[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Rome as Sec. 8.01 of the prior Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - Appendix AAttachment 2 - Appendix B
A. 
Statutes adopted. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, the statutory provisions in Chapters 86 and 340 to 349 of the Wisconsin Statutes and Chapter Trans. 101 through 305 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, describing and defining regulations with respect to vehicles and traffic, are hereby adopted and by reference made a part of this chapter as if fully set forth herein. Any act required to be performed or prohibited by any regulation incorporated herein by reference is required or prohibited by this chapter. Any future amendments, revisions or modifications of the statutory regulations in Chapters 340 to 349 incorporated herein are intended to be made part of this chapter in order to secure to the extent legally practicable uniform statewide regulation of vehicle traffic on the highways of the State of Wisconsin. Any person who shall, within the Town of Rome, violate any provisions of any statute incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed guilty of an offense under this chapter.
B. 
Other state laws adopted. There are also hereby adopted by reference the following sections of the Wisconsin Statutes, but the prosecution of such offenses under this chapter shall be limited to a forfeiture as hereinafter provided in this chapter:
(1) 
Section 941.01, Negligent Operation of Vehicle Off Highway.
(2) 
Section 943.23, Operating Motor Vehicles Without Owner's Consent.
[Amended 4-16-2020 by Ord. No. 20-05]
A. 
Erection and install uniform traffic control devices. Whenever traffic regulations created by this chapter, including a State of Wisconsin traffic regulation adopted by reference in § 335-1A, require the erection of traffic control devices for enforcement, the Director of Public Works shall procure, erect and maintain uniform traffic control devices conforming to the Uniform Traffic Control Device Manual promulgated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, giving notice of such traffic regulation to the users of the highways on which such regulations apply. Whenever state law grants discretion to local authorities in erecting or placement of a uniform traffic control device, devices shall be erected in such locations and in such a manner as, in the judgment of the Director of Public Works or a designee, will carry out the purposes of this chapter and give adequate warning to users of the highways of the Town of Rome.
B. 
Prohibited signs and markers in roadways. No person other than an officer or designee authorized by this chapter to erect and maintain official traffic control devices shall place within the limits of any highway maintained by the Town any sign, signal, marker, mark or monument unless permission is first obtained from the Chief of Police, the Director of Public Works or, where applicable, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT).
C. 
Removal of unofficial signs, markers, signals and traffic control devices. The Chief of Police, Director of Public Works or their designee may remove any sign, signal, marking or other device, which is placed, maintained or displayed in violation of this chapter or state law.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 346.48(2)(b)2., Wis. Stats., school bus operators shall use flashing red warning lights in residential and business districts when pupils or other authorized passengers are to be loaded or unloaded at locations at which there are no crosswalk or traffic signals so that pupils must cross the road before being loaded or after being unloaded.
A. 
Except as modified in Subsection B, the speed limits set forth in § 346.57-59 Wis. Stats, shall apply.
B. 
Pursuant to § 349.11, Wis. Stats., the speed limits on certain Town highways shall be modified as set forth in Appendix A. The Town Board finds that such modifications are reasonable and safe based on engineering and traffic investigations previously performed. Signs giving notice of the modified speed limits shall be erected consistent with § 346.57(6) or 349.11, Wis. Stats. See Appendix A, which is incorporated herein by reference.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[Added 7-19-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08]
Pursuant to § 349.10, Wis. Stats., the following streets and roadways and parts thereof are declared to be one-way streets and no person shall operate any vehicle thereon except in the indicated direction.
A. 
Streets.
Name of Street
Direction of Travel
Location
Climbers Pass
Easterly
From Matterhorn Trail to Geneva Trail
Snow Pass
Westerly
From Geneva Trail to Matterhorn Trail
A. 
Heavy traffic routes.
(1) 
Pursuant to § 349.17, Wis. Stats., the following Town highways are designated as heavy traffic routes.
Name of Street
Location
Alpine Drive
STR 13 to CTR Z
Apache Avenue
STR 13 to CTR Z
(2) 
Appropriate signs shall be erected giving notice that said Town highways are heavy traffic routes.
B. 
Class B highways:
(1) 
The following Town highways are designated as Class B highways subject to the weight limitations set forth in § 348.16, Wis. Stats.:
Name of Street
Location
7th Drive
STR 73 to Akron Drive
Akron Drive
7th Drive to STR 13
(2) 
The Director of Public Works is authorized to issue permits for exceeding such weight limitation.
[Amended 4-16-2020 by Ord. No. 20-05]
C. 
Heavy traffic prohibited. Pursuant to § 349.17, Wis. Stats., all vehicles operating completely on pneumatic tires and all vehicles or combination of vehicles, other than motor buses, designed or used for transporting property of any nature and having a gross weight of more than 6,000 pounds, shall not be operated on any Town highway not listed in Subsection A of this section. This subsection shall not apply to heavy traffic using a Town highway for the purpose of obtaining orders for supplies or moving or delivering supplies or commodities to or from any place of business or residence which has an entrance on such a Town highway, provided such traffic does not exceed the weight limitations for Class B highways pursuant to § 348.16, Wis. Stats.
