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City of Oneida, NY
Madison County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A. 
The terms used in this chapter shall be defined to include those meanings specifically set forth in the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York.
B. 
The following additional definitions shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
CONGESTED DISTRICT
That part of the City within the following boundaries:
Main Street from Stone Street to the Penn-Central Railroad Tracks; all of Phelps Street; all of Madison Street; all of Vanderbilt Avenue; James Street from Phelps Street to Elm Street; Central Avenue from Main Street to the west side of West Street; West Street with Lenox Avenue to Central Avenue; Lenox Avenue from Main Street to the west side of West Street; Washington Avenue from Main Street to Broad Street; Stone Street from Broad Street to Elizabeth Street; all of Cedar Street; William Street from Madison Street to Sherman Street; Sconondoa Street from Lake Street to the Ontario and Western Railroad; North Main Street from the Penn-Central Railroad Tracks north to Monahan Street.
A. 
A Traffic Violations Bureau of the City is hereby created and shall be administered by the City Chamberlain's office during the regular hours of said office.
B. 
The Traffic Violations Bureau shall have the jurisdiction and power prescribed by Article 14-B of the General Municipal Law.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter applicable to the drivers of vehicles upon the highways shall apply to drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the United States, this state or any county, city, town, district or any other political subdivision of the state, except as provided in this section and subject to such specific exceptions as are set forth in the Vehicle and Traffic Law with reference to authorized emergency vehicles.
B. 
Unless specifically made applicable, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to persons, teams, motor vehicles and other equipment while actually engaged in work on a highway.
C. 
The provisions of this section shall not relieve any person or team or any operator of a motor vehicle or other equipment while actually engaged in work on a highway from the duty to proceed at all times during all phases of such work with due regard for the safety of all persons nor shall this section protect such persons or teams or such operators of motor vehicles or other equipment from the consequences of their reckless disregard for the safety of others.
A. 
The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when involved in an emergency operation, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the conditions herein stated.
B. 
The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may:
(1) 
Stop, stand or park irrespective of the provisions of this chapter.
(2) 
Proceed past a steady red signal, a flashing red signal or a stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.
(3) 
Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as he does not endanger life or property.
(4) 
Disregard regulations governing directions of movement or turning in specified directions.
C. 
Except for an authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle, the exemptions herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle while in motion by bell, horn, siren, electronic device or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one light lamp so that from any direction, under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet from such vehicle, at least one red light will be displayed and visible.
D. 
An authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police, sheriff or deputy sheriff vehicle may exceed the maximum speed limits for the purpose of calibrating such vehicle's speedometer.
E. 
The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others.
Every person riding an animal or driving an animal-drawn vehicle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except those provisions of this chapter which by their very nature can have no application.
The Commissioner of Public Safety is authorized to mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at such places as he may deem advisable, consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
The Commissioner of Public Safety is hereby authorized to establish and to designate and shall hereafter maintain or cause to be maintained, by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at all intersections where, in his opinion, there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway and at such other places as he deems necessary.
A. 
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall make, promulgate and enforce, in the interests of public safety and convenience, rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, governing and designating parking, parking spaces, loading zones, safety zones, one-way traffic streets and through traffic streets. Any such rules and regulations shall be indicated on signs conspicuously placed or posted in or along the streets, highways and public squares or parts thereof to which the same are applicable.
B. 
The Commissioner of Public Safety is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the movement of traffic at intersections and requiring vehicles to stop, slow down or yield right-of-way and shall cause to be erected appropriate signs or traffic signals evidencing such rules and regulations. Such rules and regulations hereafter made by the Commissioner shall become effective upon his filing the same with the City Clerk and the erection of the aforesaid signs.
C. 
The Commissioner of Public Safety is hereby empowered to make and enforce regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of this chapter and to make temporary regulations, effective for not to exceed 48 hours, to cover emergencies or special conditions provided any such regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of the law or this chapter.
D. 
All rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this section shall be effective upon filing with the City Clerk and the posting of appropriate signs.
