022 of 2000 - enacting section 12.12.090 relating to cruising prohibited 0 00-1
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SALT LAKE CITY ORDINANCE
No. 22 of 2000
(Cruising Prohibited)
AN ORDINANCE ENACTING SECTION 12.12.090, SALT LAKE CITY CODE,
RELATING TO CRUISING PROHIBITED.
SECTION 1. That Section 12., Salt Lake City Code, be, and the same hereby is,
enacted to read as follows:
12.12.090 Cruising Ordinance
A. Findings
1. The Salt Lake City Council, after hearing, makes the following legislative
findings:
A. Cruising has created a traffic problem on various City streets by
causing a steady stream of vehicles to be unable to clear intersections, thus
blocking traffic. The traffic blocking is most noticeable Downtown on the east-
west bound traffic as they are blocked by the north-south traffic stopped in
intersections. It is also noticeable on the north-south traffic in the Sugarhouse
area, as vehicles heading north or south are unable to move through
intersections due to traffic on 2100 South.
B. The blocked traffic has contributed to motorist frustration and
resultant dangerous driving to either avoid the gridlock or dangerous maneuvers
around the blocked intersections.
C. Emergency vehicles have difficulty maneuvering through the
blocked intersections and traveling along the roads choked with traffic.
D. Traffic along City streets has increased 40% since 1997and
accidents have more than doubled.
E. The traffic creates noise of automobiles, horns, engines,
screeching tires, etc. that disrupts residents' quiet enjoyment of night.
F. Motorist frustration has resulted in some violent episodes
commonly called "road rage."
G. In addition to the road rage that exists among the general
population, gang members express their frustration and flash gang signs
challenging everyone around. Other gang members pick up on the signs and
flash their own challenges. Such confrontations have resulted in two homicides
in the downtown area since August of 1997.
H. In addition, there are numerous fights, assaults with deadly
weapons, and other physical confrontations, which have resulted from heavy
traffic congestion and short tempers. The statistics for State Street are:
1997 1998
Homicides 1 1
Assaults 402 525
Public Peace & Order 1520 1455
TOTAL 1,923 1,981
I. Statistics show that the calls for police in the downtown area peak
during the hours of 11:00 p.m. and through 4:00 a.m. each night. These calls for
service, in part, are caused by cruising and the problems of gridlock, violations of
laws and improper driving caused by cruising.
J. Statistics show that that highest demand for police service caused
by gridlock, challenges to others and improper driving peak during Friday and
Saturday nights.
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K. The majority of businesses in Sugarhouse and Downtown areas
are closed or are closing by 11:00 p.m., and very few are open after Midnight.
Thus there is little business reason for traffic congestion from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00
a.m. Those businesses, which have, large populations leaving, such as events
at the Delta Center and Symphony Hall contribute to traffic congestion, but the
persons attending have no reason to, and in large part do not "cruise the area"
as cruising is defined in this ordinance.
L. Commercial Parking is available in the traffic congested areas of
Sugarhouse and Downtown. Because of the availability of commercial parking,
persons, during the hours of 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. have little need to "cruise
the area" looking for public parking stalls.
M. Elimination of those who "cruise the streets" simply as "something
to do" will eliminate the vast majority of traffic congestion, noise associated with
automobiles, and the resultant dangerous driving and "road rage" during the
target hours of 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. in the Downtown and Sugarhouse
areas.
N. Traffic accidents have increased citywide since the Fall of 1997.
Many traffic accidents occur which involve people cruising while drinking alcohol.
Many drivers who are cruising are impaired as they consume alcohol or drugs
while involved in the gridlock.
B. Definitions:
1. Cruising means the driving of a motor vehicle more than two times
between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., in a particular direction, past a traffic
control point.
2. Mobile Traffic Control Point means at any point or points within the Traffic
congested area established by the Police Department for the purpose of monitoring
violations of law.
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3. Traffic Congestion Area shall mean any area designated and posted as a
no cruising area in Schedule 5 or any area designated and posted as a temporary no
cruising area.
C. Cruising Action Prohibited.
No person shall drive or permit a motor vehicle under his/her care, custody, or
control to be driven in an area posted as a traffic congested area past a Traffic Control
Point in a particular direction more than 2 times between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and
4:00 a.m.
D. Exemptions.
This chapter shall not apply to:
1. Any publicly owned vehicle of any city, county, political subdivision, state, or
federal agency while in the performance of public duties.
2. Any vehicle licensed for public transportation, including but not limited to,
buses and taxi cabs.
3. Any in-service emergency vehicle.
4. Any vehicle being driven by a resident of the traffic congestion area, or any
vehicle being driven within the traffic congestion area for necessary commercial or
medical reasons.
E. Warning Signs Required.
1. Every no cruising area shall be posted with sufficient signs to provide
notice of the prohibition.
2. Signs shall be of such size and shape, as the transportation engineer
shall deem appropriate in carrying out the transportation engineer's duties as set forth
in 12.08.080 Salt Lake City Code and 12.08.090 Salt Lake City Code.
F. Temporary No Cruising Zones and Traffic Control Points.
Mobile Traffic control point or points may be established by an officer of the rank
of sergeant or higher creating a written plan describing: (1) the location of the traffic
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control point; (2) the date, time and location of the traffic control point; (3) any
instructions given to the enforcement officers concerning the traffic control point; (4) a
brief statement outlining the problem(s) which resulted in the choosing of the date, time
and location of the temporary traffic congestion area; and (5) the location of the warning
signs.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall take effect on the date of
first publication.
Passed by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, this end day of
May , 2000.
(\iaLL,,x,
CHAIRPERSON
A EST:
CHIEF DEPUTY CITY R CORDER
Transmitted to the Mayor on 5-2-2000
Mayor's Action: Approved. Vetoed.
MAYOR
ATTEST: ,01041.wFrN A• IC t).
dolt Lake City Attorney' ./Mn,
CHIEF DEPUTY CITY RECORDER
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(SEAL)
Bill No. 22 of 2000. �•,,
Published: 5-1�2000 err A,
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