D. 
Weight limits for 8th Avenue bridge. The bridge on 8th Avenue located one mile south of County Road D or 1/2 mile north of Apache Avenue over Fourteen Mile Creek shall have a weight limit of the following:
(1) 
Two-axle vehicle: 19 tons.
(2) 
Three-or-more-axle vehicles: 28 tons.
(3) 
Combination vehicles: 37 tons.
E. 
Special/seasonal weight limitations. The Director of Public Works shall exercise the authority to set seasonal and special weight limitations pursuant to § 349.16, Wis. Stats.
[Amended 4-16-2020 by Ord. No. 20-05]
F. 
Town highways defined. As used in this section, the term "Town highways" means all highways within the Town of Rome that are maintained and controlled by the Town.
G. 
Liability. Pursuant to § 86.02, Wis. Stats., any person who shall injure any Town highway shall be liable in treble damages.
[Amended 9-5-2024 by Ord. No. 24-12; 2-5-2026 by Ord. No. 26-01]
A. 
No-parking zones. The following areas are designated as no-parking zones. Parking in such areas shall be permitted only upon permission from a member of the Rome Police Department.
(1) 
Kings Way, between Leisure Lane and North Archers Way, including any Town right-of-way, and Adams County-owned land that is posted prohibiting parking.
(2) 
15th Avenue dam, including the Fire Department fill site.
(3) 
On the paved portion of any Town highway outside of the Rome Town Center.
(4) 
On the paved portion of any Town highway in the Rome Town Center from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
(5) 
In the center of any cul-de-sac, including any Town right-of-way, or Town-owned land in the center of a cul-de-sac.
B. 
Private property. No person may park any vehicle on private property unless permission has been granted by the owner or occupant of the property.
C. 
72-hour limitation. No person, firm or corporation shall park or leave standing any motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, appliance, manufactured home or vehicle of any description on any Town highway right-of-way, public property or public parking lot in the Town for a period of 72 or more consecutive hour's in the same location, except that where more restrictive parking limits have been established, the more restrictive limits shall apply.
D. 
Removal of illegally parked vehicles.
(1) 
When any law enforcement officer shall find a vehicle standing upon a road, public property or public parking lot in violation of the provisions of this subsection, the officer is authorized to move such a vehicle or to require the operator in charge thereof to move such vehicle to a position permitted under this subsection. The officer may cause said vehicle to be removed to a proper impoundment and storage area where storage space is available and in such case the owner shall pay the costs of removing said vehicle and the storage fees on said vehicle before he may recover the possession thereof.
(2) 
Effective July 1, 2014, § 349.13(3m), Wis. Stats., shall also apply to vehicles parked on private property without authorization. If involved in or contacted regarding the removal process, the Police Department shall request the collection and payment by the towing service of the maximum service fee referenced in § 349.13(3m)(dm).
E. 
Abandoned vehicles.
(1) 
As provided for in § 342.40(1m), Wis. Stats., any vehicle left unattended for more than 72 hours on any public street or grounds, or on private property without permission of the owner or lessee, is deemed abandoned and constitutes a public nuisance.
(2) 
Any vehicle found abandoned in violation of this chapter may by impounded by the Town of Rome Police Department until lawfully claimed or disposed of pursuant to § 342.40(3)(c), Wis. Stats.
(3) 
The minimum period of storage of a vehicle deemed abandoned pursuant to this section shall be 10 days after notice has been sent by certified mail to the owner and lien holders of record regarding the right to reclaim the vehicle.
(4) 
Sale of an abandoned vehicle shall be by sealed bid. As an alternative, the Police Chief in his or her discretion may arrange for the sale of an abandoned vehicle by auction.
(5) 
The purchaser of any vehicle on sealed bid held pursuant to statute shall have 10 days to remove the vehicle from the storage area upon payment of storage fee. If not paid within 10 days after the sale, the purchaser shall forfeit all interests in the vehicle and the vehicle shall be deemed abandoned and may be sold again.
(6) 
Within five days after sale or disposition of a vehicle under this section, the Clerk shall advise the DOT of such sale or disposition on a form supplied by the DOT.
F. 
Vehicles not to block private drive or fire lane. No vehicle shall, at any time, be parked so as to unreasonably restrict the normal access to any private drive or fire lane. Said access shall be deemed to be unreasonably restricted if any vehicle is parked within four feet of either side of said access. Upon discovery by a police officer or upon complaint by the owner of any such blocked drive or fire lane, the police officer may order said vehicle towed from such position at the risk and expense of the owner of said vehicle.
G. 
