HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-196-1 - Repeal Ordinance 196BILL NO. ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 196 AND ENACTING IN LIEU THEREOF
AN ORDINANCE SPECIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR LIGHTS ON MOTOR VEHICLES AND
-~ TRAILERS OPERATED IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AND SPECIFYING THE TIMES OF
DAY AND NIGHT WHEN SUCH LIGHTS MUST BE USED AND PROVIDING A PENALTY
FOR VIOLATION THEREOF.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE,
MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. For the purpose of revealing its position and direction,
a motor vehicle, while on the highway, whether in operation or at rest
during the period when the street lights are turned on, and in any event
from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, and all times
when for or other atmospheric conditions render the operation of motor
vehicles dangerous on the highway, shall carry lighted signal lamps as
herein required. Motor vehicle and motor tricycles shall display at
least two white lamps mounted at the front and directed forward and one
red light mounted at the back and directed toward the rear. Trailers
being towed shall display one red light mounted at the back and directed
toward the rear. No person shall drive or move a vehicle or equipment
~ upon any street with any lamp device thereon displaying a red light visible
from directly in front, except as required by State Statute or Interstate
Commerce Regulation. This shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles.
Flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles except as a means of
indicating right or left turn. No vehicle shall display at the back, or
project toward the rear, any other than a red light, excepting on motor
vehicles and trailers which are required to carry number places on the
rear, the rear lamp shall be so constructed, mounted and adjusted as to
project from its sides, top, bottom or front,. sufficient white light
upon such plate to make the number plainly visible from a distance of
twenty-five (25) feet; provided, however, that nothing in this section
shall be construed to prohibit the use of additional red rear lights
carried for added safety or such white lights of low intensity as may
be required in the operation of a mechanical rear signaling device, but
no motor vehicle shall have mounted at its back any lamp projecting toward
the rnar, a light of sufficient intensity to conceal the number or to in-
terfere with the vision of anyone following.
Section 2. Except as hereinafter provided, the head lamps or the
~' auxiliary driving lamps or combinations thereof, on motor vehicles shall
be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions
of light projected to different elevations, subject to the following
requirements and limitations:
(a) 't`here shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or com-
posite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicle
at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead for all conditions of loading.
The maximum intensity of this uppermost distribution of light or com-
posite beam one (1) degree of arc or more above the horizontal leval of
the lamps when the vehicle is not loaded shall not exceed 8,000 apparent
candle power, nor at composite beam shall there be an intensity of more
than 75,000 apparent candle power in both head lamps at the lens nor
shall there be less than 15,000 apparent candle power in both head lamps
at the lens.
(b) When the vehicle is loaded none of the high intensity por-
tion of the light which is directed forward shall at a distance of 25
feet ahead, project higher than the level of the center lamps from which
' it comes.
(c) There shall be a lower most distribution of light or com-
posite beam so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded, none of the
high intssity portion of the light which is directed to the left of the
prolongation of the extreme left side of the vehicle shall at a distance
of 25 feet ahead, project higher than a level of 5 inches below the level
o f the center, of the lamp from which it comes. When the vehicle is
not loaded, none of the high intensity portion of the left which is
directed to the "right of the prolongation of the extreme left side of the
vehicle, shall at a distance of 25 feet ahead, project higher than a level
of 5 inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes.
In no event shall any of the high intensity of such lower most distri-
bution of light or composite beam, project higher than the level of 42
inches above the level on wlich the vehicle stands at a distance of 75
feet ahead. All road lighting beams shall be so aimed and of sufficient
intensity to reveal a person or vehicle at a distance of at least 100
feet ahead.
(d) Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on any street
during the time specified, the dri ver shall use a distribution of light
or composite beam directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to
reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle,
provided, however, that whenever the driver of a vehicle approaches an
oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, such driver shall use a distribution
of light or composite beam so aimed that the glaring rays are not pro-
jected into the eyes of the oncoming driver, and in no case shall the
high intensity portion, which is projected to the left of the prolongation
of the extreme left side of the vehicle be aimed higher than the center
of the lamp from which it comes at a distance of 25 feet ahead, and in
no case higher than a level of 42 inches above the level upon which the
vehicle stands at a distance of 75 feet ahead. The lower most distri-
bution of light shall avoid glare at all times regardless of the
road contour and loading.
(e) Headlamps arranged to provide a single distribution of
light not supplemented by auxiliary driving lamps shall be permitted on
motor vehicles manufactured and sold prior to one year after the effective
date of this act in lieu of multiple-beam road lighting equipment herein
specified if the single distribution of light complies with the following
requirements and limitations: The headlamps shall be so aimed that when
the vehicle is not loaded none of the high intensity portion of the light
shall at a distance is not loaded none of the high intensity portion
of the light shall at a distance of 25 feet project higher than a level
of 5 inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it
comes, and in no case higher than 42 inches above the level on which the
vehicle stands at a distance of 75 feet ahead. The intensity shall be
sufficient to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 200
feet.
(f) Any lighted lamp or illuminating devices upon a motor
vehicle other than head lamps, spot lamps or atnciLiary driving lamps
which project a beam or light of an intensity greater than 300 candle-
power shall be so directed that no part of the beam will strike the
level of the roadway on which the vehicle at a distance of more than 75
feet from the vehicle.
(g) No search light or spot light shall be equipped with
bulb stronger than twenty-one candlepower and shall not be used on the
public highway except in emergency, or when the headlights are in-
adequate owing to rain, fog, etc, and then only provided their shaft
of condensed light is directed well downward below the level of the
lamp and at no time into the eyes of other persons.
Section 3. Any person vimlating the terms of this ordinance
shall be subject to a fine of not more than $100.00 or imprisonment
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in jail for not more than 90 days or both such fine and imprisonment
and costs.
PASSED this ~" day of , 1961.
A~PTEST
City Clerk
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Approved this ~ day of . 1961.
Mayor
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