HomeMy WebLinkAbout38.72 ORDINANCE NO. 38.72
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA AMENDING
CHAPTER 9 OF THE SARATOGA CITY CODE, WHICH CHAPTER
IS ENTITLED "MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC" BY ADDING
ARTICLE IX THERETO REGULATING THE OFF-STREET OPERATION
OF VEHICLES IN THE CITY OF SARATOGA
The City Council of the City of Saratoga does herby ordain as follows:
Section 1. Purpose
The City Council of the City of Saratoga hereby finds and determines
that the off-street operation of vehicles in this Cit~ other than as set
forth in the exemptions hereinaft~r prescribed, creates unnecessary, excessive
and annoying noise, dust and fumes, land'exposes both private ahd public
property to the dangers of fire and soil erosion, all of.which adversely
affect the public peace, health~ welfare and safety and all of which should
be regulated for the protection of the public as hereinafter set forth.
Section 2. Article IX is hereby added to Chapter 9 of the Saratoga City
Code, said Article and its sections and subsections to read as follows:
ARTICLE IX
OFF-STREET VEHICLE OPERATION
Sec. 9-200. Vehicle Definition.
As used in this Article, a "vehicle" is a~y device by which any person or
property may be propelled, moved or drawn, excepting a device moved by human
power. The term vehicle includes~' but is not limited to, the following
illustrative examples: automobile, RV, ATV, 4-wheel.driye, motorcycle, motor-
driven cycle, and any motor vehicle as d~fined in the Vehicle. Code of the State of
California
Sec~ 9j201~ Off-Street Vehicle Regulations.
(a) It shall be unlawful ~or'any person to use or operate on any
p~blic or private properKy {n the City 6f Saratoga any vehicle for which no
chrrent permit has been issued fn accord with this article.
(b) It shall be unlawful for.any person to use or operate on any
public or private properKy in the City of Saratoga any vehicle which does
not comply with the specifications established in Section 9-205.
Sec. 9-202. Permit ProvisionS.
A permit shall be issued by the City Clerk upon application by the
owner or other person in lawful possession of such vehicle and upon finding
and determination that (a) the owner or owners of the real property concerned,
or all of the persons in lawful possession thereof, have consented in writing
to the ~roposed operation, and (b) the property concerned is a~' least 500
feet from any residence, church, school or place of assemblage and (c) the
Chief of the Fire District having jurisdiction of the property concerned has
certified that the proposed operation will not create a fire hazard, and
(d) the Director of Public Works has certified that the proposed operation will
not adversely affect public property, and (e) the Code Enforcement Officer has
certified that the proposed operation will not be in violatio~ of any other
law or ordinance of the City of SaraEoga, and (f) the vehicle has received
certification by the Santa Clara County Sheriff per Section 9j205 hereof.
Each permit shall specify the area of permitted operation and the period of
its validity, and Shall further set forth that the City of Saratoga makes
no representation as to the safety of persons or property, and that any and
all risks involved in such off street operation are specifically assumed by
the applicant and by the property owner or other responsible Rersons in lawful
possession of said property'.
Sec. 9-203. Exemptions.
Exempt from the regulations in section 9-201 (a) are the~following:
(a) Operation under the State of California Vehicle Code of a
vehicle havingl. vaI~ motor vehicle registration driven by a person
possessing a valid operator's license upon the public streets, and highways
of the City of Saratoga and for pormal ingress and egress upon private and
public property where driveways and parking places are used in a reasonable
and customafy~manner. e~
(b) Vehicles ~esi~ned primarily for agricultural, horticultural or
construction purposes and while being used in the o~dinaryand normal and
lawful operation in such agricultural, horticultural or construction purposes.
(c) Operation of vehicles on private vehicular rights of way by those
having ownership thereof or an easement or license so to do.
(d) Operation of a vehicle by a public employee acting within the course
and scope of his employment.
Sec. 9-204. Responsibility of Parents and Guardians.
It shall be unlawful for any parent, guardian or other adult person having
custody, care or control of any minor under the age of eighteen (18) years
to allow or permit such minor to violate any provision of Section 9-201
hereinabove set forth.
Sec. 9-205. Permit Requirements and Specifications.
Certification by the Sheriff's Department for permit as provided by this
chapter will require that each vehicle for which an application is made (a)
~-be equipped with a ~V~lld' Off-Highway identification plate or device as described
by Section 38010 VC, and (b) be equipped with service brakes as requiredby
Section 26311 VC, and (c) be equipped with an adequate.muffler as described
by Section 27150 VC which muffler is capable of maintaining a sound level not
greater than 83 dbA under any condition of grade,' load, accelleration, or
decelleration (Off-Highway exceptions to 27~50 VC notwithstanding) and each
motorcycle be: (d) equipped with an adequat~ spark arrester as required by
'Section 4442 Public Resources Code, and (e) equipped with ball-end break levers
on controls mounted on handle bars and (f) equipped with folding foot pegs and
(g) equipped with rubber padding on the brake cable take-up rod and(g) equipped
with a "killswitch" cut off on the upper side of the right-hand grip.
Sec. 9-206. Appeal.
Any person whose application for a permit is denied may appeal such'
~/decision to the City Council by filing a wrf~ten}notice of appeal within ten .
(10) d~yp after notification by the City Clerk that such permit has been
denied. The City Council shall thereupon condu~t a hearing on Said appeal
within thirty (30) days ~rom the date of filing said notice of appeal with the
City Cle~. The City Council shall have the power to determine whether said
appeal shall be a de novo hearing, or in the alternative to limit said appeal
to the City Clerk upon'which the City Clerk based his denial.- The decision
of the City Council on appeal shall be final and conclusive upon all persons
concerned.
Sec. 9-207. Minimum Penalty.
In addition to the general penalty provisions of Section 1-7 of this code,
for any violation of any provision of this Article the fine imposed shall be
no less than the sum of $ 50.00 l~0r thef~first offense and $ 100.00 'for
the. second offense.
Section 3. If any section, subsection, sentence,.c~ause or phrase of this
ordinance is for any' leason held by a court of competept jurisdiction to be
invalid, such decisions shali not affect the validity of the remaining portions
of this ordinance. The C~e~yCouncil of the City of Saratoga hereby declares
that it would have passed this o~dinance ~nd each section~ subsection,. sentence,
clause and phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections,
subsections, sentences, .clauses or phrases be held invalid or unconstl~tional.
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect and be in'full force and effect
thirty (30) days after its passage and adoption.
= ~ Sec. 9-208. A Duration of RegulationS.
' Sections 9-208 through 9-207 Shall be and remain effective until December
31, 1977, and thereafter shall be of no further force or effect.
The above and foregoing ordinance was regularly introduced and
after waiting time required~ by law was thereafter passed and adopted
at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Saratoga and
held on the 1st. day of December , 1976 by the
following vote:
AYES: Councilmen Bridges, Brigham, Kraus, Matteoni
NOES: Councilwoman Corr
ABSENT: NONE
ATTEST:
~YOR
The above and foregoing is a true and correct
copy of Ordinance F./-2.,z- which has been
published accordinq to law.
Deputy City Clerk 2( "7- -~/' Z ~
Date