Traffic Act Part 1

Firestone Traffic Act

PREAMBLE
To better organize traffic laws and regulations.

Chapter 1. Main Driving Infractions

§ 1.

  1. ‘Reckless Driving’ shall be an illegal traffic infraction (for the first offense) and misdemeanour (for the second offense and above) in Firestone. Reckless Driving shall be defined as: “maliciously driving a motor vehicle with a disregard for traffic rules, which may cause an accident involving injuries or death”. The disregard for traffic rules must be malicious (e.g. road rage).
  2. Any person charged with Reckless Driving shall receive the following punishment:
    a. First offense: $400 citation.
    b. A second offense and above: Jail time of 300 seconds.

§ 2.

  1. ‘Careless Driving’ shall be illegal in Firestone. Careless Driving shall be defined as: “driving a motor vehicle with a disregard for traffic rules, which may cause an accident involving injuries or death”.
  2. Careless Driving cannot be a charge alongside Reckless Driving or Dangerous Driving.
  3. Any person charged with Careless Driving shall receive the following punishment: $110 to $200 citation.

§ 3.

  1. ‘Distracted Vehicle Operation’ shall be an illegal traffic infraction in Firestone. Distracted Vehicle Operation shall be defined as: “driving a motor vehicle or bicycle while operating a phone, camera, or any other object which may cause a distraction while driving”.
  2. Radar guns and similar speed measuring equipment operated by on-duty law enforcement officers shall not be considered a distracting object.
  3. Any person charged with Distracted Vehicle Operation shall receive the following punishment: $150 citation or warning for first offenses.

§ 4.

  1. ‘Illegal U-Turns’ shall be an illegal traffic infraction in Firestone. Illegal U-Turns shall be defined as: “making a U-turn when unauthorized to do so by signage or road markings”.
  2. ‘Signage or road markings’ shall be defined further in this Act.
  3. Any person charged with Illegal U-Turns shall receive the following punishment: $70 citation.

§ 5.

  1. ‘Doing Drift Burnouts’ shall be an illegal traffic infraction in Firestone. Doing Drift Burnouts shall be defined as: “intentionally or negligently drifting causing burnout and causing smoke to evolve while operating a motor vehicle”.
  2. Any person charged with Doing Drift Burnouts shall receive the following punishment:
    a. First offense: $150 citation.
    b. A second offense and above: $230 citation.

§ 6.

  1. ‘Driving a Vehicle with Disabled Tires’ shall be an illegal traffic infraction in Firestone. Driving a Vehicle with Disabled Tires shall be defined as: “driving any motor vehicle with flat or disabled tire(s) without due precautions”.
  2. ‘Due precautions’ shall be defined as heading to a parking space to halt the vehicle as soon as possible and staying on the rightmost lane to not hinder traffic.
  3. Any person charged with Driving a Vehicle with Disabled Tires shall receive the following treatment by law enforcement officers:
    a. The law enforcement officer shall request that the driver park the vehicle somewhere legal and either call for the Department of Transportation or to respawn the vehicle or simply not drive the vehicle anymore. The driver is then free to go.
    b. If the driver fails to either not drive the vehicle anymore, respawn the vehicle, or get the tires pumped, the driver shall be cited $100 for Driving a Vehicle with Disabled Tires.
    c. If the driver continues to drive the same vehicle with disabled tires, the driver shall be arrested for Driving a Vehicle with Disabled Tires (60 seconds).
    d. If another person drives the vehicle other than the initiating driver, the process will start from (a) of this section.

§ 7.

  1. ‘Driving a Vehicle without Headlights’ shall be an illegal traffic infraction in Firestone. Driving a Vehicle without Headlights shall be defined as: “driving any motor vehicle or bicycle at night or in poor weather conditions without headlights being switched on”.
  2. ‘Poor weather conditions’ shall be defined as rain, fog, smog, mist, snowfall, or any condition which impairs vision ahead substantially.
  3. Bicycles shall be exempt from this infraction if they are not equipped with a light. If a bicycle is charged with this crime, the officer should (for informational purposes) append a ‘(bicycle)’ text at the end of the charge.
  4. Any person charged with Driving a Vehicle without Headlights shall receive the following punishment:
    a. First offense: Warning.
    b. A second offense and above: $90 citation.

§ 8.

  1. ‘Driving Backwards into Traffic’ shall be an illegal traffic infraction in Firestone. Driving Backwards into Traffic shall be defined as: “driving a motor vehicle or bicycle in reverse when traffic is behind them or they are endangering potential traffic by driving in reverse for a long period of time without real purpose”.
  2. Any person charged with Driving Backwards into Traffic shall receive the following punishment: $100 citation.

§ 9.

