HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-010 Cruising j r S , ;a'
• ORDINANCE NO. 94 10
AN ORDINANCE relating to traffic; prohibiting motor vehicles from cruising
designated routes within the City of Yakima, and enacting a new
section, Section 9.25 010 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, certain streets of the City of Yakima have become favorite sites for
persons to congregate in large numbers and, together with their vehicles, engage in
an activity known as "cruising ", and
WHEREAS, this activity has associated with it numerous instances of alcohol
and drug violations, assaults, and property damage; and
WHEREAS, this activity has caused extreme and continuous congestion of the
public streets resulting in obstruction of emergency vehicles and preventing or
discouraging customers from reaching businesses located along these routes and
disturbing traffic flow within the City of Yakima, and
WHEREAS, this activity constitutes a nuisance, and a danger to the safety of
0 persons and property within the City of Yakima, now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA.
Section 1 Section 9 25 010 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby
enacted as a new section to read as follows:
"9 25 010 Cruising prohibited.
A. No person shall drive or permit a motor vehicle under that
person's care, custody, or control to be driven past a traffic control
point more than two (2) times in the same direction of travel within a
two (2) hour period in or around a posted no cruising area so as to
contribute to traffic congestion, obstruction of streets, sidewalks, or
parking lots, impediment of access to shops, restaurants, or other
buildings open to the public, or interference with the use of property
or the conduct of business in the area adjacent thereto.
B The police chief or his designee shall determine when an
area has become so congested by traffic as to present a danger of traffic
congestion, obstruction of streets, sidewalks, or parking lots,
impediment of access to shops, restaurants, or other buildings open to
the public, or interference with the use of property or conduct of
business in the area adjacent thereto or that emergency vehicles
cannot respond in that area within a reasonable period of time. The
police chief or his designee shall then direct that the no cruising signs
shall be erected or installed and maintained until the congestion has
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lessened to an appreciable degree. The chief of police may declare all or
a portion of any street or way open to the public to be a no cruising area
when.
1 Traffic congestion has slowed average vehicle speed to less
than two - thirds the posted speed limit and the congestion is
caused in whole or in substantial part by cruising; and
2. The congestion significantly interferes with passage of
vehicles being driven to and from locations within the area, or
3. In areas which contain transit routes, buses, or trolleys
are or would be substantially delayed, or
4 The congestion is likely to prevent or substantially delay
emergency vehicles from responding to locations within the
area, or from passing through the area.
The designation of a street or way open to the public as a no
cruising area shall remain in effect for a period four (4) hours, unless
withdrawn earlier or extended for additional four (4) hour periods by
the chief of police.
G At every point where a public street becomes or provides
ingress to a no cruising area, there shall be posted a sign which reads as
follows. NO CRUISING AREA. No person shall drive or permit a motor
vehicle under that person's care, custody, or control to be driven past a
traffic control point more than two (2) times in the same direction of
travel within a two (2) hour period in or around this area.
D. A traffic control point as used in this section means any
point or points established by the police department for the purpose of
monitoring cruising within a designated no cruising area.
E. No violation shall occur except upon the third passage of a
motor vehicle by the same traffic control point in the same direction of
travel within the aforementioned two (2) hour period.
F This section shall not apply to in- service emergency
vehicles, police vehicles, taxi cabs for hire, buses, trolleys, and other
vehicles being driven for business purposes.
G. Penalty A violation of this ordinance shall be an
infraction subject to a penalty of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00)
Section 2 This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its
passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter
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PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 1st day of MARCH
1994
Q t. t4e,t,„,ei,
ATTEST Mayor
e e- 6-e c-,-,-,e -
City Clerk
Publication Date: 3 -4 -94
Effective Date: 3 -31 -94
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