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Motor Vehicle and Traffic
Ordinance
MOTOR VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 2
City of South Burlington Ordinance
Table of Contents
1. Purpose and Authority ..................................................................................................................... 3
2. Definitions ........................................................................................................................................ 3
3. Speed Regulations ............................................................................................................................ 3
4. Stop Intersections ............................................................................................................................ 3
5. Yield Intersections ............................................................................................................................ 3
6. Traffic Control Signals ...................................................................................................................... 3
7. Flashing Signals ................................................................................................................................ 4
8. One Way Streets .............................................................................................................................. 4
9. Right Turn Only Intersections .......................................................................................................... 4
10. Vulnerable Users .............................................................................................................................. 4
11. Civil Penalties; Waiver Fee; Enforcement ........................................................................................ 5
12. Severability....................................................................................................................................... 5
13. Repeal…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5
MOTOR VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 3
City of South Burlington Ordinance
The Council of the City of South Burlington hereby ordains:
1. Purpose and Authority
This Motor Vehicle and Traffic Ordinance is enacted by the City Council to promote the public
health, safety and welfare of City residents under the authority it is granted to regulate the
operation and use of motor vehicles as set forth in 19 V.S.A. section 304, 23 V.S.A. sections
1007 and 1008, 24 V.S.A. section 2291(1), (4), and (5) and Sections 103 and 104 of the South
Burlington City Charter. This Ordinance establishes special traffic regulations on public roads or
highways in the City of South Burlington and shall constitute a civil ordinance within the
meaning of 24 V.S.A. chapter 59.
2. Definitions
The definitions set forth in 23 V.S.A. section 4 are incorporated herein by reference.
3. Speed Regulations
The City Council shall establish, by appropriate resolution, speed limits on City public roads and
highways and upon doing so shall cause suitable “Speed Limit” signs to be installed. Speed
limits established by the City Council shall be in effect when so posted.
4. Stop Intersections
The City Council shall designate, by appropriate resolution, stop intersections and upon doing
so shall cause a suitable “Stop” sign to be installed at the intersection. When a stop sign is so
installed, a motor vehicle operator approaching the stop sign shall operate the vehicle in the
manner required by 23 V.S.A. section 1048(b).
5. Yield Intersections
The City Council shall designate, by appropriate resolution, yield intersections and upon doing
so shall cause a suitable “Yield” sign to be installed at the intersections. When a yield sign is so
installed, an operator approaching the yield sign shall operate the motor vehicle in the manner
required by 23 V.S.A. section 1048(c).
6. Traffic-Control Signals
The City Council shall designate, by appropriate resolution, intersections and other locations on
City public roads and highways to be controlled by traffic-control signals and upon doing so
shall cause a traffic-control signal to be installed at the intersection or other location. When a
traffic-control signal is so installed, an operator approaching the traffic-control signal shall
operate the motor vehicle in the manner required by 23 V.S.A. section 1022.
MOTOR VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 4
City of South Burlington Ordinance
7. Flashing Signals
The City Council shall designate, by appropriate resolution, intersections and other locations on
City public roads and highways to be controlled by flashing signals and upon doing so shall
cause a flashing signal to be installed at the intersection or other specified location. When a
flashing signal is so installed, an operator approaching the traffic-control signal shall operate
the motor vehicle in the manner required by 23 V.S.A. section 1024.
8. One-Way Streets
The City Council shall designate, by appropriate resolution, any public road or highway for one-
way traffic and establish the direction of traffic and upon doing so shall cause a suitable “One-
Way” sign to be installed. When a one-way sign is so installed, an operator shall operate the
motor vehicle only in the direction designated.
9. Right Turn Only Intersections
The City Council shall designate, by appropriate resolution, intersections where only right turns
are allowed and upon doing so shall cause a suitable “Right Turn Only” sign to be installed.
When such a sign is so installed, an operator shall operate the motor vehicle only in the
direction designated.
10. Vulnerable Users
(A) All pedestrians shall obey the instructions of all traffic control devices that are applicable
to pedestrians.
(B) Every person riding a bicycle is granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties
applicable to operators of motor vehicles, except as to those provisions described in 23
V.S.A. section 1136(c).
(C) Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals, vehicular traffic, including motor
vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right of way to pedestrians in the manner
required by 23 V.S.A. section 1022.
(D) If traffic-control signals are not in operation, the driver of a motor vehicle shall yield the
right of way, slowing down or stopping if necessary, to a pedestrian crossing the
roadway within a crosswalk.
(E) The operator of a motor vehicle shall not, in a careless or imprudent manner, approach,
pass, or maintain speed unnecessarily close to a vulnerable user.
(F) An occupant of a motor vehicle shall not throw any object or substance at a vulnerable
user.
(G) The operator of a motor vehicle approaching or passing a vulnerable user shall exercise
due care, which includes reducing speed and increasing clearance to a recommended