  1. ‘Failure to Drive on the Correct Side of the Road’ shall be an illegal traffic infraction in Firestone. Failure to Drive on the Correct Side of the Road shall be defined as: “driving the incorrect way in traffic”.
  2. Persons can only be punished for Failure to Drive on the Correct Side of the Road if at least half of their vehicle is on the wrong side of the road (into oncoming traffic).
  3. Any person charged with Failure to Drive on the Correct Side of the Road shall receive the following punishment:
    a. First offense: $200 citation.
    b. A second offense and above: Jail time of 120 seconds.

§ 10.

  1. ‘Failure to Yield’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Failure to Yield shall be defined as: “failure to yield the right-of-way to vehicles or bicycles which have the right-of-way”.
  2. ‘Right-of-way’ and relevant information shall be defined further in this Act.
  3. Any person charged with Failure to Yield shall receive the following punishment: $50 to $250 citation depending on the situation (failure to yield to emergency vehicles is heftier a punishment than it is to normal traffic).

§ 11.

  1. ‘Failure to Yield to Pedestrians’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Failure to Yield to Pedestrians shall be defined as: “failure to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians which have the right-of-way”.
  2. ‘Right-of-way’ and relevant information shall be defined further in this Act.
  3. Any person charged with Failure to Yield to Pedestrians shall receive the following punishment: $100 to $270 citation.

§ 12.

  1. ‘Running a Red Light’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Running a Red Light shall be defined as: “passing a red traffic light (passing being defined as the front tires of the vehicle passing the stop line, or, where absent, the vehicle’s front tires passing the crosswalk, traffic light’s location, or the vehicle moving in any other way that a reasonable person would assume as running the red light) when not authorized to do so”.
  2. ‘When not authorized to do so’ shall be defined further in this Act.
  3. ‘Stopline’ shall be defined in chapter 3 § 3(1).
  4. Any person charged with Running a Red Light shall receive the following punishment: $100 to $200 citation.

§ 13.

  1. ‘Running a Stop Sign’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Running a Stop Sign shall be defined as: “failure to stop at a stop sign (failure to stop being defined as the front tires of the vehicle passing the stop line, or, where absent, the vehicle’s front tires passing the crosswalk or the stop sign’s location) before continuing again (if allowed to do so)”.
  2. ‘Stopline’ shall be defined in chapter 3 § 3(1).
  3. Other information regarding ‘(if possible)’ shall be defined further in this Act.
  4. Any person charged with Running a Stop Sign shall receive the following punishment: $50 to $150 citation.

§ 14.

  1. ‘Speeding’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Speeding shall be defined as: “driving faster than the speed limit”.
  2. Speed limits are posted signs (as per chapter 7) which indicate the speed limit in s/s. The speed limit enters effect where the sign is posted and the effect is nullified when another sign overrides the speed limit. Any ambiguities are to be cleared up by the courts and may receive advisory opinions by the Development Team.
    a. The speed limit on Residential Road, Harrison Street, 109th Avenue, 110th Avenue, and Arapahoe Street is 40s/s unless other signage or road markings indicate a lower speed limit.
    b. The speed limit on the section of 108th Avenue between Residential Road and the intersection with Savage Road is 70s/s unless other signage or road markings indicate a lower speed limit.
    c. The speed limit on the section of Outland Road between both of the intersections with 98th Avenue is 70s/s unless other signage or road markings indicate a lower speed limit.
    d. The speed limit on the FS 401 Highway is 80s/s unless other signage or road markings indicate a lower speed limit.
    e. The speed limit on the FS 98 Highway is 70s/s unless other signage or road markings indicate a speed limit.
    f. The speed limits listed above (a-e) still have effect if other signage or road markings indicate a lower speed limit, however the speed limit is reduced in the specific areas with lower speed limits.
  3. ‘s/s’ in this Act is Studs Per Second (also known as SPS)
  4. Vehicles are permitted to speed up to 5s/s above the speed limit.
  5. Should a vehicle speed at an irregular value not equaling to a multiple of ten, the number shall be rounded to the nearest ten.
  6. Any person charged with Speeding shall receive the following punishment:
    a. 10 above the speed limit: $40 citation.
    b. 20 above the speed limit: $60 citation.
    c. 30 above the speed limit: $80 citation.
    d. 40 above the speed limit: $100 citation.
    e. 50 above the speed limit: $120 citation and a charge for reckless driving.
    f. 60 above the speed limit: $140 citation and a charge for reckless driving.
    g. Increasing by $20 and including a charge for reckless driving every 10 above 60 above the speed limit.

§ 15.

  1. ‘Tailgating’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Tailgating shall be defined as: “driving too close to another vehicle ahead”.
  2. ‘Too close’ shall be up to the discretion of the officer, however, the official formula for calculating the braking distance in studs shall be (s being speed in s/s): ((s/10)^2) / 2
  3. The formula is only to be used in court procedures after the fact, and the court may rule for the officer even if the formula would claim that the person wasn’t tailgating, should they deem fit.
  4. Any person charged with Tailgating shall receive the following punishment: $160 citation.

Chapter 2. Miscellaneous Driving Infractions

§ 1.

