City of Saratoga Springs, NY Article II Traffic Regulations

§ 225-9 Racing prohibited.

Racing of animals or vehicles on highways in the City is prohibited as set forth in §§ 1182 and 1182-a of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.

§ 225-10 Wheel lugs prohibited.

No owner of a steam engine or of any gasoline- or kerosene-driven traction engine, or his servant or agent, shall allow, permit or use the same to pass over, through or upon any of the public streets or highways of either the Inside or Outside Tax District of the City without road bands or other suitable contrivances upon the wheels thereof, so that the outsides of said wheels shall present a smooth and even surface to the road or street over which they pass.

§ 225-11 Traffic control signals.

A. Traffic control signals shall be installed and operated at the intersection of those streets described in Schedule I (§ 225-66), attached to and made a part of this chapter.

B. Whenever traffic at an intersection is alternately directed to proceed and to stop by the use of signals exhibiting colored lights, said lights shall indicate as set forth in § 1111 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.

C. Flashing signals. Whenever traffic at an intersection is controlled by a flashing signal showing red or yellow color, said lights shall indicate as set forth in § 1113 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Flashing signals shall be installed and operated at the intersection of those streets described in Schedule II (§ 225-67), attached to and made a part of this chapter.

D. No person shall, without lawful authority, directly or indirectly interfere with or change or alter or attempt to interfere with, change or alter the operation cycle and/or timing of any traffic control devices or signals in the City of Saratoga Springs, New York, by means of any mechanical or electronic devices or otherwise.

§ 225-12 Speed limits.

[Amended 4-7-2020]

A. Inside Tax District. The maximum speed at which vehicles may proceed on or along any streets or highways within the Inside Tax District is hereby established at 30 miles per hour, except that the speed limit for vehicles proceeding on or along those streets or parts of streets described in Schedule III (§ 225-68) shall be as indicated in said schedule.

B. Outside Tax District. The maximum speed at which vehicles may proceed on or along any streets or highways within the Outside Tax District is hereby established at 30 miles per hour, except that the speed limit for vehicles proceeding on or along those streets or parts of streets described in Schedule IV (§ 225-69) shall be as indicated in said schedule.

§ 225-13 School speed limits.

A. In the Inside Tax District, no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of that indicated in Schedule V (§ 225-70), in the areas described in said Schedule V, during school days between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

B. In the Outside Tax District, no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of that indicated in Schedule VI (§ 225-71), in the areas described in said Schedule VI, during school days between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

§ 225-14 One-way streets.

The streets or parts of streets described in Schedule VII (§ 225-72), attached to and made a part of this chapter, are hereby designated as one-way streets in the direction indicated.

§ 225-15 U-turns.

No person shall make a U-turn on any of the streets or parts of streets described in Schedule VIII (§ 225-73), attached to and made a part of this chapter.

§ 225-15.1 Prohibited entry to public ways.

[Added 1-17-2023]

No person shall drive a vehicle into any public way, or part thereof, that is described in Schedule XXXII (§  225-97), attached hereto and made part of this chapter.

§ 225-16 Prohibited turns at intersections.

No person shall make a turn of the kind designated (left, right, all) at any of the locations described in Schedule IX (§ 225-74), attached to and made a part of this chapter.

§ 225-17 Prohibited right turns on red signal.

No person shall make a right turn when facing a steady red signal (stop indication) at any of the locations described in Schedule X (§ 225-75), attached to and made a part of this chapter.

§ 225-18 Required turns at intersections.

No person shall fail to make a turn of the kind designated (left, right, etc.) at any of the locations described in Schedule XI (§ 225-76), attached to and made a part of this chapter.

§ 225-19 Transportation of explosives.

A. No person shall operate a motor vehicle or tractor-trailer combination within the limits of the City of Saratoga Springs while transporting Class A or Class B explosives as defined by 49 CFR 173.50C in a quantity in excess of 25 pounds unless a written plan of the route is approved by and filed with the Department of Public Safety, with approved copies forwarded to the Police Department and Fire Department and one copy carried on the vehicle, and the Police and Fire Departments will be notified by telephone prior to each trip.

B. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as follows:

(1) For the first offense: a fine of $100.

(2) For the second offense: a fine of $250.

(3) For the third and subsequent offenses: a fine of $500.

§ 225-20 Stop intersections.

A. Except when directed to proceed by a police officer, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, in the event there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of the approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the provision of § 1142 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.

B. The intersections described in Schedule XII (§ 225-77), attached to and made a part of this chapter, are hereby designated as stop intersections. Stop signs shall be installed as provided therein.

§ 225-21 Yield intersections.

A. The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign, if required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then he shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, in the event that there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of the approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the provisions of § 1142 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.

B. The intersections described in Schedule XIII (§ 225-78), attached to and made a part of this chapter, are hereby designated as yield intersections. Yield signs shall be installed as provided therein.

§ 225-22 Vehicle restrictions.

[Added 4-2-1996[1]]

A. Trucks in excess of the weights indicated are hereby excluded from the streets or parts of streets described in Schedule XIV (§ 225-79), except for the pickup and delivery of materials on such streets.

B. The Commissioner of Public Safety is hereby authorized to designate vehicle size and class restrictions on any street in the City of Saratoga Springs and to place and maintain official traffic control devices to indicate such restrictions.

C. The Commissioner of Public Safety is hereby authorized to determine for all bridges and elevated structures within the City of Saratoga Springs the capacity, in tons of 2,000 pounds, which the bridge or structure will safely carry. At bridges or structures of insufficient strength to carry safely the legal loads permissible by the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall have the authority to cause official traffic control devices to be erected to inform persons of the safe capacity.

