CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

Department:	City Attorney’s Office		Commission Meeting Date:  August 7, 2018
Staff Contact:	Maria Garcia
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:
Adopt on first reading Ordinance 9522 adopting the “2018 Standard Traffic Ordinance, Edition 2018”
Executive Summary:		Each year, the City of Lawrence adopts the most recent version of the Standard Traffic Ordinance (STO) prepared by the League of Kansas Municipalities. The STO is a model traffic code based upon Kansas state law, and its adoption allows for the prosecution of most traffic violations in our municipal court. New editions are required annually in order to respond to the changes made to the traffic laws each legislative session. Ordinance 9522 adopts the 2018 version. This year’s edition makes eight amendments to the provisions listed below, and changes are summarized after the Section number. All changes will be reviewed with the police department. Section 1 (Definitions). A definition for “waste collection” vehicle is added. Section 30 (Driving under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs; Penalties). Changes the age for which a person can obtain an additional penalty for having a minor in the vehicle while driving under the influence, from 14 years of age to 18; adds a requirement for the court to report to the state every conviction and diversion, including any finding regarding the alcohol concentration of the offender’s blood or breath; amends the definition of a prior comparable “conviction;” makes other minor miscellaneous changes related to numbering and internal references to other statutes. Section 30.1 (Driving Commercial Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs; Penalties). Adds language related to violations of comparable offenses; changes the age for which a person can obtain an additional penalty for having a minor in the vehicle while driving under the influence, from 14 years of age to 18; makes other minor miscellaneous changes related to numbering and internal references to other statutes. Section 40.1 (Passing a Stationary Waste Collection Vehicle). This is a new section that requires any person approaching a waste collection vehicle that is obviously engaged in waste collection and which has hazard warning signal lamps on to use due regard for the safety of other persons and to pass only if there are at least two lanes of travel. Section 112.1 (Littering from a Motor Vehicle). This is a new section that prohibits any person from throwing, placing, or dropping litter or allowing liter to be thrown from a motor vehicle. Section 114.4 (Unlawful Operation of a Golf Cart). If a city first allows it by ordinance, a person may drive a golf cart on city streets provided that the golf cart is equipped with specific lighting (as required for motorcycles) and a slow-moving vehicle emblem. Section 174 (Horns). Adds a new subsection that waste collection trucks be equipped with vehicular hazard warning signal lamps to alert other drivers to exercise unusual care in operating around it. Hazard warning signal lamps with such warning must be displayed on the front of the vehicle and shall display simultaneous flashing amber lights (unless the vehicle was made before 1969, and then it can have white or amber lights or any color in between). Lamps must be on the back as well and must be either amber or red or any color in between. The lamps must be visible from at least 500 feet away in normal sunlight. Section 194 (Driving While License Canceled, Suspended, or Revoked; Penalty). Adds an internal citation referencing a section from another statute.
Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor		Core Services
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):		There is no fiscal impact to the City for any of these changes.
Attachments:		Ordinance No. 9522

Reviewed By: (for CMO use only)

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