TRAFFIC ORDINANCE

ORDINANCE # 12-15-1954

VILLAGE OF NASHVILLE

As amended 7-14-2011

An ordinance for the regulation of all street traffic in the Village of Nashville of Nashville Michigan, and to repeal all ordinances inconsistent herewith.

The Village of Nashville Ordains:

DEFINITIONS:

VEHICLE - The word "vehicle" includes everything on wheels or runners, except baby carriages.

DRIVER - The word "driver" includes the driver or operator of any "vehicle".

RESTRICTED DISTRICT - The words "restricted district" shall mean that district or portion of the village described in Section 4. Rule 1.

PARKING - The word "parking" for the purpose of this Ordinance is hereby defined to mean the standing of any vehicle, whether occupied or not, in a street, alley, or public place in the village, either in charge of a driver or without such driver for an indefinite time.

STREET INTERSECTION - The area embraced with the prolongation of the lateral curb lines or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of two or more highways which join one another at an angle, whether or not one such highway crosses the other.

HORSE - The word "horse" shall include any and all domestic driving animals.

SECTION 1.  DRIVING RULES TO OBSERVE:

The driver or operator of every vehicle driven or operated upon the streets, highways and public places within the limits of the Village of Nashville, shall conform and observe the following rules:

RULE 1.  Vehicles shall be driven in a careful manner within the speed limit prescribed, and with due regard for the safety and convenience of pedestrians, as well as all vehicles.

RULE 2.  Vehicles shall keep to the right side of the street except when necessary to turn to the left in crossing or in overtaking and passing another vehicle going in the same direction.

RULE 3.  All vehicles meeting shall pass each other to the right.

RULE 4.  Vehicles overtaking another shall keep to the left of the overtaken vehicle in passing.

RULE 5.  Vehicles moving slowly shall keep as close as possible to the curb on the right, allowing more swiftly moving vehicles free passage to their left.

RULE 6.  Vehicles when turning to the left into another street shall pass to the right of and beyond the center of the street intersection before turning.

RULE 7.  Vehicles when turning to the right into another street shall turn the corner as near the right hand side as possible.

RULE 8.  Vehicles crossing from one side of the street to the other shall do so only at intersections of streets.

RULE 9.  No vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to make a U turn on Main Street (M-66) within the village limits.

SECTION 2.  SIGNALS:

The operator of every vehicle while being used upon the streets, alleys or public places in the Village of Nashville, before turning, stopping, backing or changing its course, shall make sure that such movement can be made safely and shall indicate intention to turn the vehicle towards the right or left or stop or suddenly check its speed. The following code of signals shall be used:

The hand extended downward will indicate intention to slow down or stop.

The hand extended horizontally will signify the intention to turn in the direction in which the hand extends. The hand extended upwards indicates a right hand turn.

In case of closed vehicles or open vehicles with side curtains on, or any other vehicle where the arm signal cannot be given, so that it can be seen by traffic in the rear of said vehicle, a signal devise separate from or in combination with the usual red rear light shall be used; provided, however, that it shall be optional with the driver of said enclosed car or other vehicle to use either device or signal with the arm through the open window.  Signal shall be given a reasonable

distance and time before action of driver.

SECTION 3.  THROUGH TRAFFIC STREETS:

RULE 1.  The streets hereinafter described and set apart are to be known and designated as through traffic streets.  Vehicles passing thereon shall have the right of way over all vehicles approaching the same from side or other streets and all vehicles approaching the said through traffic streets shall stop before entering said streets, and shall not at any time enter said streets when to do so would interfere with, or interrupt the traffic thereon.  The following are designated as Through Traffic Streets:

(a) Main Street for its entire length.

(b) Reed Street for its entire length.

(c) Sherman Street for its entire length.

(d) Washington Street from Main Street to Lentz Street.

(e) Lentz Street from Sherman Street to Reed Street.

(f) Such other intersections as shall be designated by stop signs.

RULE 2.  Pedestrians desiring to cross from one side of the street to the other shall do so at street intersections only.  Such crossing shall be made in a straight line.  No crossing shall be made by a pedestrian at an angle or between any intersections.

