CHAPTER 13. TRAFFIC AND STREETSCHAPTER 13. TRAFFIC AND STREETS\Article 6. Truck Routes

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning respectively ascribed to them in this section except when the context otherwise requires.

Alley or alleyway means a street or alley intended to provide access to the rear or side of lots or buildings in urban districts and not intended for the purpose of through vehicular traffic.

Authorized emergency vehicle means such Fire Department vehicles, police vehicles, emergency service vehicles, and ambulances as are publicly owned.

Gross vehicle weight rating means the maximum weight of a vehicle and the load it is designed to carry as designated by the manufacturer of such vehicle. Such rating is usually found on a plate attached by the manufacturer to the door frame on the driver’s side of a vehicle.

Park or parking means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers.

Street or highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic.

Trailer means every vehicle with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.

Truck means every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

Truck-tractor means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.

Semi-trailer means every vehicle exceeding twenty (20) feet in length and not designed as a recreational vehicle, with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.

(Code 2023)

It is unlawful for any person to drive, park or allow to stand any truck or truck-tractor, with a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds, or any trailer exceeding twenty (20) feet in length or semitrailer exceeding twenty (20) feet in length upon any street in the City of Valley Falls, Kansas, other than those hereinafter designated as truck routes, except for the following purposes:

(a)   To repair a vehicle sufficiently to permit its relocation to a suitable place.

(b)   To permit authorized emergency vehicles and public or private service vehicles to perform the service for which they are designed.

(c)   Loading or unloading materials in locations where it is not reasonable or practical to locate the vehicle off the street.

(d)   To permit a single axle truck with gross vehicle weight rating in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds but not more than sixteen thousand (16,000) pounds, with or without trailer attached, to be used for the personal transportation of the operator of such truck to such operator’s place of residence or in the course of the conduct of the business or employment of such operator but no such truck, or truck and trailer, shall be parked or allowed to stand on any street in a residential district of the City for more than four hours.

(e)   To permit operation of such vehicles for the purpose of delivering or picking up goods, or to travel directly to or from an off-street storage or service facility maintained for such vehicles, or to travel directly to or from a public recreation area in the City for the purpose of participation in an event duly scheduled through the Recreation Commission of the City provided such vehicles leave the designated truck routes at the intersection nearest to the point of destination for such purposes.

(Code 2023)

The following streets are designated as truck routes through the City of Valley Falls:

(a)   KS Highways 4 and 16.

(b)   Maple Street from Broadway to KS Highway 16.

(c)   Broadway Street from Maple Street to Broadway St.

(Code 2023)

In any proceeding for the violation of the provisions of this chapter, proof of identity of the registered owner of the registration plate displayed upon the vehicle in violation shall constitute in evidence a prima facie presumption that the owner of such vehicle was the person who drove, parked, or allowed to stand, the vehicle at the place where the violation occurred.

(Code 2023)

Every person convicted of the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punished for first conviction thereof by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00); for a second such conviction, such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) days or by both such fine and imprisonment; upon a third or subsequent conviction after the first conviction such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than twenty (20) days or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Code 2023)