A. 
State definitions adopted. Words or phrases in the Vehicle and Traffic Law have the same meanings where used in this chapter.
[Amended 7-30-1979 by Ord. No. 79-76]
B. 
Terms not defined by state law. The following words and phrases which are not defined by Article 1 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
[Amended 7-30-1979 by Ord. No. 79-76]
BUS STOP
The area or space of the roadway adjacent to the curb officially set apart and designated as a "bus stop" for the purpose of loading and unloading passengers from buses and in which no other parking, standing or stopping is permitted, except as hereinafter provided.
OFFICIAL TIME STANDARD
Whenever certain hours are named herein, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in the City.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Any authorized police officer with authority to direct traffic and to make arrests for violations of the traffic regulations.
C. 
Definitions from other traffic ordinances. Whenever words and phrases used herein are not defined herein but are defined in any traffic ordinance of this City, such definitions shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein.
[Amended 5-3-1971 by Ord. No. 15450; 10-12-1976 by Ord. No. 17084; 6-19-1978 by Ord. No. 78-49; 9-29-1980 by Ord. No. 80-133; 12-2-1981 by Ord. No. 81-01; 6-17-1985 by Ord. No. 85-54]
A. 
The Council of the City of Schenectady shall determine the fines to be paid for violation of any provisions of this chapter.
B. 
For the following violations, the Council of the City of Schenectady determines that the fines shall be as follows:
[Amended 4-29-1991 by Ord. No. 91-06; 2-16-1993 by Ord. No. 93-05; 2-23-1998 by Ord. No. 98-07; 5-14-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-8; 1-13-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-1; 3-10-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-5; 6-14-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-09; 7-19-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-13; 1-10-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-02; 10-28-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-15]
Offense
Fine
Meter violation
$50
Overtime parking
$50
All-night parking
$50
Improper parking
$50
Wrong way to curb
$50
Between curb and sidewalk
$50
End of island or wall
$50
No standing
$50
Double parking
$50
Blocking driveway
$35
No parking
$50
Intersection parking
$50
Sidewalk parking
$50
No stopping
$50
Snow removal
$50
Blocking traffic
$50
Priority street
$75
Fire hydrant
$115
Fire lane
$100
Handicapped parking
$150 (plus $30 state surcharge)
Handicapped access aisle parking
$150 (plus $30 state surcharge)
Abandoned vehicle
$100
Snow emergency
$100
Other violations of this chapter not specifically set forth herein
$40
C. 
A fine is to be paid within 20 days of the date of violation. Upon the failure to pay the fine within 20 days of the date of violation, the fine shall be doubled and a warrant of arrest may be issued.
[Amended 11-6-1995 by Ord. No. 95-31[1]; 3-24-1997 by Ord. No. 97-06; 2-23-1998 by Ord. No. 98-07]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was vetoed by the Mayor on 10-25-1995, which veto was overridden on 11-6-1995, at which time said ordinance became effective.
D. 
2003 Parking fine amnesty.
[Added 3-24-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-8]
(1) 
The City of Schenectady hereby establishes a limited amnesty program for parking ticket fines upon parking tickets which were issued prior to December 31, 2002, and which fines are unpaid as of the effective date of this subsection.
(2) 
Outstanding parking fines due to the City of Schenectady for applicable tickets may be paid by payment of the original fine without additional penalty if such payment is made on or before the close of business on June 1, 2003. As a condition of amnesty for tickets issued prior to the previous amnesty program any such payment shall, for tickets issued prior to December 31, 1996, include the simultaneous payment of an administrative fee of $25 per ticket as an offset against the administrative cost of implementing the parking amnesty program.
(3) 
Any payment of a fine or the administrative fee which shall be made in a manner other than by cash and which instrument is returned for any reason as uncollectible shall result in the reinstitution of the ticket with penalties and with the addition of the administrative fee, and such ticket shall not be again eligible for amnesty.
(4) 
Any payment plan or compromise entered into prior to the effective date of this subsection is eligible for inclusion in the amnesty program.
E. 
Any fine stemming from a violation of any part of this chapter of the Code which has not been paid within six months of the date on which payment to the City is required shall have the cost of collecting the fine added to the total amount due to the City. If the City contracts with an external party for the collection of delinquent fines, the cost of collecting the fine shall be whatever costs are associated with the performance of that external party.
[Added 8-24-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-13]
  Officers of the Police Department or such officers as are assigned by the Chief of Police are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance with the traffic laws, provided that, in the event of fire, vehicle accidents or other emergency, as to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.
A. 
Every person shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device applicable thereto in accordance with the provisions of this chapter in the manner prescribed by and subject to the exceptions specified in the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York.
B. 
Every person shall obey any properly posted provision of this chapter applicable thereto in the manner prescribed by this chapter when such obedience is not required by the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government or any state, county or City government or public authority, and it shall be unlawful for any such driver to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter or by federal or state statute.
Every person propelling any pushcart, wagon or riding a bicycle or an animal upon a roadway, and every person driving any animal-drawn vehicle shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of any vehicle, except those provisions of this chapter which, by their very nature, can have no application and except as persons riding bicycles are subject to additional or special rules by state law or this chapter.
The provisions of this chapter regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall apply to authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in this chapter, except as follows: a driver when operating any such vehicle in an emergency, except when otherwise directed by a police officer, may:
A. 
Park or stand notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.
C. 
Exceed the established speed limits so long as he does not endanger life or property.
D. 
Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions as long as he does not endanger life or property.
E. 
An authorized emergency vehicle when equipped with a gong or siren shall sound such gong or siren when acting in an emergency.
No person shall operate or park on any street any vehicle for the primary purpose of advertising, except in those cases where a permit has been issued for the purpose by the City Engineer.