SECTION 4.  BUSINESS OR RESTRICTED DISTRICT:

All vehicles drawn or propelled by motive power shall not be driven faster than prescribed in the following districts:

RULE 1. The speed limits the named streets are as follows:

Main Street between Casgrove Street and the Thornapple River Bridge is 30 mph

Main Street from Casgrove Street south to the village limits is 50 mph

Main Street from the Thornapple River Bridge north to the village limits is 40 mph

Reed Street from Lentz Street east to the village limits is 35 mph

Sherman Street from East Street east to the village limits is 35 mph

Fuller Street from a point 300 feet west of the west line of the Fuller Street School property to Chapel is 40 mph

Fuller Street from Chapel west to the village limits is 50 mph

RULE 2.  Upon all other streets and highways within the village of Nashville all vehicles shall not be driven at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour.

RULE 3.  Any operator of a motor vehicle upon approaching an intersecting street, and also in traversing such intersecting street shall have said vehicle under control and operated at such speed as is reasonable and proper, having regard to the traffic then on such street, and the safety of the public.

RULE 4.  The driver or operator of any vehicle drawn or propelled by motor power, shall give some plain, visible, or audible sign of approach, and shall keep his or her wheels at not less than six feet from the side of the other vehicles that may be taking on or discharging passengers; and that, if by reason of the narrowness of the street, or for any reason it is not possible to preserve a

distance of six feet as herein provided, then the operator or driver of such vehicle shall stop until such vehicle has taken on or discharged its passengers.

SCHOOL ZONE:

RULE 1.  It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle in passing any of the school building in the Village of Nashville during the time of year that school is maintained in said building, during the period when pupils are approaching the same for the purpose of attending, or while in attendance therein, or when leaving school buildings after school hours, at a greater rate of speed than ten (10) miles per hour.

RULE 2.  That signs shall be placed on the street passing in front of said school building three hundred (300) feet distinct from said building having printed thereon the words:  "School Zone Ahead, Speed Limit Ten Miles Per Hour".

PARKING - MAIN STREET DISTRICT:

RULE 1.  No vehicle shall be parked on the intersection of streets, or upon other spaces marked off by no parking signs.  At no time shall any vehicle be stopped or parked less than twenty (20) feet from any fire hydrant in said Village.  No vehicle shall be parked on any street extending more than seventeen (17) feet into the street where parking is allowed diagonally.

All parking in the Village of Nashville shall be parallel with, and as close as possible to the curb, and headed in the direction in which traffic is moving on the side of the street in which said

parking is done, and not nearer than lot line of intersecting streets.

RULE 2.  It shall be unlawful for any vehicle to remain standing on any of the public streets in the Village of Nashville except when properly parked according to this ordinance, or when discharging or taking on passengers.  No vehicle shall be parked so as to interfere or blockade any private or public driveway.

RULE 3.  No vehicle shall be parked upon any public sidewalk or alley in the Village of Nashville.

RULE 4.  No person or persons shall use any part of the public streets or alleys, or public places for the purpose of assembling or disassembling any vehicle.

RULE 5.  There shall be no parking of any kind on Main Street from Reed Street to  Railroad Street between 3:00am and 5:00 am.

RULE 6. The following locations will be for 15 minute parking only:

"15" minute parking space located on the west side of Main Street, (M66), first parking space south of Washington Street.

RULE 7. The following locations will be for handicapped parking only:

(a) Handicapped parking space located on east side of Main Street, (M66) first parking space south of Washington Street.

(b) Handicapped parking space located on north side of Washington Street, first parking space west of Main Street, (M66).

(c) Handicapped parking space located on the south side of Washington Street, at the corner of Water Street and Washington Street.

(d) Handicapped parking space located on the west side of Main Street, (M66), second parking space south of Washington Street.

(e) Handicapped parking space located on east side of Main Street, (M66), first parking space south of Maple Street.

(f) Handicapped parking space located on the east side of Main Street, (M66), first parking space North of Maple Street.

(g) Handicapped parking space located on the west side of Main street, (M66), first parking space north of Sherman Street.

PARKING – RESIDENTIAL AREA:

RULE 1. The following locations will be for handicapped parking only:

(a) Handicapped parking space located on the north side of Maple Street 1^st space west of State Street.

