MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE TRAFFIC CODE UPDATE MASTER RECOMMENDATION REPORT: 9.48, 9.50, 9.52, 9.54 Please send all recommendations for update to Shane Locke (343-8413, lockesr@muni.org) Report Date: 6/3/2009 Code Section (i.e.9.14. 050) Current Code language Proposed Code Language Reason for Change 9.48.010 Penalties. Penalties. Fines reduced in court too much. A. Unless another penalty is A. Unless another penalty is expressly provided by this title, a expressly provided by this title, a person convicted of violating a person convicted of violating a provision of this title shall be provision of this title shall be punished by a fine of not more punished by a fine of not more than $500.00. than $500.00. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A. of this section, the of subsection A. of this section, the penalty for failure to obey a red penalty for failure to obey a red traffic signal, including the failure to traffic signal, including the failure to stop for steady red signal or steady stop for steady red signal or steady red arrow under Section red arrow under Section 9.14.040 9.14.040and failure to stop for a and failure to stop for a flashing flashing red light under Section red light under Section 9.14.060 9.14.060 shall be $200.00. shall be $200.00 and will not be reduced. Committee Status (approved, denied, no action) Pending approval. Have MOA legal review. 9.48.130 Optional Court/75.00 (not in table) License to be carried/exhibited 9.12.030.A Corr./75.00 Reduce burden on citizens and courts when motorist can produce a license that was valid at time of offense to a peace officer. 9.48.130 Overtaking and passing school bus 9.24.070.A, C 180.00 Overtaking and passing school bus 9.24.070.A, C 300.00 potentially more serious than red light violations
9.48.130 20 or more over designated limit 12.00 per mile over 20-29 over designated limit 12.00 per mile over see below 9.48.130 20 or more over designated limit 12.00 per mile over 30 or more over designated limit 20.00 per mile over 30-50 miles over is becoming more serious/common 9.48.130 Careless driving 9.28.015 150.00 Careless driving 9.28.015 300.00 too lenient for a serious offense 9.48.130 Driving w/o proof of security 9.28.030.C 50.00 Driving w/o proof of security 9.28.030.C Corr./500.00 mirror state offense.most APD uses state code..need matching MOA ordinance 9.48.130 150.00 (not in table) No Valid operator's license 9.28.019.A 300.00 too cheap and easy to "pay as you go" 9.48.130 Transparent materials on windshields or windows 9.36.045 Corr./150.00 Transparent materials on windshields or windows 9.36.045 Corr./300.00 too cheap and easy to "pay as you go" 9.48.130 90.00 (not in table) Front plate is required 9.52.030.A.2 Corr./90.00 Reduce burden on citizens and courts when motorist can produce a front plate that was current at the time of the offense 9.52.030 A 3. Have the correct month and year of expiration affixed to the license plate as required by the state. 9.52.030 B No vehicle shall have a license plate or expiration sticker attached to the vehicle that has not been assigned to that vehicle by the State of Alaska or the state where the vehicle is registered. 3. Have the (correct) current month People actually argue that they do have the and year of expiration affixed to the correct month and year on the plate - even if license plate as required by the it is expired. state. No vehicle shall have a license plate or expiration sticker attached to the vehicle that (has not been) is not currently assigned to that vehicle by the State of Alaska or the state where the vehicle is registered. People with 10 stickers all over their plate argue that this doesn't prevent them from having all of their stickers displayed.
