Truckee Municipal Code Ch. 10.17 Snow Removal

It is necessary and for the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the Town that Town streets and rights-of-way be kept clear of snow and other obstructions during the snow season which is generally from November 1 through April 30 of each year.

Vehicles parked on the rights-of-way of Town streets during snow season and the process of snow removal by the Town causes obstruction and impediment to such operations of snow removal resulting in delays, expenses and inconvenience to the Town.

(ORD 97-02 06-05-97; ORD 2004-09 11-18-04)

Town Right-of-Way: For purposes of snow removal, that area of the street and shoulder that is maintained by and under the control of the Town as defined in the Nevada County Assessors Parcel Maps. Snow poles are used as visual guides for snow plow equipment and are not representative of the Town Right-of-way.

(ORD 94-19 11-3-94)

It shall be unlawful for any person to park, abandon, or otherwise leave unattended any vehicle as defined in Section 670 of the California Vehicle Code on any Town right-of-way, public street easement, or snow storage easement at any time or in any manner which will obstruct, hinder, delay or otherwise inconvenience any Town officer, employee or Town contractor during snow removal operations or which will leave the vehicle in such a position that it is subject to damage by Town officer, employees or Town contractors engaged in snow removal operations. This provision shall not prohibit the stopping of passenger vehicles for periods of time sufficient to load or discharge passengers from such vehicles. Owners of vehicles parked in violation of this ordinance may be subject to citation or towing. Owners of vehicles parked in violation of this ordinance shall also be held liable for any damage to snow removal equipment, which may come in contact with said vehicle. The Town shall not be held liable for damage to any vehicles or property parked in violation of this ordinance.

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(ORD 94-19 11-3-94; 2004-09 11-18-04; 2017-12 11-14-17)

1. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this ordinance the Public Works Director or his/her designee may issue a permit or enter a written agreement to allow on street parking on certain streets and at certain times within the Town subject to conditions established by the Public Works Director or his/her designee.

2. Where snow conditions no longer exist, parking may be resumed on individual streets where designated parking spaces are marked and have been cleared such as in the commercial areas as soon as snow plowing has been completed on the full width of such streets, except that no overnight parking shall be allowed within fifty (50) feet of "snow piles".

(ORD 99-08 09-16-99; ORD 2004-09 11-18-04)

Any vehicle stopped, parked, abandoned, or otherwise left unattended in violation of Section 10.17.030 is hereby declared to be an obstruction to the snow removal operations and shall constitute a nuisance.

(ORD 99-08 09-16-99)

The conditions of snow season create narrow travel ways when snow berms become road shoulder obstructions. It is unlawful to park or stand in any roadway in a manner that would restrict the travel of any vehicle. A violation of this Section is an infraction.

(ORD 95-02 01-24-95)

In the event any vehicle is stopped, parked, abandoned or left unattended in violation of the provisions of this Chapter, any Police Officer or person authorized by the Town to issue citations is hereby authorized to remove or cause to be removed any such vehicle and to have such vehicle towed or otherwise removed to any public or private garage or parking area and to have such vehicle stored in such garage or parking area until claimed by the owner thereof.

Signs giving notice of the provisions of this chapter shall be erected at each entrance to the Town. Such shall signs shall be at least three feet square and shall specify the dates between which parking is prohibited and cite Section 10.17.030 of this code.

(ORD 94-13 11-03-94; 2017-12 11-14-17)

Additional signs, smaller in size but containing substantially the same wording, may be erected at such places within the Town, as the traffic engineer shall deem appropriate.

It is unlawful for any person to move or remove any snow from any portion of the right-of-way of any street without first having obtained a permit therefore from the Director of Public Works, except in the following cases:

(a) The removal of snow from directly in front of a private driveway for purposes of ingress and egress from the driveway to the cleared portion of the streets.

(b) The removal of snow by Town forces or by contractors employed by the Town.

No person shall construct, maintain, or utilize any fence, wall, structure, landscaping, or similar barrier on any parcel of real property in the Town upon which snow is or may be placed for purposes of snow removal operations unless one or more of the following exists:

(a) The fence, wall, or other barrier is set back twenty (20) feet or more from the property line.

(b) A snow storage easement over the real property has previously been granted to the Town and the barrier is outside of such easement.

(c) The fence, wall, structure, landscaping, or other barrier has been marked at intervals not less than ten (10) feet with distinctively colored stakes or poles a minimum of eight (8) feet in height with a white reflector facing traffic affixed to the topmost portion thereof. Such stakes or markers shall be put in place by the property owner not later than November 1 of every year and shall remain in place until May 1 of every year. Any person electing to utilize this procedure shall additionally file with the Director of Public Works a certificate executed by a licensed engineer that the fence, wall, or barrier can withstand the storage of snow on, in and around it in an amount equal to or greater than a pile eight (8) feet in height without damage to the fence, wall or barrier.

(d) Any damage sustained to any fence, wall, structure, landscaping, or barrier not meeting the requirements of sub-paragraph (c) above as the result of snow removal operations other than direct contact by snow removal equipment, shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner and the Town shall have no liability whatsoever therefore. In no event shall the Town have any liability for any barrier erected on public property without all necessary permits having been obtained.

(ORD 93-27 10-07-93; ORD 99-08 09-16-99)

(a) That snow removed from private driveways and parking lots may not be dumped, deposited, placed, or pushed into a Town street or other public right-of-way.

(b) Snow removed from private property may not be piled so as to block or cover a fire hydrant, snow pole, street sign, culvert inlets and outlets, or other drainage structures.

Section 10.17.030 of this chapter shall not be deemed to prohibit parking in the area between: (i) forty-eight (48) inches outside the snow poles which delineate snow removal limits on public property; and (ii) the outer edge of the public right-of-way, street easement, or snow storage easement, and no such vehicles parked entirely within such areas shall be cited or towed. However, vehicles parked in such areas are parked at the sole risk of their owners or operators and the Town shall not be liable for any damage to vehicles or other personal property located within such areas occurring during snow removal operations, including without limitation snow plowing and snow blowing.

(ORD 99-08 09-16-99; 2017-12 11-14-17)

A violation of this chapter shall constitute an infraction. The other provisions of this chapter notwithstanding, a violation of this chapter shall be subject to civil enforcement and the Town may seek injunctive relief and/or recovery of additional costs of snow removal incurred in the removal of snow deposited in violation of this chapter.

(ORD 96-07 12-05-96; 2017-12 11-14-17)