CHAPTER 70
TRAFFIC RULES
Section
70.01 Common Council to install signs, markings
70.02 Riding bicycles, extreme sports vehicles, and toy vehicles in Business District prohibited
70.04 Motor vehicle inspection fee
70.06 Use of golf carts on streets and alleys (effective until January 1, 2025)
70.06 Use of golf carts on streets and alleys (effective January 1, 2025)
70.01 COMMON COUNCIL TO INSTALL SIGNS, MARKINGS.
The Common Council, through the Street Department, shall cause to be placed and maintained official signs, signals and street markings and places and points where necessary and practicable for the purpose of regulating the operation of moving vehicles upon the streets under the city’s jurisdiction and for the purpose of regulating the parking of vehicles.
(1994 Code, § 70.01) (Ord. 641, passed - -)
70.02 RIDING BICYCLES, EXTREME SPORTS VEHICLES, AND TOY VEHICLES IN BUSINESS DISTRICT PROHIBITED.
(A) It shall be unlawful for any person, except for emergency and/or law enforcement personnel, to ride any bicycle or scooter (motorized or otherwise) along or upon any of the sidewalks in the Business District of the city.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to skate on either ice skates, roller skates, or a skateboard along, across or upon any of the sidewalks in the Business District of the city or any of the concrete steps, curbs or sidewalks within the city’s public parks.
(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to coast with a sled, hand wagon, or in any other manner upon any sidewalk in the Business District of the city.
(D) It shall be unlawful for any person to skate on either ice skates, roller skates or a skateboard on any private property within the city after that person has been notified by a person legally in possession of said property (or in the case of property owned by a corporation or other legal organization, a person authorized to speak for said corporation or legal organization), not to do so. Such notification may be given either orally or in writing, including by the posting of a sign or signs, in a manner that is reasonably calculated to be understandable to the person or persons being notified.
(E) Any vehicle or toy used in violation of division (A), (B), (C), or (D) of this section may be seized and held in evidence pending final resolution of the ticket issued for said violation by payment of the pertinent fine or otherwise.
(F) Nothing herein shall be taken to apply to any vehicle or conveyance designed for the use of and used by disabled or handicapped persons.
(1994 Code, § 70.00) (Ord. 207, passed - -; Ord. 208, passed - -; Am. Ord. 95-1632, passed 4-24-1995; Am. Ord. 2003-1836, passed 7-14-2003) Penalty, see § 70.99
Cross-reference:
Prepayment of fine to Ordinance Violation Bureau, see § 33.113
70.03 ACCIDENT REPORT FEE.
Any fees for accident reports charged by the Police Department under § 30.02 shall be deposited in a separate account to be known as the accident report account.
(1994 Code, § 70.03) (Ord. 1290, passed 9-14-1981; Am. Ord. 2018-2138, passed 7-23-2018)
70.04 MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION FEE.
(A) Any fees for motor vehicle VIN checks or salvage checks charged by the Police Department under § 30.02(B) shall be delivered in a timely fashion to the Clerk-Treasurer, who shall then deposit said revenue in a separate vehicle inspection fund.
(B) All revenue generated by virtue of this chapter shall be from time to time appropriated only for law enforcement purposes.
(1994 Code, § 70.04) (Ord. 1441, passed 8-22-1988; Am. Ord. 2018-2138, passed 7-23-2018)
70.05 NO U-TURNS.
(A) It shall be unlawful for the operator of a motor vehicle upon any street or highway within the city limits (including State Road 17) to cross the centerline of said street or highway for any purpose other than to go upon a different street (such as, at an intersection) or an alley or except to enter a driveway (either residential, commercial, or other public way).
(B) It shall be unlawful for the operator of a motor vehicle upon any street or highway within the city limits (including State Road 17) to cross the centerline of said street or highway for the purpose of parking the motor vehicle on the opposite side of the street from the original path of travel of said motor vehicle.
(1994 Code, § 70.05) (Ord. 98-1726, passed 8-24-1998) Penalty, see § 70.99
70.06 USE OF GOLF CARTS ON STREETS AND ALLEYS. (Effective Until January 1, 2025)
(A) The use of a golf cart upon the streets and alleys of the city is permitted.
(B) Golf cart means a 4-wheeled motor vehicle originally and specifically designed and intended to transport 1 or more individuals and golf clubs for the purpose of playing the game of golf on a golf course.
(C) A golf cart operated on the streets and alleys of the city shall at all times display either a slow moving vehicle emblem in accordance with I.C. 9-21-9-3 or a red or amber flashing lamp in accordance with I.C. 9-21-9-4.
(D) A golf cart operated on the streets and alleys of the city shall at all times be operated by an individual who possesses a valid state issued driver’s license.