9.52.040 No motor vehicle may be driven within the municipality with any number or letter of a license plate obscured by dirt or debris, a tinted or shaded cover plate, or any nontransparent covering. No motor vehicle may be (driven) used within the municipality with any number (or), letter or registration tab of a license plate obscured by dirt or debris(, a tinted or shaded cover plate, or any nontransparent covering) or may not be covered with any material or in any manner. We have people who argue that this cannot be issued to a parked car because they weren't driving when it was issued. They also argue that the tabs are not part of the plate's letters and numbers. I've had Magistrate's rule that a plate isn't "obscured" if the officer was able to read it to issue the ticket. There's also a new coating that can be applied to plates that will prevent a camera from getting a good picture of the plate. 9.54.020 E A Towing operator which has removed a vehicle under this subsection shall immediately, and in any event not more than two A Towing operator which has removed a vehicle under this subsection shall immediately, and in any event not more than one hours after the arrival of the vehicle hour after the arrival of the vehicle at a storage facility, inform the chief of police or his authorized agent of: at a storage facility, inform the chief of police or his authorized agent of: 9.54.020 F Does not currently exist. Towing of vehicles; incident number requirement. Upon informing the chief of police or his authorized agent of removing a vehicle under this subsection a towing operator shall obtain an incident number either telephonically or on-line, via email from the Anchorage Police Department. 9.54.020 G Does not currently exist. Any vehicle that displays a Department of Defense decal, which indicates the vehicle is owned by a member of the Armed Forces, then towing information shall be relayed to the appropriate branch of the military within three (3) calendar days. To eliminate a lag time in vehicles being reported stolen and people not knowing where their vehicles are. To ensure accountability by the tow contractor to report each towed vehicle. To support our troops.
9.54.025 A Tow operators shall pay an annual fee of $500.00, to participate in the APD Rotational Tow Program, to the municipality by no later than January 15 of the program year, pursuant to the rotational tow program guidelines. 9.54.030 A Each towing operator shall maintain a published itemized list of all fees that it charges for towing services. Each towing operator shall maintain a current copy of that list on file with the municiapl clerk and shall conspicuously post that same list at the towing operator's office. Tow operators shall pay an annual fee of $500.00, to participate in the APD Rotational Tow Program, to the municipality by no later than March 1 of the program year, pursuant to the rotational tow program guidelines. Each towing operator shall maintain a published itemized list of all fees that it charges for towing services. Each towing operator shall maintain a current copy of that list on file with the municiapl clerk and shall conspicuously post that same list at each office and impound yard used by the tow operator. To match the verbiage in the actual APD Rotational Agreement. To provide notification to the public the maximum allowable rates they will be required to pay. 9.54.030 F Does not currently exist. Each towing operator shall accept for payment in lieu of cash or an insurance company check for towing or storage services a debit card, charge card or credit card if the operator ordinarily accepts such card at his/her place of business. 9.54.035 Does not currently exist. Every tow operator who renders towing services within the municipality shall obtain a Municipal business license as required under Title 10, post a copy at each office and impound yard used by the tow operator. Each tow operator shall remain in good standing with the Municipal Clerk's office. Customers don't always have large amounts of money on their person at time of tow. Municipal code compliance.
9.54.050 E Does not currently exist. Tow operators shall not provide towing services to a private property owner under section 9.54.020E in the absence of posted signage as required under section 9.54.050. To clarify code. 9.54.052 A Does not currently exist. Tow operators shall not remove or commence the removal of a vehicle from private property without first obtaining written authorization from the property owner or lessee, or an employee or agent thereof, who shall be present at the time of removal. General authorization to remove or commence removal of a vehicle at the towing company's discretion shall not be delegated to a towing company or its affiliates except in the case of a vehicle unlawfully parked within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or in a fire lane, or in a manner which interferes with any entrance to, or exit from, the private property. A digital photograph shall be taken of the vehicle with the violation shown in the digital photograph. A copy of the written authorization and digital photograph shall be given to the owner of the vehicle prior to payment of towing and storage fees. To establish protocol for towing off of private property.
9.54.052 A (1 Does not currently exist. Written authorization from the property owner or lessee, or an employee or agent thereof shall include the following information: 1.) The make, model, VIN and license plate number; 2.) The name, signature, job title, residential or business address and working phone number of the person authorizing the removal of the vehicle; 3.) The grounds for the removal; 4.) The time the vehicle was first observed parked at the private property; and 5.) The time the authorization to tow the vehicle was given. 9.54.055 Does not currently exist. Tow truck operators shall wear Class II or Class III garments that are high visibility apparel compliant with ANSI/ISEA 107-2004, suitable for all-season use. To provide the public with violation information and who requested the tow. Requirements for safe towing practices. High visibility apparel. To comply with new Federal standards.