[Adopted 10-22-1999 by L.L. No. 9-1999]
It is the intent of this article to:
A. 
Promote public safety by regulating the use and operation of motor vehicles upon county property.
B. 
Provide for the designation of fire lanes and/or fire zones, public parking areas, public and employee parking areas and handicapped parking areas.
C. 
Provide for the disposal of unattended and abandoned motor vehicles in fire lanes or other zones duly marked "restricted."
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COUNTY PROPERTY
Includes all property owned by the County of Putnam and all property under the jurisdiction and control of the County of Putnam.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
A police, fire or ambulance vehicle engaged in official business.
EMPLOYEE PARKING
A parking area designated for parking for persons employed by the County of Putnam or the State of New York whose place of employment is located at the county-owned or -leased facility.
FIRE ZONE AND FIRE LANE
An unobstructed passageway marked or designated on county property and accessible to the public to permit free ingress and egress of fire, police and other emergency vehicles and equipment from or to a public highway.
OPERATOR
Includes every individual who shall operate a vehicle as the owner thereof, or as the agent, employee or permittee of the owner, or who is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
PERSON
Includes every natural person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation.
RESERVED PARKING
A parking area designated for parking for designated persons employed by the County of Putnam or the State of New York whose place of employment is located at the county-owned or -leased facility.
VEHICLE
Any device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported upon a highway, except a device which is operated upon rails or tracks.
VEHICLES OPERATED BY OR FOR A HANDICAPPED OR ILL PERSON
A vehicle operated by or for such person which displays a New York State license plate, official New York State permit or municipal temporary special vehicle identification, parking permit, valid for not more than six months, certifying that said vehicle is operated by or for such person.
VISITOR PARKING
A parking area designated for parking for the public at large while on official business with the County of Putnam or the State of New York at the County-owned or -leased facility.
VISITOR PARKING - TIME LIMITED
A parking area designated for the public at large while on official business with the County of Putnam or the State of New York at the County-owned or -leased facility for a specific limited time.
A. 
The County Executive shall determine the location of areas to be designated fire lanes and fire zones as shall be requested by the Commissioner of Emergency Services of the County of Putnam or such other appropriate officials of village, town or county government. Upon such designation, the Commissioner of Highways and Facilities of the County of Putnam shall erect and post appropriate signs or other markings in conformance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Only emergency vehicles shall be authorized to use said lanes or zones and only in case of an emergency.
[Amended 1-25-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2000]
B. 
The County Executive shall designate those areas for the parking of vehicles operated by or used for transporting handicapped or ill persons, including employees of the County of Putnam. Upon such designation, the Commissioner of Highways and Facilities of the County of Putnam shall erect and post appropriate signs or other markings in conformance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Only those persons authorized to use said parking spaces should be permitted to park in said space.
C. 
The County Executive shall designate and establish parking spaces and/or time limitations for certain parking spaces as "employee parking," "reserved parking," "visitor parking," and "visitor parking - time limited." Upon such designation, the Commissioner of Highways and Facilities of the County of Putnam shall erect and post appropriate signs or other markings in conformance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Only those persons authorized to use said parking spaces shall be permitted to park in said space and within the time that is specified on the posted sign.
D. 
The County Executive shall designate speed limits, including speed limits under 20 miles per hour, on any or all county property. Upon such designation, the Commissioner of Highways and Facilities of the County of Putnam shall erect and post appropriate signs or other markings in conformance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
E. 
The County Executive shall designate the aforementioned areas by filing said designations with the Putnam County Clerk, Clerk to the Legislature of Putnam County and the Sheriff of the County of Putnam.
Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or where in compliance with law or the directives of a police officer or official traffic control device, no person shall:
A. 
Park in an area designated "no parking."
B. 
Park in an area designated "fire zone" or "fire lane."
C. 
Park in an area designated "handicapped parking," unless expressly provided in this article.
D. 
Park in an area designated "visitor parking - no employee parking" if the person is an employee of the County of Putnam or the State of New York or its constituent agencies.
E. 
Park in an area designated as a reserved space for any county or government official, unless the vehicle is owned or operated by such designated county or government official.
F. 
Park a vehicle in an area designated "visitor parking - time limited," if that person parks said vehicle in said parking space for more than the limit specified on the posted sign.
No person shall operate a vehicle on County property at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit, as designated by the County Executive in accordance with § 31-33D hereof.
[Added 7-7-2009 by L.L. No. 16-2009[1]]
A. 
No person shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any instruction, direction or regulation displayed upon any post, standard, sign or marking on any drive or other device installed or placed for the regulation of moving traffic on County property.
B. 
Any and all traffic devices so placed under this article must comply with New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws and the rules and regulations of the State of New York with regard to the placement of said traffic devices.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also renumbered former §§ 31-36, 31-37 and 31-38 as §§ 31-37, 31-38 and 31-39, respectively.
A. 
Whenever any vehicle shall be found parked or operated in violation of the provisions of this article, the Sheriff or the Deputy Sheriff on duty shall place on such vehicle a notice to the owner thereof that such vehicle has been parked in violation of this article, summoning such owner to appear before a Town or Village Justice in any of the appropriate towns or villages in Putnam County at a time designated therein.
B. 
When the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff observes a vehicle exceeding the speed limit or violating any other provision of this vehicle and traffic law or the Vehicle and Traffic Law of New York State, he shall issue a uniform traffic citation summoning such operator to appear before a Town or Village Justice in any of the appropriate towns or villages in Putnam County at a time designated therein.
Whenever any vehicle shall be found parked in violation of the provisions of this article, such vehicle may be removed and conveyed by or under the direction of a member of the Sheriff's Department after being ticketed by the Sheriff's Department, by means of towing the same, or otherwise, to some suitable place of storage, and such removal and storage shall be at the risk and expense of the owner of such vehicle. Before the owner or person in charge of such vehicle shall be permitted to remove the same from the custody of the Sheriff's Department, he shall furnish evidence of his identity and ownership or right to possession and shall pay all charges for towing and storage. Prior to the vehicle's being released to the person claiming the same, such person shall sign a receipt for such vehicle.
A. 
Every person convicted of a traffic infraction for a violation of any provision of this article shall, for a first conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $50; for a second such conviction within 18 months after the first conviction, such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100.
B. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any violation hereof which constitutes a misdemeanor under the Vehicle and Traffic Law shall be punished in the manner as provided by the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York.