[Adopted 12-10-1996 by L.L. No. 49-1996[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also provided that it was enacted pursuant to § 130 of the New York State Town Law and § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law and that it superseded any inconsistent provisions of § 238 or § 1660 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
It is the intent of this article to protect the public health, safety and general welfare, including the protection and preservation of the property of the Town of Southampton and its inhabitants, and for the peace and good order, by prohibiting certain acts that cause or contribute to a condition in, within or upon any private road which shall be dangerous or obstruct or tend to obstruct the free passage of vehicles of persons who have a right to use a private road as access to their property for emergency access or otherwise.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
OBSTRUCTION
Any object or a condition in, within or upon any private road which shall be dangerous or unreasonably impedes or interferes with the free passage of vehicles, including, for definition purposes only, an obstruction as set forth in § 319 of the New York State Highway Law as same may be amended from time to time.
PRIVATE ROAD
Any privately owned highway, street, road, way or place used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons. A private road shall not include a driveway giving access to a one- or two-family dwelling but may include common access driveways approved by the Planning Board for three or more lots and Town Trustee roads.
PUBLIC ROAD
Any federal, state, county or Town highway.
VEHICLE
For the purposes of this chapter only, the term "vehicle" shall include all motor vehicles capable of registration under the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, as well as off-road or all-terrain vehicles, trailers, carts, boats or other items capable of or outfitted to travel on roads or highways.
This article shall apply to all unincorporated areas within the Town of Southampton.
The Police Department, Building and Zoning Inspectors, Bay Constables, Fire Marshals and Ordinance Inspectors of the Town of Southampton are hereby empowered to enforce the provisions of this article.
A. 
It shall be unlawful to park a vehicle in any manner to create an obstruction within the right-of-way of any private road.
B. 
It shall be unlawful to park a vehicle on any private road located in a residential district, on the Zoning Map of the Town of Southampton, between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., prevailing time. This section shall apply to those private roads that have been duly posted with signs giving notice of this section, which are authorized by resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Southampton after a public hearing.
C. 
It shall be unlawful to maintain an obstruction within the right-of-way of any private road after 48 hours of personal service of notice to remove the obstruction by an enforcement agent of the Town of Southampton.
The enactment hereof or any prosecution hereunder shall not be construed to grant any parties the right to use a private road, nor be deemed to establish any public use or liability therein.
A. 
Any person, owner, firm, partnership or corporation, and any agent, contractor, lessee, tenant or employee thereof, or person in charge, found guilty of a violation of any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of an offense, which shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $500 or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.
B. 
Each and every day within which a violation occurs or continues shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation.
C. 
In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the Town may bring an injunction proceeding to enforce this article.
D. 
For the purposes of this article only, where a vehicle is parked in violation of this article and the operator of the vehicle is not present, a notice of violation may be served upon the owner of the vehicle by affixing such notice to said vehicle in a conspicuous place. Said notice shall be in a form approved by the Town Police Department consistent with § 238 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Service of notice of violation, or a duplicate thereof by affixation as herein provided shall have the same force and effect and shall be subject to the same penalties for disregard thereof as though the same was personally served with the name of the person charged with the violation inserted therein. Where a notice of violation is served in accordance with the procedures of this subsection, the owner of the vehicle shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of an offense, which shall be punishable by a fine of up to $50 for a first conviction; by a fine of up to $100 but no less than $50 for a second conviction within 18 months; and a fine of up to $150 but no less than $100 for a third or subsequent conviction within 18 months of the first conviction.
[Amended 11-23-1999 by L.L. No. 41-1999]
In addition to the penalties for offenses enumerated in this chapter, where an obstruction of the private road is maintained in violation of this article, the Town Board of the Town of Southampton shall have the right to direct appropriate agencies of the Town to take proper actions to remove the obstruction after the owner or owners of lands which shall benefit or use the private road have been notified by registered or certified mail and the obstruction has not been removed by or on behalf of such owner(s) within 30 days after receipt of such notice. All costs and expenses incurred by the Town of Southampton in performing this work shall be assessed against the land(s) on which such work is performed, or against those lands which shall benefit or use the private road, and be added to the tax bill applicable to said land(s) for the next taxable period.