[Adopted as Ch. 61 of the 1975 Municipal
Code]
The purpose of this article is to protect the
public health, welfare and safety by regulating and restricting the
operation of snowmobiles on public highways and places in the City
of Ithaca in a manner which will be compatible with the use of such
highways and places for vehicular and pedestrian travel and other
uses and which will promote the safe and proper use of snowmobiles
for recreation and commerce and minimize detrimental effects of such
use on the environment and inhabitants of the City of Ithaca.
[Amended 8-5-1992 by L.L. No. 3-1992]
The terms, words and phrases used in this chapter
shall have the same meanings as such terms, words and phrases as defined
in § 21.05 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Law.
[Amended 8-5-1992 by L.L. No. 3-1992]
In addition to the provisions of Titles D and
E of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law and the rules
and regulations of the State Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation, the provisions of this chapter shall be applicable
to the operation of snowmobiles within the City of Ithaca.
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate any snowmobile, except as provided in § 316-5, on, over or across any public way or public lands, highways, roads, streets, avenues, alleys, public places, public driveways, parks, waters or other property of or owned by the City. It is hereby determined that outside banks and shoulders of all City streets and highways are impassable or nonexistent.
A snowmobile may be operated on the public streets
or highways of the City under the following conditions only:
A.
Emergency: in an officially declared snow emergency
in the City for the purpose of emergency travel only, during the period
of time when and at locations where snow upon the highways renders
travel by automobiles impractical, as to declared and permitted by
the City Manager or other authorized person. A snowmobile may also
be operated on a street or highway in the City in emergency situations
when the specific travel for a specific purpose is authorized or directed
by a state or local police officer, the Highway Superintendent or
the City Manager.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by L.L. No. 2022-07]
B.
Road crossings. Snowmobiles may take a direct crossing
across streets and highways in the City as authorized by Subdivision
3 of § 25.05 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Law.
[Amended 8-5-1992 by L.L. No. 3-1992]
C.
Special events. Snowmobiles may be operated on streets
and highways in the City at times and in places relating to a special
event as defined in § 21.05 of the Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation Law and as authorized by the State Commissioner
of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
[Amended 8-5-1992 by L.L. No. 3-1992]
Whenever the operation of a snowmobile is permitted
in the City, as provided in this article, the following conditions
and restrictions are hereby imposed on all such snowmobile operations:
A.
Nuisance. No person shall operate a snowmobile on
public or private lands at such hours, in such places or in such a
manner as to disturb the quiet or peace of the people or to interfere
with or damage property or cause personal injury.
B.
Unattended snowmobiles. It shall be unlawful for any
owner or operator to leave or allow a snowmobile to be left unattended
on any City highway or public place while the motor is running or
with the key for starting the same left in the ignition or elsewhere
in said snowmobile.
C.
Obedience to traffic regulations. Each person operating
a snowmobile on any City highway shall observe all vehicular traffic
signs and signals and all other rules and regulations applicable to
vehicular traffic and shall obey the orders and directions of any
state or local police or other law enforcement officer authorized
to direct or regulate traffic.