Parking vehicle for repair or to display for sale prohibited. No person shall stand or park a vehicle on any highway, right-of-way or municipal parking lot in the Town for the purpose of repairing said vehicle or to display such vehicle for sale.
H. 
Posted limitations.
(1) 
The Town Board may designate certain highways or portions of highways, Town-owned or Town-operated parking lot(s) as no parking or no stopping or standing zones or as zones for parking by physically handicapped persons and may limit the hours in which the restrictions apply. The Town shall mark, by appropriate signs, each zone so designated in accordance with the provisions of § 349.13, Wis. Stats.
(2) 
The Chief of Police is hereby granted the authority, within the reasonable exercise of police power, to prohibit, limit the time or otherwise restrict the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles beyond the provisions of Chapter 346.
I. 
Enforcement.
(1) 
Persons cited for violation of nonmoving traffic offenses described and defined in this section may discharge the penalties thereof and avoid court prosecution by forwarding, within 10 days of the issuance of the citation, to the Town of Rome Police Department the penalty specified in the citation. If not timely paid, the citation shall provide that the penalty may be discharged by forwarding the amount indicated on the citation plus an additional late charge as per the bond schedule within 20 days of issuance.
(2) 
If the alleged violator does not deliver or mail a deposit as provided in Subsection I(1), within 20 days from the date of the citation, the Police Department may proceed under §§ 345.28(3) through 345.28(5), Wis. Stats.
(3) 
All officers receiving deposits for nonmoving traffic violations under this subsection shall pay over such deposit to the Town Clerk/Treasurer within seven days of receipt. Such payment shall be accompanied by an itemized statement for each deposit of the offense charged and the name of the depositor.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to permit any construction, compaction, earth-grading or farm machinery which is self-propelled and moves upon the surface of the earth and which is owned or controlled by him to stand for any period of time unattended without locking the ignition system or otherwise rendering said machinery inoperable so as to prevent any person unauthorized by the owner or individual in control thereof from starting said machinery.
A. 
Snow emergency declarations. A snow emergency exists in the Town whenever a snowfall during any period of 24 hours or less reaches a depth of three inches or more. Such emergency is declared to be a serious public hazard impairing transportation and public health, safety, and welfare for a period until such time as snow removal operations have been completed.
B. 
During snow emergencies, parking of vehicles, trailers, snowmobiles, ATVs, etc. on the pavement or shoulder of any Town road is prohibited until the Highway Department has plowed the road.
C. 
The Director of Public Works shall have the authority to declare a snow emergency.
[Amended 4-16-2020 by Ord. No. 20-05]
The use of compression brakes, commonly referred to as "Jake brakes," on any motor, shall be prohibited within the Town of Rome except in an emergency situation. Signs that read "No engine braking except in emergency" and comply with WIS DOT R10-64 shall be erected near the northern and southern limits of the Town along State Highway 13.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. If not defined herein, the word, term or phrase shall have the definition commonly accepted, including a relevant definition contained in the Wisconsin Statutes. When not inconsistent with the context, the words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory:
CUL-DE-SAC
A street having but one end open to traffic and the other end being terminated in a vehicular turnaround.
OCCUPANT
Any person occupying or having use of a building, structure, premises of any part thereof.
OPERATOR
Any person who has charge, care or control of a building, structure or premises or part thereof.
PARKING LOT
Any public or private land area where motor vehicles are parked or stored temporarily, but not including the wrecking of automobile or other vehicles or storage for the purpose of repair or wrecking.
PERSON
Includes a corporation, firm partnership, association, organization and any other group acting as a unit as well as individuals, including a personal representative, receiver or other representative appointed according to law. Whenever the term "person" is used in any section of this chapter prescribing a penalty or fine, as to partnerships or associations, the work shall include the partners or members thereof, and as to corporations, shall include the officers, agents or members thereof who are responsible for any violation of such section.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
A thing, act, occupation, condition or use of property, which shall continue for such length of time as to substantially annoy, injure or endanger the comfort, health, repose or safety of the public; in any way render the public insecure in life or in the use of property; greatly offend the public morals or decency; unlawfully and substantially interfere with, obstruct or tend to obstruct or render dangerous for passage any street, alley, highway, navigable body of water or other public way or the use of public property.
SIGN
Any medium, including its structure, words, letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, designs, trade names or trademarks by which anything is made known and which are used to advertise or promote an individual, firm, association, corporation, profession, business, commodity or product and which is visible from any public street or highway.
STREET
Any public highway or alley and shall mean the entire width between the boundary lines of any public way where any part thereof is open to the public for purposes of vehicular traffic.
TOWN
The Town of Rome, Adams County, Wisconsin, or any duly appointed designate thereof, including, but not limited to, the Town Board and Town committees.
TOWN BOARD or BOARD
The present governing body of the Town or any successors to the legislative power of said body, or any duly appointed designate thereof.
VEHICLE
A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or mobile home, whether or not such vehicle is registered under Wisconsin Law.