[As last amended amended 12-1-1992 by Ord. No. 92-06]
A. 
No vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle, shall be driven at a rate of speed greater than 55 miles per hour on the public highways in the city.
B. 
No vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle, shall be driven at a rate of speed greater than 30 miles per hour within the inside district, except those streets listed below:
(1) 
Lenox Avenue, from a point 684 feet west of Sayles Street to corporation tax district, 55 miles per hour.
(2) 
New York State Route No. 5 from the easterly City line west to a point 1,300 feet east of the intersection of said Route 5 and Sayles Street, 35 miles per hour; and from a point 1,300 feet east of the intersection of Route 5 and Sayles Street to a point 200 feet west of said intersection, 45 miles per hour, from a point 200 feet west of the intersection of Sayles and Route 5 to the corporation line, 55 miles per hour.
(3) 
Cobb Street, from the intersection of North Main Street westerly to the corporation line, 55 miles per hour.
(4) 
Sturm Road, 55 miles per hour.
(5) 
North Lake Street, from a point 700 feet north of Gladwell Avenue to the corporation line, 45 miles per hour.
(6) 
North Main Street, from a point 100 feet north of Conrail to the corporation line, 55 miles per hour.
(7) 
Williams Street, from the dead end at the Thruway to the corporation line, 55 miles per hour.
(8) 
Glenwood Avenue, also known as "Route 46," from the southerly side of New York State Route 5 to the corporation tax district line, 35 miles per hour.
(9) 
Allen Park Place, from Broad Street to Broadway, 25 miles per hour.
[Added 6-21-2001]
(10) 
Broadway, from Allen Park Place to Summit Avenue, 25 miles per hour.
[Added 6-21-2001]
(11) 
Summit Avenue, from Broadway to Seneca Street, 25 miles per hour.
[Added 6-21-2001]
C. 
The following streets in the outside district are hereby designated for lower speed limits as follows:
(1) 
Fitch Street, from the corporation line to its intersection with West Elm Street, 30 miles per hour.
(2) 
Grand Street, from the corporation line to its dead end at the railroad tracks, 30 miles per hour.
(3) 
Sweatman Avenue, 30 miles per hour.
(4) 
Lake Road, from the intersection with North Main Street westerly to a point 1800 feet north of the Erie Canal crossing, 40 miles per hour.
(5) 
Doran Road, 30 miles per hour.
[Amended 8-7-2012 by Ord. No. 12-04]
(6) 
Tanner Road, 30 miles per hour.
[Amended 8-7-2012 by Ord. No. 12-04]
(7) 
Old North Main Street, 30 miles per hour.
[Amended 8-7-2012 by Ord. No. 12-04]
(8) 
Palmer Drive and Oatman Circle, 30 miles per hour.
(9) 
Glenwood Avenue, also known as "Route 46," from the corporation tax district line to a point 0.2 mile south of the intersection of Fairview Avenue, 45 miles per hour.
(10) 
Hubbard Place, between Route 5 and West Elm Street, 30 miles per hour.
(11) 
Lake Street, between the corporation tax district line and the intersection of Route 46, 30 miles per hour.
(12) 
Upper Lenox Avenue (Merrillsville Road), between Route 5 and a point 0.6 mile south of Route 5, 30 miles per hour.
(13) 
Upper Lenox Avenue (Merrillsville Road), between a point 0.6 mile south of Route 5 and the southerly City line, 40 miles per hour.
(14) 
Brewer Road, between Mount Hope Avenue and a point 4200 feet south of Mount Hope Avenue, 25 miles per hour.
(15) 
Fairview Avenue.
[Amended 2-4-2003]
(a) 
Between Route 46 and a point 0.35 mile west of Route 46, 35 miles per hour.
(b) 
From a point 0.35 miles west of Route 46 west to the City line, 45 miles per hour.
(16) 
Mount Hope Avenue, westerly to a point 0.7 mile from its intersection with Route 46, 30 miles per hour.
