[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Oconto Falls 9-22-1997 by Ord. No. 97-010 (Ch. 30). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation — See Ch. 360.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 465.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BICYCLE
Every device propelled by the feet acting upon pedals and having wheels, any two of which are not less then 20 inches in diameter.
IN-LINE SKATE, ROLLER SKATE or ROLLER SKI
A frame made of material fitted to the sole of a shoe or to which a shoe or boot is attached which in turn is attached to a runner or set wheels for gliding over a surface other than ice.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
The right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
SKATEBOARD
A board of any material to which is attached a set of runners or wheels for gliding over a surface other than ice upon which a person stands in order to propel such board with either foot over a surface while standing on the board.
A. 
Registration required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle upon any street in the City of Oconto Falls unless said bicycle is registered and tagged as hereinafter provided. Registration may be either through the City of Oconto Falls or any other municipality lawfully authorized to register bicycles.
B. 
Form of registration.
(1) 
Registration shall be made by filing with the Police Department the name and address of the owner together with a complete description of the bicycle on forms provided by the Department and paying a registration fee as prescribed by the Common Council.
(2) 
Registration shall be serially numbered and kept on file in the Department as a public record.
(3) 
Upon registration, the Department shall cause an identification tag to be affixed to the bicycle registered, serially numbered to correspond with the registration number. Such tag shall remain affixed to the bicycle unless removed by the Department for cause or for retagging or for reregistration.
C. 
Duplicate registration. In case of theft or loss of the identification/registration tag, a duplicate tag shall be issued for a fee as set by the Common Council.
D. 
Expiration. All registrations shall expire on the 31st day of December.
E. 
Report. All bicycle registration fees shall be payable to the City Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer, and the Department shall make a complete report to the City Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer of funds received.
F. 
Unsafe mechanical condition. No bicycle shall be registered which is in unsafe mechanical condition.
G. 
Suspension of registration. The Chief of Police shall have authority to suspend the registration of and remove the identification tag from any bicycle operated contrary to any state law or City ordinance or operated while in unsafe mechanical condition, such suspension and removal to continue for a period not to exceed 10 days, provided that such registration shall not be reinstated or such identification tag be replaced while such bicycle is in unsafe mechanical condition. Such suspension and removal shall be in addition to other penalties provided hereunder.
H. 
Change in ownership. Within 10 days after any bicycle registered hereunder shall have changed ownership or been dismantled and taken out of operation, the person in whose name the bicycle was registered shall report such information to the Police Department. In case of change of ownership the registration shall thereupon be changed to show the name of the new owner.
The provisions of Chs. 346 and 347, Wis. Stats., and applicable municipal ordinances shall govern the operation of bicycles where appropriate. Every person driving a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of the state declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles or by the traffic ordinances of the City applicable to the driver of the vehicle, except as to those provisions of laws and ordinances which by their nature can have no application.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 465, Vehicles and Traffic.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or ride a skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, or roller skies in any of the following locations:
(1) 
Upon any City street where a sidewalk is available.
(2) 
Upon any sidewalk in any signed business district, including but not limited to the Central Business District along Main Street between the intersection of Central Avenue on the south and Maple Street on the north.
(3) 
Upon any public parking lot or playground.
(4) 
Upon private property unless permission has been given by the owner, lessee, agent, or other person in charge of the property.
(5) 
Upon any roadway where a sign is erected indicating such operation is prohibited.
B. 
No person may operate a skateboard, in-line skates, roller skates, or roller skis while the operator is using any audio device attached directly to the ear or ears of the operator that materially impairs the ability of such operator to hear traffic signals or warnings.
A. 
Parental responsibility. No parent or guardian of any child shall authorize or knowingly permit such child to violate any provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Street operation.
(1) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle that places the operator, surrounding pedestrians, or surrounding motorists in danger of injury.
(2) 
It shall be unlawful for any person riding upon a bicycle to cling to or attach himself or the bicycle to any moving vehicle upon a street or highway.
(3) 
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped. In addition to the operator, a bicycle otherwise designed to carry only the operator may be used to carry or transport a child seated in an auxiliary child's seat or trailer designed for attachment to a bicycle if the seat or trailer is securely attached to the bicycle according to the directions of the manufacturer of the seat or trailer. Persons are not permitted to be located on a bicycle in front of the operator of the bicycle.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
(4) 
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the safe operation of the bicycle with at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
(5) 
No person shall operate a bicycle upon any roadway where a sign is erected indicating such operation is prohibited.
C. 
Bicycle parking. No person shall leave a bicycle at such a place or in such a way as to create a hazard to pedestrians, automobile operators or to anyone else.
D. 
Speed. No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under existing conditions or in excess of any posted speed limit.
E. 
Operation on sidewalks. Except upon a footbridge, no person shall ride any bicycle upon any sidewalk area. This prohibition shall not apply to bicycles with wheels sized 20 inches or under, except that this exception shall not apply to bicycles designed or modified to BMX specifications.
F. 
Bicycle operation while hearing obstructed. No person may operate a bicycle while such operator is using any audio device attached directly to the ear or ears of the operator that materially impairs the ability of such operator to hear traffic signals or warnings.
A. 
Age 16 of age and older. Any person 16 years of age or older who shall violate any provision of this chapter may be issued a uniform traffic citation and be subject to the penalties provided by the Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule.
B. 
Age 14 through 15. Any person 14 years of age through 15 years of age who shall violate any provisions of this chapter may be issued a citation and be subject to the penalties provided by the Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule and, upon conviction thereof, may be required to forfeit not more than $25, together with the cost of prosecution, and in default of such payment the court may suspend the child's operating privileges, as defined in § 340.01, Wis. Stats., for not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days.
C. 
Under 14 years of age. Any person under 14 years of age who shall violate any provision of this chapter may be issued a special bicycle violation warning notice along with the following additional actions:
(1) 
First offense within one year. The Chief of Police shall issue a warning letter sent to the parent or guardian.
(2) 
Second offense within one year. The Chief of Police shall invalidate the vehicle license for a period of not more then 15 days. The owner of said vehicle shall not use this vehicle nor any other vehicle during the period of suspension.
(3) 
Third offense within one year. The bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, or roller skies may be impounded by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police may refer the offender to Oconto County Juvenile Court.
D. 
Parental responsibility. Any parent or guardian of any child who authorizes or knowingly permits such child to violate any of the provisions of this chapter may be subject to the provisions of § 346.82, Wis. Stats.