle is moving which crosses the opposite traffic lane and
which results with said vehicle parking or coming to a stop on
the upfJosi te slue of the street from where Lhe LU.r:-n conmlenced.
10-151: LEFT TURN APPROACHED FROM LEFT, RIGHT TURN APPROACHED
FROM RIGHT, RIGHT TURN AGAINST RED LIGHT: The
driver of a vehicle intending to make a turn to the left at an inter-
section shall approach the intersection on the left side of the
driver's right half of the roadway, and shall yield the right-of-
way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which
is in the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an
immediate hazard. Such driver shall, before turning, signal as
required by the statutes of the State of Idaho, and shall keep
on the driver's right half of the intersection and roadway..
The driver of a vehicle intending to make a turn to the right at an
intersection, shall approach the intersection on the right side of
the driver's right half of the roadway, and before turning, shall
signal as required by the statutes of the State of Idaho. Right
hand turns may be made against red lights upon the vehicle being
brought to a complete stop before entering onto the crosswalk and
before or while proceeding, such driver shall give the right-of-way
to vehicles lawfully in the intersection and to pedestrians tra-
versing the crosswalk or proceeding with the green light who are
hereby declared to have the superior right-of-way.
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10-152: DRIVING AWAY FROM CURB: Any vehicle entering or leav-
ing curb or parking space shall yield the right-of-way
to the moving vehicles, and the driver of any vehicle be fore start-
ing, stopping or turning from a direct line of travel, shall first
see that such action can be made in safety to other vehicles and to
pedestrians.
10-153: COMPLETE STOP REQUIRED: All vehicles must be brought
to a complete stop before passing any stop sign or
entering upon an arterial or through street, and no vehicle shall
enter into an arterial or through street except cautiously and shall
yield the right-of-way to vehicles not so required to stop and
which are in the intersection., or are approaching at a lawful speed
so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard.
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10-154: STOPPING ON CROSSWALK PROHIBITED: All vehicular and
pedestrian traffic facing the "STOP" device shall
stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or
at such other point as may be indicated by a clearly visible line,
and no vehicle or pedestrian facing such device shall enter onto
the crosswalk or cross such street, except as provided in Section
10-151 of this Chapter.
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10-155: PASSING VEHICLES: The driver of a vehicle overtaking
another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall
drive to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again
drive to the right until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle,
provided, that where the street is marked into traffic lanes, it
shall be permissible for the overtaking vehicle to pass the
overtaken vehicle in either the right or left hand lane. The
driver of a vehicle shall not drive to the left side of the center
line of the street in passing another vehicle proceeding in the
same direction, unless such driver has a clear view and the left
side of the street is free from oncoming traffic for a sufficient
distance to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely
made without impeding the safe operation of any vehicle approach-
ing from the opposite direction, such approaching vehicle having
the superior right-of-way.
10-156: SIGNAL WHEN PASSING: The driver of an overtaking
vehicle shall give audible warning with a horn
or other warning device before passing or attempting to pass
a vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
10-157: WHEN PASSING IS PROHIBITED: The driver of a vehicle
shall not overtake and pass any other vehicle proceed-
ing in the same direction at any railway crossing, nor at any
intersection except such vehicles as are turning into other streets
and except where traffic lanes are marked and subject to the
provisions of this Chapter.
10-158: OVERTAKEN VEHICLE NOT TO INCREASE SPEED: The driver
of an overtaken vehicle shall, subject to the provi-
sions of Sections 10-145 and 10-155 of this Chapter, give way
to the driver's right, in favor of the overtaking vehicle, and
shall not increase its speed until completely passed by the
overtaking vehicle.
10-159:
RECKLESS AND NEGLIGENT DRIVING PROHIBITED:
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(A) Reckless Driving: Any person who drives any vehicle upon a
public street carelessly and heedlessly, or without due cau-
tion and circumspection and at a speed or in a manner so as
to endanger any person or property, or who passes when there
is a line in his lane indicating a sight distance restriction,
shall be guilty of reckless driving and upon conviction shall
be punished as provided in Subsection (B) of this Section.
(B) Reckless Driving; Penalty: Every person convicted of
reckless driving under this Section shall be punished
by imprisonment in the County jail for a period of not more
thanthirtll (30) days. or by a fine of not:_lessthan twe'nty-
five ($25.00) nor more than three hundred dollars ($300.00) or
by both such fine and imprisonment.
(C) Negligent Driving; Penalty: It shall be unlawful for any
person to operate a motor vehicle in a negligent manner
anywhere within the limits of the City in excess of the prima
facie speed or without due caution and circumspection or to
operate such a vehicle in such a manner as to endanger or be
likely to endanger any person or property.
The offense of operating a vehicle in a negligent manner
shall be considered to be a lesser offense than, but
included in, the offense of operating a vehicle in a reckless
manner, and any person charged with operating a vehicle in
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a reckless manner 'may be convicted of the lesser offense of
operating a vehicle in a negligent manner. Any person
violating the provisions of this Section shall be punished
upon conviction in the same manner as is provided in Sub-
section (B) of this Section.