D. The Commissioner of Public Safety is hereby authorized to cause official traffic control devices to be erected to inform persons of the legal overhead clearance for all bridges and structures on highways within the City of Saratoga Springs. The legal clearance shall be one foot less than the measured clearance. The measured clearance shall be the minimum height to the bridge or structure measured vertically from the traveled portion of the roadway. On bridges or structures having 14 feet or more of measured clearance, no such signs shall be required.

E. Condition of vehicles.

(1) It is required that all vehicles operated within the City of Saratoga Springs be in good and safe operating condition, and each shall be operated only:

(a) While having a valid New York State certificate of inspection or the equivalent thereof for any vehicle registered outside the State of New York affixed on the vehicle on the proper location.

(b) While in full compliance with Article 9 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.

(c) While in full compliance with Article 10 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.

(d) While in full compliance with Article 6 of the Transportation Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.

(e) While in full compliance with Article 21 of the Tax Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.

(f) While properly registered in accordance with Article 14 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference.

(g) While in full compliance with Article 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), as amended, which article is fully incorporated herein by reference. In addition to and not in limitation of the previous sentence, all vehicles operated in the City of Saratoga Springs shall be operated while in full compliance with the following specific referenced sections of the CFR:

[Amended 9-4-2001]

[1] All definitions incorporated into CFR Part 383 shall be incorporated into the City Code.

[2] All commercial vehicle operators shall be qualified to operate the vehicle they are driving (391.11 CFR).

[3] All commercial vehicle operators shall use the vehicle occupant restraint system (seat belts) (392.16 CFR).

[4] All commercial vehicle operators shall obey all applicable local and state laws.

[5] All commercial vehicle operators shall obey the regulations for stopped and unattended vehicles (CFR 391.21 and 392.22).

[6] All commercial vehicle operators shall make sure their vehicle is loaded safely (CFR 392.9).

[7] All commercial vehicle operators shall perform a proper pre-trip inspection (CFR 392.7).

[8] All commercial vehicles shall have properly operating lights (CFR 393.9).

[9] All commercial vehicles shall have properly installed batteries (CFR 393.30).

[10] All commercial vehicles shall have the required brake systems (CFR 393.40).

[11] All commercial vehicles shall have the required parking brake systems (CFR 393.41).

[12] All commercial vehicles shall have the required breakaway and emergency braking (CFR 393.43).

[13] All commercial vehicles shall have front brake line protection (CFR 393.44).

[14] All commercial vehicles shall have adequate hoses and tubing (CFR 393.45).

[15] All commercial vehicles shall have proper connections (CFR 393.46).

[16] All commercial vehicles shall have adequate brake lining (CFR 393.47).

[17] All commercial vehicles shall have operative brakes (CFR 393.48).

[18] All commercial vehicles shall have warning devices (CFR 393.51).

[19] All commercial vehicles shall have brakes meeting the standards of CFR 393.52.

[20] All commercial vehicles shall have properly installed fuel systems (CFR 393.65).

[21] All commercial vehicles shall have proper fuel tanks (CFR 393.67).

[22] All commercial vehicles shall have properly operating coupling devices (CFR 393.70, 393.71).

[23] All commercial vehicles shall meet the requirements of CFR 393, Subpart G, Miscellaneous Parts and Accessories.

[24] All commercial vehicles shall have emergency equipment (CFR 393.95).

[25] All commercial vehicles shall have proper securement systems and protection against shifting or falling cargo (CFR 393.100, 393.102, 393.104 and 393.106).

[26] All commercial vehicles shall have frames and cabs in proper condition (CFR 393.201 and 393.203).

[27] All commercial vehicles shall have wheels in the proper condition (CFR 393.205).

[28] All commercial vehicles shall have suspension systems in the proper condition (CFR 393.207).

[29] All commercial vehicles shall have steering systems in the proper condition (CFR 393.209).

[30] All commercial vehicle operators shall obey the hours of service regulations in CFR 395.

[31] All commercial vehicles shall have a proper annual inspection and be maintained correctly (CFR 396.17 and 396.3).

[32] All commercial vehicles and operators shall obey the regulations in regard to the transportation of hazardous or regulated materials (CFR 100 through 199).

(2) No vehicle may operate within the City of Saratoga Springs if that vehicle has been determined to be in an unsafe condition by a certified New York State inspector or a certified United States Department of Transportation, North American Standard Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Inspector.

(3) No vehicle may operate within the City of Saratoga Springs if it has been determined that the vehicle should be put out of service, said determination having been made by a certified New York State Department of Transportation Inspector or a certified United States Department of Transportation, North American Standard Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Inspector.

(4) All vehicles operated on highways within the City of Saratoga Springs shall conform to the weight requirements of the Federal Bridge Gross Weight Formula (Section 127 United States Code, Title 23), except that vehicles may exceed such requirements when lawfully permitted to do so under a valid overweight permit issued by the New York State Department of Transportation. This subsection shall not apply to state highways in the City's outside tax districts.

[Added 6-6-2000]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 225-22, Trucks over certain weights excluded.

§ 225-23 Temporary street closings.

A. The streets or parts of streets described in Schedule XV (§ 225-80), attached to and made a part of this chapter, shall be closed to vehicular traffic on the days and during the hours indicated in said Schedule XV.

B. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the temporary closing of a street during an emergency, for public safety or road maintenance or repair.

C. No person, corporation or other legal entity shall close any City street or part thereof without having first obtained a temporary street closing permit. Applications for such a permit shall be made in writing to the Department of Public Works, and shall be reviewed and approved by the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Accounts.

[Amended 2-19-2008]