[Amended 12-6-2000; 8-16-2011 by L.L. No. 6-2011]
(17) 
Schoolheimer Road, 40 miles per hour.
(18) 
Middle Road.
[Added 12-6-2000]
(a) 
From the northern City line on Middle Road to a point 5/10ths of a mile north of the intersection of Middle Road and Chapel Street, 45 miles per hour; and
(b) 
From a point 5/10ths of a mile north of the intersection of Middle Road and Chapel Street to the southern City line on Middle Road, 30 miles per hour.
D. 
The following area in the outside district is hereby declared to be an area speed zone of 30 miles per hour, bounded as follows:
Starting at the intersection of Oneida Creek with the southerly boundary line of the city; thence westerly along the southerly boundary line of the City to the point at which it intersects the northerly edge of Peterboro Road; thence along the northerly boundary of Peterboro Road to the intersection of the westerly boundary of Middle Road; thence northerly along the westerly boundary of Middle Road to the intersection of the southerly boundary of Union Street; thence westerly along the southerly boundary of Union Street a distance of 3/4 of a mile to a point; thence northerly and crossing Union Street at right angles to its center line to a point; thence northerly in a straight line to a point in the westerly boundary of the Middle Road located 6/10 of a mile north of Union Street; thence easterly at a right angle to Oneida Creek; thence southerly along Oneida Creek to the southerly boundary of the city.
E. 
School speed zones. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, no vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle, shall be driven at a rate of speed greater than 20 miles per hour along the following streets, which are hereby declared to be school speed zones:
[Amended 12-6-2000]
(1) 
Along a portion of Seneca Street from a point just south of the southerly intersection of Maple Drive and Seneca Street north to a point just south of the intersection of Summit Avenue and Seneca Street.
(2) 
Along a portion of Seneca Street, from a point at the northerly boundary of Belmont Avenue (at the northwest corner of its intersection with Seneca Street) to a point at the northerly boundary of Bates Avenue.
(3) 
Along a portion of Franklin Street at the northern boundary of Belmont Avenue north to a point 1/10th of a mile south of the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Franklin Street.
(4) 
All along East Avenue from the intersection of East Avenue and Elizabeth Street east to the east end of East Avenue.
(5) 
Along a portion of Elizabeth Street from the intersection of Elizabeth Street and Walnut Street north to a point 1/10th of a mile south of the intersection of the Main Street and Elizabeth Street at the north end of Main and Elizabeth Streets.
(6) 
Along a portion of East Walnut Street from a point just east of the intersection of Main Street and East Walnut Street east to a point on East Walnut Street 1/10th of a mile west of the intersection of East Walnut Street and Wilbur Street.
(7) 
Along a portion of North Broad Street just north of the intersection of North Broad Street and West Elm Street north to the intersection of North Broad Street and St. Joseph's Place.
Stop signs shall be erected so as to designate the following streets as through streets:
Broad Street
Elm Street from James Street to Warner Street
Lenox Avenue from City limits to Broad Street
Main Street
Madison Street
Sconondoa Street
Seneca Turnpike from Broad Street to New York, Ontario and Western Railroad tracks
Warner Street
Williams Street
No vehicle shall be operated in making a turn in any street so as to obstruct or interfere with other vehicles. No vehicles shall make a complete or U-turn on any street in the congested district.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 4-16-11, Special regulations for City hospital and related facilities, which immediately followed this section, was deleted 12-19-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000.
No person shall operate an automobile, motorcycle, bus or vehicle so out of repair or so loaded or in any manner as to create loud or unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling or other noise in the city. Noise of such character, intensity or duration as to endanger public comfort, peace or repose is declared to be a nuisance and prohibited.
Repairs to vehicles shall not be made in any street or public place, except in case of an emergency.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for the directing officer or the operator of any railroad locomotive train or car to direct the operation at or to operate the same in such a manner as to prevent the use of any street for purposes of travel for a period of time longer than five minutes.
B. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A, no owner, officer or employee of a railroad corporation who obstructs, or causes to be obstructed, any highway crossing shall be subject to any penalty where such person has no control over the situation causing the obstruction or where the locomotive, train or car cannot be moved without endangering the safety of the passengers, the public or freight.
[Amended 11-8-1995 by Ord. No. 95-04]
A. 
No person shall place, deposit, store or allow to remain upon any private property or land in the City of Oneida any abandoned motor vehicle or junked vehicle except when sheltered in a garage or other similar enclosure away from public view. Anyone who violates this section may be issued an appearance ticket with a court date scheduled at least two weeks from the date of occurrence. A verification of removal form will also be issued that allows the violator to, within 10 days of receipt of the appearance ticket, remove the vehicle(s) in violation and have the removal verified and the verification of removal form signed and returned to the court prior to their appearance date to have the charge dismissed and not have to appear in court. The form can be returned via mail, but must be postmarked four days prior to the court appearance date, otherwise the form must be hand delivered to the Police Department.
[Amended 11-7-2001; 1-5-2005 by Ord. No. 05-01]
B. 
The provisions of Subsection A shall not apply to commercial garages and new or used car dealers at their place of business. Any person wishing to display for sale, on their property, an unregistered motor vehicle will first obtain a permit from City Hall. The permit will allow a person to display for sale a vehicle, for up to 30 days, with no more than two sales per calendar year. The permit will be posted in the vehicle's front windshield. Any unregistered vehicle for sale without a permit or for longer than 30 days will be considered in violation of Subsection A above. Anyone wishing to store an unregistered seasonal use vehicle will also obtain a permit from City Hall. To store an unregistered seasonal use vehicle outside of a garage, the vehicle must be kept covered with a fitted cover, tarpaulin or similar opaque covering during the season or part of the year it is not licensed or intended for on-road operation The person having control of the vehicle must, upon request, show a valid registration for the vehicle showing the vehicle was registered within the previous 12 months. The vehicle must also be in operating condition.
[Amended 11-7-2001; 1-5-2005 by Ord. No. 05-01]
C. 
It shall be conclusively presumed that the person having control of the real property upon which the abandoned motor vehicle or junked car is placed, located or stored, whether as owner, occupant, lessee, agent or tenant, is the person who has permitted such abandoned motor vehicle or junked car to remain upon the premises.
D. 
Definitions.
(1) 
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle which is not operable or which has been abandoned, junked or discarded or stored in such a manner that the vehicle is not readily operable.
JUNKED CAR
Any remnant of a stripped motor vehicle which is not readily operable.
(2) 
Any motor vehicle which is older than seven model years and unlicensed shall also be deemed to be an abandoned motor vehicle or junked car.
E. 
It is a violation for anyone to display license plates on an unregistered vehicle when the vehicle is not registered and meets the criteria of an abandoned or junked vehicle.
[Amended 12-19-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000; 1-5-2005 by Ord. No. 05-01]
F. 
Penalties for offenses. Failure to comply with this section shall be deemed a violation, punishable by fine of not less than $150 nor more than $250 for a first offense; for a second conviction by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $400; and for a third conviction by a fine of not less than $400 nor more than $600 and/or 15 days imprisonment. Every day a violation of this section shall continue shall constitute a separate and punishable offense.
[Amended 12-19-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000; 11-7-2001]
G. 
Any vehicle that is in violation of this section and in which the responsible person has been ticketed, appeared in court, a fine or penalty was assessed and the vehicle remains on the property, or the person responsible for the violation cannot be located or identified, the Chief of Police may send a certified letter to the property owner where the vehicle is located, advising the property owner to have the vehicle removed within 10 days or the vehicle may be towed at the property owner's expense. Failure to pay for the tow bill may result in the cost being added to the property owner's tax bill.