(b) Handicapped parking space located on the west side of State Street 1^st space north of Maple Street.

PARKING LIGHTS:

RULE 1.  All vehicles parked upon any of the public streets of the Village of Nashville or permitted to stand thereon any time during the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise shall have displayed thereon a front and rear parking light, except vehicles parking in any district where boulevard lights are installed.  Such vehicles may be parked without lights as long as such boulevard lights shall burn.  After such lights shall cease to be lighted all vehicles parked thereon shall have their parking lights burning.

RULE 2.  The driver or operator of any vehicle shall stop upon the signal of any police officer.

SECTION 5.  LOADING AND UNLOADING:

(a)  No vehicle of greater than one and one-half (1 1/2) ton capacity shall load or unload from Main Street.

(b)  All vehicles of greater than one and one half (1 1/2) ton capacity shall load and unload from the alley in the rear of business places on Main Street, or from a side street entrance.

SECTION 6.  DRIVING:

No Vehicle shall be driven through a procession except with the permission of a police officer.

RULE 1.  No vehicle shall be backed up to the curb except it shall be actually loading or unloading, and in such cases no longer than actual loading or unloading requires.

RULE 2.  The front wheels of any vehicle backed up to the curb shall be turned at an angle and in the direction the traffic upon that side of the street is moving.

RULE 3.  No vehicle shall be left standing within the intersection nor nearer than lot line of such intersecting streets.

RULE 4.  No vehicle shall stop at any crosswalk for longer period than is necessary to permit the occupant to alight, or the person to enter said vehicle, nor in such a manner as to obstruct the free passage upon said crosswalk and free passage upon the street.

RULE 5.  No vehicle shall be allowed to stand on any street in such a way as to obstruct free passage of the street.

SECTION 7.  FIRE DEPARTMENT:

RULE 1.  The Fire Department with their trucks and apparatus of all kinds when going to, or on duty at any fire, or in responding to or returning from any fire alarm, whether there is any fire or not, and the officers and men of the police department, and all ambulances shall have the right-of-way in any street or alley, and through any procession except over vehicles carrying United States mail.

RULE 2.  All automobiles and other vehicles upon the streets where the Fire Department trucks and apparatus are being driven or propelled in answering a fire alarm, shall without delay drive alongside of the street and stop and remain stopped until all of said Fire Department trucks and apparatus have passed.

RULE 3.  During and fire Police officers shall have the right to change or order changed, the location of automobiles, trucks, or other vehicles standing still or parked near the fire whenever in the judgment of said officers it is necessary to do so.  And all vehicles, other than Fire Department apparatus, shall not drive closer than five hundred (500) feet to the burning building or structure, or nearer than five hundred (500) feet of the Fire Department apparatus while said department is answering the fire alarm.

RULE 4.  No vehicle shall be allowed to remain upon or be driven through any street in the Village of Nashville so as to blockade or obstruct the said street; and no vehicle shall be so overloaded that the horse or horses or motive power shall be unable to move it.

TRACTION ENGINES:

RULE 1.  No traction engine or similar heavy machinery shall be run over, propelled or operated upon any of the paved streets of the village unless it shall be impossible for such vehicle to reach its destination by unpaved streets and then only by using plank for said vehicle to run upon or taking other proper and precautionary measurers so that the said pavement shall not be damaged thereby.

LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING:

Every motor vehicle driven and operated upon the streets, alleys, parks and public places of the Village of Nashville shall during the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, be equipped with and display a lamp or lamps as hereinafter provided, of sufficient power and so adjusted and operated as to enable the operator to proceed with safety to himself and to other users of the streets, alleys, parks and public places.  Every four wheel motor vehicle shall have a lamp mounted on each side of the front thereof, said lamps to be approximately equal candle power, and every motorcycle shall have mounted on the front thereof one lamp.  Every motor vehicle shall, during the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise keep such lamps lighted continuously while the vehicle bearing them is in motion.  Every motor vehicle, trailer or semi trailer, at night shall have on the rear one lamp capable of displaying a light which shall be red and visible for a distance of a least one hundred (100) feet behind such vehicle. Any spotlight carried and displayed on any such motor vehicle shall be so placed and used that the light there from shall be focused in front of said vehicle and on the right side of the traveled portion of the road and not more than thirty feet in front of such vehicle; provided, that motor bicycles or motorcycles shall be required to display but one lighted lamp on the front of the vehicle.

