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Town of Rocky Hill, CT
Hartford County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The purpose of this article is to restrict the operation of motorized vehicles on certain specified streets in the area known as the Rocky Hill Meadows in order to prevent vandalism, promote public health and safety, and protect farmland and crops from contamination and damage.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE
A self-propelled vehicle designed to travel over unimproved terrain that has been determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to be unsuitable for operation on the public highways and is not eligible for registration and also defined as any three-or-more-wheeled motorized vehicle, generally characterized by large, low-pressure tires, a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering, which is intended for off-road uses by an individual rider on various types of nonpaved terrain. Such vehicles include go-carts but do not include trail bikes, golf carts, agricultural tractors, farm implements and construction machines.
DIRT BIKE
A two-wheeled motorized recreational vehicle designed to travel over unimproved terrain and not designed for travel on a highway and also defined pursuant to General Statutes § 14-390m(d), as may be amended.
MEADOWS PROPERTY OWNERS
Any owner of real property on the streets identified in § 230-3.
MINIBIKES
Shall include pocket bikes, minibikes, minisport bikes, minidirt bikes, chopper scooters, motor scooters, and any other similar vehicle designed to transport one or more persons that is powered by any type of motor. The term minibikes shall not include bicycles with battery-operated helper motors or bikes.
MINIMOTORCYCLE
Any vehicle propelled by nonmuscular power that has not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, has a manufactured seat height of less than 26 inches measured at the lowest point on top of the seat cushion without the rider, and is propelled by an engine having a piston displacement of less than 50 ccs.
MOTORIZED VEHICLE
Any motorized vehicle propelled by nonmuscular power, including but not limited to motor vehicles defined by state statute, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, minimotorcycles, minibikes and snowmobiles.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Any all-terrain vehicle, dirt bike, minimotorcycle, minibike or snowmobile. Recreational vehicle shall not include:
A. 
Any registered "motorcycle," as defined in General Statute § 14-1(46);
B. 
Any registered "motor vehicle," as defined in General Statute § 14-1(47);
C. 
Any moped that meets Federal Department of Transportation guidelines for use on streets and is approved by the State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles for use on streets, provided, however, the moped is operated pursuant to all applicable state laws, rules, and regulations and all Town of Rocky Hill ordinances;
D. 
Any wheelchair or similar mobility assisting device utilized by a person with a physical disability or whose ambulatory mobility has been impaired due to age or physical ailment;
E. 
Any self-propelled snow plow, snow blower or lawn mower when used for the purpose for which it was designed and operated at a speed not to exceed four miles per hour;
F. 
Any vehicle owned or leased by the Town of Rocky Hill.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE DEALER
Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, retail selling, leasing or renting of recreational vehicles, as defined by this article, having a regular and established place of business within the Town of Rocky Hill.
SNOWMOBILE
Any self-propelled vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice, except propelled by sail.
A. 
No motorized vehicle, as defined in § 230-2 of this chapter, shall be operated on the following public streets in the Town of Rocky Hill:
(1) 
Meadow Road (a.k.a. Meadow Street), from a gate at the end of Goff Brook Road southerly approximately 2,270 feet to North Meadow Lane;
(2) 
North Meadow Lane, from Meadow Road (a.k.a. Meadow Street), easterly approximately 4,645 feet to Great Meadow Road;
(3) 
Great Meadow Road, from North Meadow Lane southerly approximately 3,175 feet, thence in a westerly direction approximately 5,030 feet to a gate at Meadow Road.
B. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this prohibition shall not apply to Meadows property owners or their invitees.
Persons having good cause to operate motorized vehicles on the roads referred to in § 230-3 may apply for a permit from the Town Manager.
A. 
The Town Manager shall enforce § 230-3 by permanently locking the gates at the following three entrances into the Rocky Hill Meadows:
(1) 
The entrance at Ferry Park.
(2) 
The entrance at Goff Brook Road.
(3) 
The entrance from the Town of Wethersfield.
B. 
The Town Manager shall be the keeper of keys to the gates (the "keys"), and shall control and document the distribution of keys. No person except the Town Manager or his designee is permitted to make copies of the keys.
C. 
The Town Manager shall provide keys to all Meadows property owners. Each Meadows property owner may keep and use the key on an ongoing basis, and shall have the responsibility to safeguard the key, ensure that the key is not copied, and ensure that the gates are closed and locked except as needed for the passage of a permitted motorized vehicle. For good cause, including but not limited to violation of any provision in this section, the Town Manager may impose reasonable restrictions on a Meadows property owner's right to keep and use a key. Any such action by the Town Manager shall be taken after reasonable notice and a hearing, and shall be subject to a right of appeal by the Meadows property owner.
D. 
The Town Manager may provide a key to any person whom a Meadows property owner (a "sponsoring owner") identifies to the Town Manager, in writing, as an invitee who requires ongoing access to the Rocky Hill Meadows by motorized vehicle (an "ongoing invitee"). An ongoing invitee may keep and use the key on an ongoing basis. The sponsoring owner and ongoing invitee shall share the responsibility to safeguard the key, ensure that the key is not copied, and ensure that the gates are closed and locked except as needed for the passage of a permitted motorized vehicle. For good cause, including but not limited to violation of any provision in this section, the Town Manager may revoke an ongoing invitee's right to keep and use a key. Any such action by the Town Manager shall be taken after reasonable notice and a hearing, and shall be subject to a right of appeal by the Meadows property owner.
E. 
For persons who establish good cause to operate a motorized vehicle on the roads in the Rocky Hill Meadows pursuant to § 230-3.1, the Town Manager shall make reasonable arrangements to accommodate such person's access.
A. 
In addition to all other remedies available to the Town by law and Article VI, § 230-30 of this chapter as it may apply, a violation of § 230-3 shall otherwise be punishable by citation issued by The Town Manager, or a designee, in the amount of $250 per occurrence.
B. 
The provisions of C.G.S. § 7-152c, Subsections (b) through (g), inclusive, are hereby adopted by reference as if fully set forth herein.