[Added 1-5-2005 by Ord. No. 05-01]
[Amended 1-5-2005 by Ord. No. 05-01]
It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation to permit or keep, pile or store any motor vehicles or vehicle, or part thereof, unregistered, upon any municipal parking lot, street or public place within the City without authorization. Any vehicle owner that violates this section will be considered to be in violation of the Junk Vehicle Ordinance and the procedure in § 180-15A will be followed with the exception on the time for removal allowed to avoid a court appearance and have the case dismissed. The vehicle in violation will need to be removed within 24 hours of receipt of an appearance ticket. In addition, after 24 hours the vehicle will be considered a nuisance, and the Chief of Police or an agent thereof, is authorized to abate any such nuisance.
[Added 8-5-1986 by Ord. No. 86-03]
A. 
Through freight motor truck routes.
(1) 
Those routes including streets and parts of streets as may be periodically designated by regulation of the Commissioner and filed with the City Clerk, are hereby declared to be through freight motor truck routes.
(2) 
No through freight motor truck having a gross weight of vehicle plus load in excess of five tons or 10,000 pounds, said weight to be ascertained by computing the entire weight of a vehicle or truck plus load or, in the event that said vehicle is a tractor-trailer, then by computing the entire weight of the tractor and trailer plus load, shall be permitted, driven or operated on any public streets of the inside corporate district of the City of Oneida other than those established by ordinance as through freight motor truck routes; provided, however, that adequate visible signs shall be posted at intersections marking the street so designated. In the case of the existing railroad bridges on South Main Street and Lenox Avenue, a sign shall be placed on the respective bridges to indicate that trucks over the allowed height shall find an alternative route around the bridge. Such sign shall state "Trucks over (specified height) in height use Alternate Route." This sign shall exist until such time as the bridges are removed.
(3) 
The provisions hereof shall not be construed to prevent deliveries of merchandise or other property along any public street from which such vehicles are excluded; provided, however, that freight motor trucks (in excess of 10,000 pounds) must use the most direct route to and from the through truck route nearest their destination unless, in the interest of safety, a variation is approved by the Public Safety Commission and the Chief of Police after cause is shown for the variation. The provisions hereof shall not be construed to prevent the normal operation of trash and garbage pickup, nor shall it apply to emergency, fire, police, rescue or public utility vehicles.
[Amended 12-19-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000]
B. 
Motor trucks not to be parked. No motor truck or tractor-trailer in excess of 35 feet in length shall be parked or left standing on any street of the inside corporate district of this City for any purpose except in case of emergency or when otherwise directed by a police officer.
C. 
Trailers not to be disconnected. No trailer section of a tractor-trailer vehicle or any other trailer shall be parked or left standing on any street or public place of the inside corporate district of this City unless connected to a tractor section or towing vehicle and in condition to be moved at any time.
D. 
Through freight motor truck routes.
(1) 
North Main Street, Main Street, Glenwood Avenue (Rt. 46) from the Thruway bridge on the north, to Fairview Avenue on the south.
(2) 
Genesee Street (Rt. 5) from Stoneleigh Drive to the east City line.
(3) 
Lenox Avenue (Rt. 365A) from its intersection with Stone Street to the east City line.
E. 
Violations. Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed an offense, punishable as follows:
[Amended 12-19-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000]
(1) 
For the first or second offense committed within five years, not less than $25, nor more than $100.
(2) 
For the third or subsequent offense committed within five years, not less than $50, nor more than $150.
[Added 7-15-1988 by Ord. No. 88-07]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park any truck weighing in excess of 2 1/2 tons or 5,000 pounds, exclusive of load, in any mapped, residential district of the City except when sheltered in a garage or other similar closed building and the truck is concealed from public view. Any such building shall conform to all zoning requirements for that district. This provision shall not apply to trucks otherwise lawfully and actually engaged in pickup, delivery or provision of service, to on-duty or on-call towing, emergency, fire, police or rescue vehicles or to recreational vehicles.
B. 
Failure to comply with the provisions of Subsection A hereof shall be deemed a violation, punishable by fine of not less than $10 nor more than $100. Each day the truck is so parked shall be deemed a separate and punishable offense.