RUBBISH:

No person shall throw, scatter, sweep, deposit, place or leave in any street, alley or public place in the Village of Nashville, any glass, tacks, crockery, scrap iron, nails, tin, ashes, wire or other things or substance liable to cause puncture or damage to rubber tires.

HORSES:

RULE 1.  No person shall ride or drive any horse on any street, alley or public place in the Village of Nashville at any immoderate speed.

RULE 2.  No person shall permit any horse to stand in any street, alley or public place in the Village of Nashville without being securely tied, fastened or held.

BICYCLES:

RULE 1.  It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle or motorcycle on any street, alley, or public place of the Village of Nashville, curving to and fro thereon, or without having their hands on the handlebars thereof, or for more than two persons to ride abreast, and said vehicles shall be ridden as near as possible to the right hand curb.

RULE 2.  No person or persons shall be carried upon the handlebars or any part thereof in front of the driver of a bicycle or motorcycle on any street, alley, or public place in the Village of Nashville.

RULE 3.  No person shall ride a bicycle or motorcycle upon any sidewalk or place designated or kept for the use of persons on foot only, within the Village of Nashville. 

RULE 4.  Any bicycle operated at night in the village shall show a white light on the front and a visible red light or reflector on the rear.

ALLEYS:

Vehicles leaving all alleys entering onto Main Street, and those alleys running parallel with Main Street, and next east and west of said Main Street, shall come to a stop as the front wheels of said

vehicle touch the side or cross walk and give signal with their horn. After such warning signal, vehicle shall proceed with caution.

SECTION 8.  COASTING:

No person shall coast with hand sleds, bobs, carts, or other vehicles on wheels or runners upon any of the public sidewalks in the Village of Nashville; nor upon any public street of said Village, except upon such streets as may be designated by the Common Council thereof.

SECTION 9.  ADVERTISING VEHICLES:

No vehicle used exclusively or primarily for advertising purposes shall be allowed in that part of the Village herein defined and designated as the restricted district.

SECTION 10.  OCCUPANTS OF FRONT SEATS IN AUTOMOBILES:

No vehicle shall be operated upon any street, alley, or public place within the Village of Nashville where more than three persons are seated in the front seat of said vehicle.

SECTION 11.  EMBRACING:

(a) No driver shall embrace another occupant of the vehicle while operating said vehicle upon any street alley, or public place in the Village of Nashville.

(b) No occupant of a vehicle shall embrace a driver of said vehicle while said driver is operating a vehicle upon any street, alley, or public place within the Village of Nashville.

SECTION 12. 

Should any Court of competent jurisdiction declare any section or provision of this ordinance unconstitutional or unauthorized, or in conflict with any other section or provision of this ordinance, then such decision shall affect only the section or provision so declared to be unconstitutional or unauthorized, and shall not affect any other section or part of this ordinance.

SECTION 13.  RECKLESS DRIVING:

Any person who drives any vehicle upon any street, alley or highway in the Village of Nashville carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, or without due caution and circumspection and at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property, shall be guilty of reckless driving.

SECTION 14.  MUFFLERS:

RULE 1.  All motor vehicles shall be equipped with mufflers.  No automobile, motor truck or motorcycle shall be operated or driven upon the streets of the Village of Nashville with muffler cutout open.

SECTION 15. 

Any person, firm, corporation, or other entity who violates any term or provision of this

Ordinance is responsible for a municipal civil infraction and shall be punished by a civil fine of $50 for a first violation, $150 for a second violation, and $300 for a third or subsequent violation and shall be liable for the payment of costs in an amount of not less than $9.00 and not more than $500.00.

SECTION 16.

All Ordinances, or parts of Ordinances conflicting with any of the provisions of this ordinance, especially all ordinances regulating traffic in the Village of Nashville passed previous to this ordinance are hereby repealed.

All fines paid under this ordinance shall be paid into the contingent fund of the Village of Nashville, Michigan.

Ordinance No. 30 as reenacted and amended December 15, 1954.