CHAPTER 71: TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
71.01 Traction vehicles and the like
71.02 Restricted use of street
71.03 Driving in alleys
71.05 Motor vehicle noise
Cross-reference:
Abandoned motor vehicles, see Chapter 90
Adoption of state highway traffic regulations, § 70.01
§ 71.01 TRACTION VEHICLES AND THE LIKE.
No person shall drive or move on any paved or bituminous or tar-treated highway, or on any bridge, any traction engine or vehicle equipped with mud-hooks, lugs, cogs, flanges, or other hard protuberances upon the bearing surface of the wheels, or tracks in case of tractors of the so-called caterpillar type, without first providing temporary protective tracks of planking at least two inches thick or other suitable material sufficient to protect pavement or bridges from damage; provided, however, that no protective tracks shall be required if the Director of Public Works or City Engineer shall issue a written permit to the person driving or moving the traction engine or vehicle stating that protective tracks are not necessary.
('82 Code, § 901.02) Penalty, see § 71.99
§ 71.02 RESTRICTED USE OF STREETS.
(A) Damage. Whenever any street because of deterioration, rain, snow, or other climatic conditions will be seriously damaged or destroyed unless traffic thereon is prohibited or reduced, the Director of Public Works may restrict the operation of vehicles upon the street or impose weight restrictions upon the vehicles to be operated thereon.
(B) Notice. The Director of Public Works shall erect or cause to be erected and maintained signs plainly indicating the prohibited or restricted act at each end of that portion of any street affected thereby and the prohibition or restriction shall not be effective unless and until the signs are erected and maintained.
('82 Code, § 901.08) Penalty, see § 71.99
§ 71.03 DRIVING IN ALLEYS.
No person shall drive a motor vehicle in any alley in the city at a speed greater than 15 miles per hour. All motor vehicles being driven in alleys shall be brought to a complete stop before crossing any public sidewalks or street.
('82 Code, § 901.09) Penalty, see § 71.99
§ 71.04 MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE.
(A) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following phrases are defined as follows:
ENGINE RETARDING BRAKE. A Dynamic Brake, Jake Brake, Jacobs Brake, C‑brake, Paccar Brake, transmission brake, or other similar engine retarding brake system which alters the normal compression of the engine and subsequently releases that compression.
ABNORMAL OR EXCESSIVE NOISE.
(1) Distinct and loudly audible noise that unreasonably annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort and repose of any person or precludes a person's enjoyment of property or affects the property's value;
(2) Noise in excess of that permitted by M.S. § 169.69, as it may be amended from time to time, which requires every motor vehicle to be equipped with a muffler in good working order; or
(3) Noise in excess of that permitted by M.S. § 169.693 and Minnesota Rules parts 7030.1000 through 7030.1050, as this statute and these rules may be amended from time to time, which establish motor vehicle noise standards.
(B) Prohibited exhaust and noise. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge the exhaust or permit the discharge of the exhaust from any motor vehicle except through a muffler that effectively prevents abnormal or excessive noise and complies with all applicable state laws and regulations.
(C) Prohibited brake noise and exhaust. It shall be unlawful for the operator of any truck to intentionally use an engine retarding brake on any public highway, street, parking lot, or alley within the city which causes abnormal or excessive noise from the engine because of an illegally modified or defective exhaust system, except in an emergency.
(D) Statutes adopted by reference. M.S. §§ 169.69 and 169.693 (motor vehicle noise limits) and Minnesota Rules parts 7030.1000 through 7030.1050, as these statutes and rules may be amended from time to time, are hereby adopted by reference.
(E) Signs to be posted. Signs stating “VEHICLE NOISE LAWS ENFORCED” may be installed at locations deemed appropriate by the City Council to advise motorists of the prohibitions contained in this section, except that no sign stating “VEHICLE NOISE LAWS ENFORCED” shall be installed on a state highway without a permit from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The provisions of this section are in full force and effect even if no signs are installed.
Penalty, see § 71.99
§ 71.99 PENALTY.
Whoever violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished in accordance with § 10.99.