10-160:
DRIVING WHILE UNDER INFLUENCE OF LIQUOR OR NARCOTICS
PROHIBITED:
(A) It is unlawful and punishable as provided in Subsection
(D) of this Section for any person who is under the influence
of intoxicating liquor to drive or be in actual physical con-
trol of any vehicle within this City.
(B) In any criminal prosecution for a violation of Subsection (A)
of this Section relating to driving a vehicle while under
the influence of intoxicating liquor, the amount of alcohol
in the defendant's blood at the time alleged as shown by
chemical analysis of the defendant's blood, urine, breath,
or other bodily substance shall give rise to the following
presumptions:
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1. If there was at the time five hundredths percent (0.05%)
_,or less by weiJght of alcohol in the de fendant' s blood,
it shall be presumed that the defendant was not under
the influence of intoxicating liquor;
2. If there was at the time in excess of five hundredths
percent (0.05%) but less than eight hundredths percent
(0.08%) by weight of alcohol in the defendant's blood,
such fact shall not give rise to any presumption that
the defendant was or was not under the influence of intoxi-
cating liquor, but such fact may be considered with other
competent evidence in determining the guilt or innocence
of the defendant;
3. If there was at the time eight" hundredths percent (0.08%)
or more by weight of alcohol in the efendant's blood,
it shall be presumed that the defendant was under the in-
fluence of intoxicating liquor;
4. The foregoing provisions of Subsection (B) shall not
be construed as limiting the introduction of any other
competent evidence bearing upon the question whether
or not the defendant was under the influence of intoxi-
cating liquor.
(C) It is unlawful and punishable as provided in Subsection (D)
of this Section for any person who is an habitual user, or
under the influence of any narcotic drug, or who is under
the influence of any "other drug to a degree which renders
him incapable of safely driving a vehicle to drive a vehicle
within this City. The fact that any person charged with a
violation of this Subsection is or has been entitled to use
such drug under the laws of the State of Idaho shall not
constitute a defense against any charge of violating this
Subsection.
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(D) Every person who is convicted of a violation of this Section
shall be punished by imprisonment in the County jail for not
more than six (6) months, or by fine of not less than one
hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than tnree hundred
dollars ($300.00) or by both fine and imprisonment.
10-170: PEDESTRIAN RIGHT-OF-WAY: Where traffic control signals
are not placed or not in operation, the driver of a
vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing
the street within any crosswalk.
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10-171: LOADED VEHICLES OBSTRUCTING VIEW PROHIBITED: It shall
be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to drive
the same upon any street or highway when such vehicle is so loaded
as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides
thereof, or to interfere with the driver's control of the driving
mechanism of the vehicle.
10-172: UNLAWFUL RIDING IN VEHICLES: It shall be unlawful for any
person to ride any vehicle upon any portion thereof not
designated or intended for the use of passengers. This provision
shall not apply to an employee engaged in the necessary discharge
of a duty or to persons riding within truck bodies in space
intended for merchandise.
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10-173: VEHICLE IN MOTION: It shall be unlawful for any person
to board or alight from any vehicle while such vehicle
is in motion.
10-174:
PEDESTRIANS CrtOSS ON CROSSWALKS ONLY: No pedestrian
shall cross any street except upon the crosswalks
thereof.
10-180: REPORTING ACCIDENT: The driver of any vehicle involved
_ in injury or death to a person, or resulting in injury
or damage to property, shall within twenty-four (24) hours make a
detailed report of such accident to the Police Department of
Meridian.
10-181: STOPPED AT SCENE OF ACCIDENT: Whenever any vehicle
is involved in an accident resulting in injury to or
death of any person, or resulting in any injury to property, the
driver shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such
accident, or as close thereto as possible, and shall exhibit his
operator's or driver's license to the person struck or to the
driver or occupant of any vehicle collided with, or if impossible
to do so, then to some person at the scene of the accident.
10-185: MUFFLER REQUIRED: No person shall drive an automobile,
motor vehicle or motorcycle with a gasoline or other
explosive mixture as a motor power within the city limits of the
City of Meridian without a muffler thereon sufficient to deaden
the sound of the xxplosions and such muffler shall not be dis-
connected or cutting out while such automobile, motor vehicle or
motorcycle is being operated wi thin the limi ts of Meridian.
10-186: EXCESSIVE EXHAUST: No vehicle shall be operated with
an excessive smoking exhaust upon any road, street
or highway within the limits of this city.
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10-187: SIRENS, GONGS, WHISTLES, ETC. PROHIBITED: No vehicle
shall be equipped with any siren, gong, whistle,
or any other device to create a loud and/or unusual noise. Author-
izedemergency vehicles shall be exempt from this Section.