(E) A person shall not operate a golf cart on the streets or alleys of the city if financial responsibility is not in effect with respect to the golf cart. Proof of financial responsibility shall be in accordance with I.C. 9-25-4-4. A person who operates a golf cart on the streets and alleys of the city shall at all times maintain the state required minimum amount of financial responsibility for the operation of the golf cart in the following amounts:
(1) Subject to the limit set forth in division (E)(2) below, $25,000 for bodily injury to or the death of 1 individual;
(2) Fifty thousand dollars for bodily injury to or the death of 2 or more individuals in any 1 accident; and
(3) Ten thousand dollars for damage to or the destruction of property in 1 accident.
(F) All fines collected pursuant to § 70.99 shall be deposited in the General Fund of the city.
(Ord. 2009-1985, passed 6-8-2009)
70.06 USE OF GOLF CARTS ON STREETS AND ALLEYS. (Effective January 1, 2025)
(A) The use of golf carts upon the streets and alleys of the City of Plymouth is permitted subject to the requirements in this section.
(B) For purposes of this section a golf cart shall be defined according to I.C. 9-13-2-69.7 as a 4-wheeled motor vehicle originally and specifically designed and intended to transport 1 or more individuals and golf clubs for the purpose of playing the game of golf on a golf course.
(C) To operate a golf cart on any street or alley within the corporate boundary of the City of Plymouth, a driver of such golf cart must have a valid driver’s license as described in I.C. 9-24-1-7. Operating a golf cart is the same as operating a motor vehicle. Operators of said golf carts should not operate their cart or vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs as you can be arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs on a golf cart. Open container laws regarding possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles and in public places shall apply to operators and passengers of golf carts as described in I.C. 9-30-15. Indiana Code restricting the use of telecommunications devices while operating a moving motor vehicle shall apply to operation of a golf cart and be subject to the same restrictions as described in I.C. 9-21-8-59.
(D) Any person operating a golf cart on the streets or alleys of the city shall have financial responsibility in effect with respect to the golf cart. Proof of financial responsibility shall be in accordance with I.C. 9-25-4-4. A person who operates a golf cart on the streets and alleys of the city shall at all times maintain the state required minimum amount of financial responsibility for the operation of the golf cart and proof of financial responsibility shall be provided when registering the golf cart for operation within the city.
(E) All said golf carts must be equipped with both headlights and taillights that are in working order if operated at times when headlamps are necessary for other vehicles to be visible within 500 feet. In addition, all golf carts must be equipped with an operational rear-view mirror.
(F) Any person operating a golf cart in the City of Plymouth shall abide by all state and local traffic laws. Golf carts shall not be driven or parked on public sidewalks or trails, including greenway trails. Golf carts shall not be driven over curbs. Golf carts shall not be driven over private property without prior permission from the property owner. Golf carts shall be subject to all parking regulations under Plymouth City Code Chapter 71.
(G) Any person operating a golf cart within the City of Plymouth shall adhere to all applicable provisions of the slow-moving vehicle statute of the state of Indiana found at I.C. 9-21-9.
(H) Any person who wishes to operate a golf cart within the City of Plymouth must register the same with the Clerk-Treasurer’s office and pay a registration fee of $30.00 on or before the first day of March each year. The city shall provide a registration sticker to indicate that the golf cart has been properly registered with the City of Plymouth. A copy of the registration form must be kept in the golf cart when operated on public streets or alleys. The required registration sticker, along with an approved traffic safety slow moving vehicle sign as described in I.C. 9-21-9-2, must be visibly mounted to the rear of the vehicle, and the registration sticker must always remain visible during operation of the vehicle.
(I) While in operation, such golf carts must carry no more passengers than such golf carts are designed to carry, and all passengers must always be seated. Children under 36 inches in height are not permitted to be passengers on golf carts on public streets or alleys within the City of Plymouth. Under no circumstances should any unlicensed individual be allowed to operate a golf cart on streets or alleys within the City of Plymouth and adult passengers shall not hold passengers on their laps.
(J) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of $50 for the first offense, $75 for the second offense, and $100 for the third offense. If any subsequent offense occurs, the golf cart shall be impounded at the owner’s expense.
(K) All fines collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the general fund of the City of Plymouth.
(Ord. 2024-2228R, passed 8-26-2024)
70.99 PENALTY.
(A) Whoever violates any provision of this title for which no specific penalty is provided shall be punished as set forth in § 10.99 or as set forth in the fine schedule adopted in § 33.113.
(B) Any person who violates § 70.02 by operating a bicycle on the sidewalk within the Business District shall be subject to a fine of $25.
(C) Any person who violates § 70.02 by skating or coasting on Business District sidewalks or other prohibited areas shall be subject to a fine of $25.
(D) Any person who violates § 70.02 by skating or coasting on private property after being notified not to do so shall be subject to a fine of $25.
(E) A person who violates § 70.06 shall on the first offense be fined $100. A person who violates § 70.06 a second time within a calendar year of the first offense shall be fined the sum $250. A person who violates § 70.06 a third time, or more, shall be fined a sum not to exceed $2,500. Each day of violating § 70.06 shall be construed as a separate violation.
(1994 Code, § 70.99) (Ord. 2003-1837, passed 7-14-2003; Am. Ord. 2009-1985, passed 6-8-2009)