Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
City of Williston, ND
Williams County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-1, 7-27-1976; Ord. No. 527, § 1, 11-23-1976]
No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. Consistent with the foregoing, every person shall drive at a safe and appropriate speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railroad grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, and when special hazards exist with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. Any person who shall drive a vehicle upon a highway or private or public property open to the public for the operation of motor vehicles without heed to the requirements or restrictions of this section shall have committed careless driving and shall be assessed a fee of up to $30.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-4, 7-27-1976]
The speed limitations provided for in this article shall not apply to Class A authorized emergency vehicles. The exemptions provided for in this section shall not protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-6, 7-27-1976]
The traffic engineer or authorized person may regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner at speeds slightly at variance from the speeds otherwise applicable within the district or at intersections and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-8, 7-27-1976]
The speed of any motor vehicle may be checked by the use of radio microwaves or other electrical device. The results of such checks shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of the speed of such motor vehicle in any court or legal proceedings where the speed of the motor vehicle is at issue. The driver of any such motor vehicle may be arrested without a warrant under this section, provided the arresting officer is in uniform or displays his badge of authority; provided that such officer has observed the record of the speed of such motor vehicle by the radio microwaves or other electrical device, or has received a radio message from the officer who observed the speed of the motor vehicle recorded by the radio microwaves or other electrical device.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-2, 7-27-1976; Ord. No. 979, 10-22-2013]
(a) 
Subject to the provisions of § 10-150, and except in those instances where a lower speed is specified in this chapter, it presumably shall be lawful for the driver of a vehicle to drive the same at a speed not exceeding:
(1) 
Twenty miles an hour when approaching within 50 feet of a grade crossing of any steam, electric or street railway when the driver's view is obstructed. A driver's view shall be deemed to be obstructed when at any time during the last 200 feet of his approach to such crossing he does not have a clear and uninterrupted view of such railway crossing and of any traffic on such railway for a distance of 400 feet in each direction from such crossing;
(2) 
Twenty miles an hour when passing a school during school recess or while children are going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours;
(3) 
Twenty miles an hour when approaching within 50 feet and in traversing an intersection of highways when the driver's view is obstructed. A driver's view shall be deemed to be obstructed when at any time during the last 50 feet of his approach to such intersection, he does not have a clear and uninterrupted view of such intersection and of the traffic upon all of the highways entering such intersection for a distance of 200 feet from such intersection;
(4) 
Twenty miles an hour when the driver's view of the highway ahead is obstructed within a distance of 100 feet;
(5) 
Twenty-five miles an hour on any highway in a business district or in a residence district or in a public park, unless a different speed limit is designated and posted by local authorities; and
(6) 
Fifty-five miles an hour under other circumstances, unless otherwise permitted, restricted or required by conditions.
(b) 
The Director may designate and post special areas of State highways where lower speed limits apply. Differing limits may be established for different times of the day within highway construction zones which are effective when posted upon appropriate fixed or variable speed limit signs.
(c) 
Except as provided by law, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed that is unsafe or at a speed exceeding the speed limit prescribed by law or established pursuant to law.
(d) 
In charging a violation of the provisions of this section, the complaint shall specify the speed at which the defendant is alleged to have driven and the speed which this section describes shall be prima facie lawful at the time and place of the alleged offense.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-3, 7-27-1976; Ord. No. 527, § 2, 12-1-1976]
Subject to the subsection above, the following speed limits within the City limits are established, and it shall be prima facie unlawful for anyone to exceed them:
30 miles per hour
East Broadway from University Avenue to City limits; University Avenue from Broadway to north City limits; Second Street West from Second Avenue West to west City limits; Second Avenue West from Eleventh Street West to 18th Street West; 11th Street West from Second Avenue West to west City limits
35 miles per hour
Second Avenue West from 18th Street to 26th Street
25 miles per hour
All streets and avenues not listed above
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-3, 7-27-1976]
(a) 
Whenever the City, on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, determines that the maximum speed permitted under this chapter is greater or less than is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon a highway or part of a highway, the City may determine and declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit thereon which:
(1) 
Decreases the limit at intersections;
(2) 
Increases the limit within an urban district but not to more than 55 miles per hour; or
(3) 
Decreases the limit outside an urban district, but not to less than 35 miles per hour.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-3, 7-27-1976]
Not more than six alterations of the maximum speed permitted authorized in this article shall be made per mile along a street or highway, except in the case of reduced limits at intersections, and the difference between adjacent limits shall not be more than 10 miles per hour.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-3, 7-27-1976]
The City shall determine by an engineering and traffic investigation the proper maximum speed for arterial streets and shall declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit thereon which may be greater or less than the minimum speed permitted under this chapter for an urban district.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-3, 7-27-1976]
Any alteration of maximum limits on state highways or extensions thereof in the City shall not be effective until such alteration has been approved by the state highway commissioner.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-3, 7-27-1976]
Any altered limit established as authorized in this article shall be effective at all times or during hours of darkness or at other times as may be determined when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon such street or high-way.
No person shall engage in exhibition driving of any vehicle on a highway, street, alley, sidewalk or any public or private parking lot or area in a race, nor shall any person engage in a speed competition, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance or exhibition of speed or acceleration. Any person who violates this section shall be assessed a fee of $50 if engaged in exhibition driving and assessed a fee of $100 if engaged in drag racing or a race.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-7, 7-27-1976]
As used in § 10-161:
DRAG RACE
The operation of two or more vehicles from a point side-by-side by accelerating rapidly in a competitive attempt to cause one vehicle to outdistance the other; or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course from the same point to the same point for the purpose of comparing the relative speed or powers of acceleration of such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.
EXHIBITION DRIVING
Driving a vehicle in a manner which disturbs the peace by creating or causing unnecessary engine noise, tire squeal, skid or slide upon acceleration or braking; or driving and executing or attempting one or a series of unnecessarily abrupt turns.
RACE
The use of one or more vehicle in an attempt to outgain, outdistance or to arrive at a given distance ahead of another vehicle or vehicles; or the use of one or more vehicles to willfully prevent another vehicle from passing the racing vehicle or vehicles, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of the persons driving the vehicles over a long distance driving route.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-7, 7-27-1976]
Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting drag racing, exhibition driving or similar events when carried out in an organized manner on a track or other privately owned area specifically set aside and used solely for such purposes by drivers of motor vehicles, including snowmobiles.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-5, 7-27-1976]
No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.
[Ord. No. 521, § 5-5, 7-27-1976]
Whenever the state highway commissioner and the superintendent of the highway patrol, acting jointly, or the City, determine on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that slow speeds on any highway or part of a highway impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the commissioner and superintendent or the City may determine and declare a minimum speed limit below which no person shall drive a vehicle except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law, and that limit shall be effective when posted upon appropriate fixed or variable signs.
[Ord. No. 878, 12-28-2004]
No person shall operate a motor vehicle in the alleys of this City at a speed greater than 15 miles per hour.
[Ord. No. 880, 1-25-2005; Ord. No. 903, 5-27-2008]
The fees for a noncriminal disposition pursuant to § 10-166 shall be as follows:
Speed
(mph over speed limit)
Fee
1 — 5
$5
6 — 10
$5 plus $1/each mph over 5 mph over limit
11 — 15
$10 plus $1/each mph over 10 mph over limit
16 — 20
$15 plus $2/each mph over 15 mph over limit
21 — 25
$25 plus $3/each mph over 20 mph over limit
26 — 35
$40 plus $3/each mph over 25 mph over limit
36 — 45
$70 plus $3/each mph over 35 mph over limit
46 plus
$100 plus $5/each mph over 45 mph over limit