Chapter 2 - Traffic Administration and Authority

Sec. 2.1 Enforcement

This ordinance shall be enforced by law enforcement officers of the State of Michigan, County of Houghton, and of such township or city wherein the violation of this ordinance occurs, including any officer of the Public Safety Department of Michigan Technological University who has been appointed a deputy by the Chief of Police of any city or township, or by the Sheriff of any county, having jurisdiction where the violation of this ordinance occurs, or vested with the general authority of a Sheriff pursuant to Public Act 80 of 1905 as amended.

Sec. 2.2 Public Safety Department - Duties

It shall be the duty of the Manager of the Public Safety Department and of officers of the Public Safety Department of Michigan Technological University to enforce all provisions of this ordinance; to make arrests for traffic and other violations of this ordinance, which are not civil infractions; to investigate accidents; to cooperate with other law enforcement officers in the enforcement of this ordinance and in developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions.

Sec. 2.3 Authority of Police Directing Traffic

Officers of the Public Safety Department or such officers as are assigned by the Manager of the Public Safety Department are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, or signal in conformance with traffic laws, provided that, in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Public Safety Department may direct traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

Sec. 2.4 Authority of Firemen Directing Traffic

Officers of a fire department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police officers in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity.

Sec. 2.5 Authority of Police Officers to Inspect Vehicles

Any police officer shall be authorized on reasonable grounds shown to stop any motor vehicle and inspect the same, and if any defects in equipment are found, to cite the driver in the manner provided in this ordinance.

Sec. 2.6 Authority to Impound Vehicles and Bicycles

Members of the Public Safety Department are hereby authorized to remove vehicles or bicycles from the Michigan Technological University campus to the nearest garage or other place of safety, or to a garage designated or maintained by the Public Safety Department, or otherwise maintained by Michigan Technological University under the circumstances hereinafter enumerated.

1. When any vehicle or bicycle is left unattended upon any bridge, viaduct, causeway, or tunnel where such vehicle or bicycle constitutes an obstruction to traffic.
   
   
2. When a vehicle or bicycle upon the campus is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction to traffic and the person or persons in charge of the vehicle or bicycle are by reason of physical injury incapacitated to such an extent as to be unable to provide for its custody or removal.
   
   
3. When any vehicle or bicycle is left unattended upon the campus and is so parked illegally as to constitute a definite hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic.
   
   
4. When a vehicle or bicycle is found being driven upon the campus and is not in proper condition to be driven.
   
   
5. When a vehicle or bicycle is left unattended upon the campus continuously for more than 48 hours and may be presumed to be abandoned excepting those parking lots or areas specifically designated and assigned for storage parking.
   
   
6. When the driver of such vehicle or bicycle is taken into custody by the Public Safety Department and such vehicle or bicycle would thereby be left unattended upon the campus.
   
   
7. When temporary or permanent no parking zones are established and when tow-away zone signs are posted.
   
   
8. When vehicles are parked in unauthorized places or in lots or other parking facilities for a period of time that exceeds the permissible time.
   
   
9. When removal is necessary in the interest of public safety because of fire, flood, storm, snow or other emergency reason.
   
   
10. When bicycles are parked in unauthorized places; or in bicycle racks or other bicycle parking facilities for a period of time that exceeds the permissible time.

The reasonable cost of removal and storage shall be borne by the owner.

Sec. 2.7 Notifying Owner of Impounded Vehicle or Bicycle

Whenever an officer removes a vehicle or bicycle from a street as authorized in this ordinance, and the officer knows or is able to ascertain the name and address of the owner thereof, such officer shall immediately give or cause to be given notice in writing to such owner of the fact of such removal, and the reasons therefore, and of the place to which such vehicle or bicycle has been removed. In the event any such vehicle or bicycle is stored in a garage, a copy of such notice shall be given to the proprietor of such garage.

Sec. 2.8 Notifying Commissioner of State Police of Impounded Vehicle

Whenever an officer removes a vehicle from a street as authorized in this ordinance, and does not know and is not able to ascertain the name of the owner, or for any other reason is unable to give the notice to the owner as hereinbefore provided, and in the event the vehicle is not returned to the owner within a period of 3 days, then and in that event the officer shall, within a reasonable period of time, send or cause to be sent a written report of such removal by mail to the commissioner of state police, and shall file a copy of such notice with the proprietor of any garage in which the vehicle may be stored. Such notice shall include a complete description of the vehicle, the date, time and place from which removed, the reasons for such removal, and the name of the garage or place where the vehicle is stored.

Sec. 2.9 Issuance of Violation Cards

The Manager of the Public Safety Department shall be responsible for the issuance of books of violation cards and shall maintain or cause to be maintained a record of every such book and each set of violation cards contained therein issued to the individual members of the Public Safety Department and shall require and retain a receipt for every book so issued.

Sec. 2.10 Issuance of Traffic Violation Cards

Except when officially authorized or directed under state law to the contrary, a police officer who halts a person for any violation other than for the purpose of giving him a warning or warning notice and does not take such person into custody under arrest, shall take the name, address, and operator's license number of said person, the registered number of the motor vehicle involved, and such other pertinent information as may be necessary, and shall issue to him in writing a violation card.

Sec. 2.11 Violation Card on Illegally Parked Vehicle or Bicycle

Whenever any motor vehicle or bicycle without driver is found parked or stopped in violation of any of the restrictions imposed by ordinance of Michigan Technological University, municipal ordinance, or by state law, the officer finding such vehicle or bicycle shall take its registration number and may take any other information displayed on the vehicle or bicycle which may identify its user, and shall conspicuously affix to such vehicle or bicycle a traffic violation card.

Sec. 2.12 Restriction Upon Access or Use

It shall be the duty of the Manager of Public Safety Department and/or the Director of the Division of Facilities Management or their designees when so authorized by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Services, to establish restrictions upon access to or use of the University parking lots, streets or other property of the University or portions thereof as may be deemed necessary or desirable for the convenience and effective conduct of the affairs of the University; provided that the Manager of the Public Safety Department, or his authorized representatives shall make restrictions known by use of signs, barricades, posting of the officers of the Public Safety Department or other authorized persons possessing official identification, or establishing lines beyond which unauthorized persons are not permitted to pass.

Sec. 2.13 Emergency Regulations

The Manager of the Public Safety Department, when so authorized by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Services, is hereby empowered to make and enforce temporary regulations to cover emergencies or special conditions. No such temporary regulation shall remain in effect for more than 90 days.