"Excessive or unusual noise" as used in this Section and 10-185
includes, but is not limited to, any sound made by a passenger
motor vehicle or a motorcycle at any time under any condition of
grade, speed, acceleration or deceleration which exceeds ninety-
two (92) decibels, or, any lower decibel level that is fixed by
law or the rules and regulations regularly adopted by the board of
environmental and community services, on the A scale of a general
radio company No. 1551-B sound level meter, or equivalent,
stationed at a distance of not less than twenty (20) feet to the
side of such vehicle or motorcycle as such vehicle or motorcycle
passes the soundmeter or is stationed not less than twenty (20)
feet from a stationary motor or engine.
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10-190:
IMPOUNDING OF VEHICLES--SALES:
(A) Impounding of Vehicles with Hazardous or Offensive Loads:
Any police officer or other person design~ted by the City of
Meridian shall have the authority to remove to a safe location or
store at an impound lot, any vehicle found parked within the city
limits of the City of Meridian, which is either:
1. Loaded wi th, or has contained wi thin or on its structure
any inflammable or dangerous substance, when such sub-
stance is escaping or leaking from its tank or other
container, or otherwise creates an immediate hazard.
2. Loaded with any substance which creates an offensive odor.
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(B) Impounding of Vehicles Parked in Excess of 48 Hours: It
shall be unlawful for any vehicle to be continuously parked in
anyone location on any public property or public alley, highway
or right-of-way for more than two (2) consecutive days (48) hours.
Any police officer, after having properly marked the vehicle, and
then having personal knowledge that the vehicle is parked in viola-
tionof this Section, may impound said vehicle and have it stored
at an officially designated impound storage lot.
(C) Moving Vehicles to Clean and Repair streets: It shall be
unlawful for any person to refuse, upon request by the City,
through its authorized officials, to move any vehicle parked on th
Ci ty Streets, when such request is made for the purpose of repair
or cleaning streets. If any person owning such a vehicle or having
an interest therein refuses such request, the City shall have the
right to move or impound the same and charge the cost thereof to
the owner.
(D) Sale of Impounded vehicles: Sale of impounded vehicles
shall proceed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the
Department of Law Enforcement, State of Idaho, Park 800 3a,
copies of which shall be on file at the Meridian Police Department.
Section 3. That a new Chapter shall be added to Ti tIe 10,
and shall be known asTi tIe 10, Chapter 4, relate to the issuance
of arrest warrants, and read as follows:
CHAPTER 4-
10-401: ISSUANCE OF~ARRANTS OF ARREST: An ordinance providing
for the payment of parking fines to the City of
Meridian. In the event the prescribed parking fine is not paid
as required, or the parking citation is not otherwise disposed of
as authorized by law, a warrant of arrest shall be issued for
the registered owner, or leasee, 0 f the vehicle described in the
parking citation.
(A) If any vehicle is found stopped, standing or parked in any
manner violating any of the provisions of this Title, and the
identi ty of the actual driver cannot be determined, the owner
or person or corporation in whose name said vehicle is
registered or the named leaseee in a rental or lease agree-
ment of said vehicle, shall be held prima facie responsible
for said violation.
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(B) It shall be the duty of the Police Department upon observing
. .avehicle ,pa.rked,.standing or stopped:~ii1 viola-tion of the
provisions of this Title, to leave at or upon such vehicle a
notice that such vehicle has been parked or stopped in viola-
tion of the provisions of this Title. Among other things, the
notice shall bear the date and hour of leaving the same at or
upon the vehicle, make of the vehicle, and its license number,
the specific Code Section violated and the amount of the fine,
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instructing the owner or operator of such vehicle to report
to the traffic ticket section under the jurisdiction of the
City Treasurer's office. The remaining copies or notices
herein mentioned shall be filed as follows: One copy shall
be retained by the police officer leaving such ticket upon a
vehicle, one copy shall be filed with the traffic ticket
section of the city Treasurer's office and one copy shall be
filed with the Meridian Police Department.
(C) When a parking citation is issued to a vehicle as required or
permitted by this code, the person responsible for the citation
shall, within seven (7) calendar days from the date of issue
of the citation, pay to the City Treasurer's office, in the
city of Meridian, the amount indicated on the parking citation.
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(D) In the event the citation is contested, the person shall
appear at the Meridian Police Department within seven (7)
day period and sign a document contesting the violation charged.
The person will then be assigned a time and date to appear in
the Ada County Traffic Court, in the City of Boise, State of
Idaho.
(E) In the event the parking citation is not disposed of by
payment of the prescribed fine, or otherwise as provided by
his code within the seven (7) day period, the Meridian Police
Department shall cause a warrant of arrest to be issued. The
person named in the warrant of arrest shall be the person
described in Subsection A of this Section.
Section 4. WHEREAS, there is an emergency therefor, which
emergency is hereby declared to exist, this Ordinance shall take
effect and be in force and effect from and after its passage,
approval and publication as required by law.
PASSED by the City Council and approved by the Mayor of the
Ci ty of Meridian, County, Idaho, this 1st day of October,
1979.
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cc: ~odiners 10-3-79
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Mi nutes
Police File
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