SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTES AND SNOW EMERGENCY DECLARATION

Fargo Municipal Code ch. 8, art. 8-17

in effect

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1701 Definitions.

8-1701. - Definitions. The following definitions, in addition to those contained in § 8-0101, shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this article: 1. "Mayor" is the mayor of the city of Fargo, or, in the event of the absence of the mayor, the vice-mayor, or their designee. In the event of the absence of both the mayor and the vice-mayor, the board of city commissioners shall have all authority granted by this article. 2. "Snow emergency routes" are those roadways generally traversing the entire city or a major part thereof, and are considered essential to the rapid movement of emergency vehicles and normally carry heavy traffic volumes. 3. "Snow tires" are any tires mounted on drive wheels of motor vehicles which are especially designed to give effective traction on snow, mud or ice-covered roadways by means of extra heavy duty treads with special high-traction patterns, except that no tire so defined shall be construed to be a snow tire if it is damaged or worn to the extent that its performance would be substantially impaired. 4. "Tire chains" are any metal chains mounted on drive wheel tires of motor vehicles which cross the tread of each such tire laterally in at least three different places. 5. "Snow emergency" shall mean when four (4) or more inches of snow is forecast by the National Weather Service. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1701, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1702 Parking or stopping on snow emergency route.

8-1702. - Parking or stopping on snow emergency route. No person shall park or stop any vehicle on any roadway designated as a snow emergency route at any time between November 1 and April 15. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1702, 1828 (1977), 1915 (1979), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1703 Snow emergency declaration.

8-1703. - Snow emergency declaration. A. Whenever the mayor determines a snow emergency to exist, the mayor shall put into effect a parking prohibition on all roadways by declaring a snow emergency in a manner prescribed by this ordinance. While the prohibition is in effect, no person shall park or remain stopped any vehicle on any portion of any roadway in the city of Fargo. B. Once in effect, a prohibition under this section shall remain in effect until terminated by announcement of the mayor in accordance with this ordinance, or until such time that the individual roadway has been cleared of snow from curb to curb for the length of the entire block. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to permit parking at any time or place where it is forbidden by any other provision of law. Source: Ord. 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1704 Stalled vehicle on snow emergency route or when snow emergency declared.

8-1704. - Stalled vehicle on snow emergency route or when snow emergency declared. Whenever a vehicle becomes stalled on any part of a snow emergency route or on any roadway when a snow emergency declaration is in effect, the person operating such vehicle shall take immediate action to have the vehicle towed or pushed off the roadway. No person shall abandon or leave a vehicle unattended in the roadway of a snow emergency route or when a snow emergency declaration is in effect, except for a period of time actually necessary to secure assistance in removing the same. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1705, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1705 Declarations of the mayor.

8-1705. - Declarations of the mayor. A. The mayor shall cause each declaration made pursuant to this ordinance to be publicly announced through the Cass County Alerts system, by means of broadcasts or telecasts from stations with a normal operating range covering the city, on the city of Fargo website and through city of Fargo social media accounts, news media and in newspapers of general circulation, when feasible. Each announcement shall describe the action taken by the mayor including the time it became or will become effective. B. The mayor shall make or cause to be made a record of each time and date when any declaration is announced to the public in accordance with this section. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1706, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1706 Termination of snow emergency declaration by the mayor.

8-1706. - Termination of snow emergency declaration by the mayor. Whenever the mayor shall find that some or all of the conditions which give rise to the snow emergency declaration in effect pursuant to this ordinance no longer exist, the mayor may terminate the snow emergency declaration in a manner prescribed by this ordinance, effective immediately upon announcement. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1707, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1707 Provisions temporarily effective to take precedence.

8-1707. - Provisions temporarily effective to take precedence. Any provision of this ordinance which becomes effective by declaration of the mayor take precedence over other conflicting provisions of law normally in effect, except that it shall not take precedence over provisions of law relating to traffic accidents, emergency travel of authorized emergency vehicles or emergency traffic directions by a police officer. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1708, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1708 Signs to mark snow emergency routes.

8-1708. - Signs to mark snow emergency routes. A. On each roadway designated by resolution as a snow emergency route, such roadways shall be posted with appropriate signs at intervals not exceeding one every 1,320 feet. Signs posted in accordance with this section shall be distinctive and uniform in appearance and shall be plainly visible and readable to persons traveling on the roadway. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1709, 1828 (1977), 1915 (1979), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1709 Impounding vehicles.

8-1709. - Impounding vehicles. Any vehicle stopped on any snow emergency route or on any roadway in violation of the mayor's snow emergency declaration in violation of any of the provisions of this article may be impounded in accordance with § 8-0126 of this chapter and no person shall recover any vehicle removed pursuant to this section without first paying the cost of removal and the cost of storage. Any payments required by this section shall not be construed as a penalty so as to preclude prosecution for violation of any of the provisions of this article. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1710, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1710 Violations—Traffic citation—Complaint.

8-1710. - Violations—Traffic citation—Complaint. Whenever any motor vehicle is found stopped or parked contrary to the provisions of this article, the owner of such vehicle may, pursuant to § 8-0315 of this chapter, be charged with a violation of this article. Prosecution may be instituted by traffic citation or complaint in the same manner as for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1711, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1711 Evidence with respect to vehicles parked or left in violation of ordinance.

8-1711. - Evidence with respect to vehicles parked or left in violation of ordinance. In any prosecution with regard to a vehicle parked or left in a place or in a condition in violation of any provision of this ordinance, proof that the particular vehicle described in the complaint was parked or left in violation of a provision of this ordinance, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was at the time the registered owner of such vehicle, shall constitute prima facie evidence that the defendant was the person who parked or left the vehicle in violation of this ordinance. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1712, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1712 Snow emergency routes designated.

8-1712. - Snow emergency routes designated. Snow emergency routes shall be as designated by resolution of the board of city commissioners. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1711, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Fargo Municipal Code § 8-1713 Separability.

8-1713. - Separability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1714, 1828 (1977), 2502 (1989), 5274 (2020).

Source: City of Fargo, North Dakota, Fargo Municipal Code and Home Rule Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nd/fargo/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=FARGO_MUNICIPAL_CODECIFANODA_CH8TRCO_ART8-17SNEMROSNEMDEFetched: 11/7/2026