  1. ‘Violating Road Line Regulations’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Violating Road Line Regulations shall be defined as: “crossing over or violating lines on the road”.
  2. This charge shall be further defined in this Act (chapter 3 specifically).
  3. Any person charged with Violating Road Line Regulations shall receive the following punishment: $50 to $150 citation.

§ 2.

  1. ‘Failure to Obey the Move Over Law’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Failure to Obey the Move Over Law shall be defined as: “failure to move over or slow down as appropriate when approaching employees on the road”.
  2. Vehicles must maintain a one-lane distance from employees on the side of the road.
  3. If vehicles are unable to do so safely, they must slow down to at least 30s/s and stay vigilant.
  4. Employees (in this section) shall be defined as any Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works, Stapleton County Fire Department, Stapleton County Sheriff’s Office, Firestone Department of Corrections, Firestone Department of Homeland Security, or Firestone State Patrol employees, vehicles, or cones/barriers placed by these persons.
  5. Any person charged with Failure to Obey the Move Over Law shall receive the following punishment: $50 to $250 citation.

§ 3.

  1. ‘Failure to Use Hazard Lights’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Failure to Use Hazard Lights shall be defined as: “failure to use hazard lights (blinking lights on both the right and left side) when driving, waiting, or stopped on the emergency lane or when doing an abnormal manoeuvre that requires the hazard lights to be activated”.
  2. ‘Abnormal manoeuvre’ shall be up to the discretion of the officer and subsequently the court, but must be obvious to the regular person.
  3. Any person charged with Failure to Use Hazard Lights shall receive the following punishment: $70 citation.

§ 4.

  1. ‘Failure to Use Signals’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Failure to Use Signals shall be defined as: “failure to use turn signals or indicators when switching lanes, turning, making a u-turn, or exiting a roundabout at least 1 second prior to making the action”.
  2. Any person charged with Failure to Use Signals shall receive the following punishment: Warning for first offense, $30 citation for the second offense and above.

§ 5.

  1. ‘Hindering’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Hindering shall be defined as: “going at or less than 20s/s lower than the posted speed limit unless a traffic situation requires it”.
  2. ‘Traffic situation’ shall be defined as preventing a collision or as defined by ‘waiting’.
  3. The Department of Public Works shall be exempt from Hindering while sweeping the street, and are permitted to go as slow as they wish without repercussions.
  4. Any person charged with Hindering shall receive the following punishment: $20 citation per every 10s/s under the speed limit (example: $60 citation if the person is going 30s/s under the speed limit).

§ 6.

  1. ‘Improper Turn or Lane Change’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Improper Turn or Lane Change shall be defined as: “turning or switching lanes in an improper manner which could endanger other road users or is in violation of signage or road markings”.
  2. Any person charged with Improper Turn or Lane Change shall receive the following punishment: $50 to $150 citation.

§ 7.

  1. ‘Motorized Obstruction of Traffic’ shall be an illegal infraction in Firestone. Motorized Obstruction of Traffic shall be defined as: “obstructing traffic from moving while operating a motor vehicle unless a traffic situation requires you to stop”.
  2. ‘Traffic situation requires you to stop’ shall be defined as to avoid a collision or as defined by ‘waiting’.
  3. Any person charged with Motorized Obstruction of Traffic shall receive the following punishment: $100 citation. $200 citation on roads with a speed limit of at or above 70s/s.

§ 8.

  1. Any crimes committed within a danger zone have extra punishments. Citations of crimes committed in a work zone are doubled, and arrests of crimes committed in danger zones have 100 seconds added onto them. Citations or arrests conducted in danger zones but not committed therein cannot have extra punishments.
  2. A ‘danger zone’ shall be defined as an area within 100 studs of any cones, flares, stationary DOT/DPW vehicles, DOT/DPW employees at the side of the road outside of their vehicle, or other objects used by workers or law enforcement officers to control traffic or close areas of work to the public.

Chapter 3. Road Lanes and Lines

§ 1.

  1. ‘Road lane’ shall be defined as: “a lane marked by lines on the road which controls where vehicles should be”.
  2. ‘Overtaking’ shall be defined as: “passing another vehicle that is going slower than you in order to overtake them”.
  3. ‘Passing’ shall be defined as: “passing any line on a roadway”.

§ 2.

  1. Yellow lines separate traffic travelling in the opposite direction or on areas without opposing traffic (on the left side) such as on a highway on/off ramp.
  2. White lines separate traffic travelling in the same direction.
  3. 4 yellow lines indicate to the driver that he/she should act as if it was a physical barrier in the roadway and that passing or overtaking is prohibited for any reasoning unless otherwise authorized by signage or road markings. U-turns are prohibited.
  4. Double yellow lines indicate the median of a roadway. Vehicles are prohibited from passing these lines unless they are turning left or turning onto the road. U-turns are prohibited.
  5. Broken double yellow lines surrounding a lane indicates that the lane is a shared use or can be switched to use by different directions of traffic. Passing and overtaking is allowed in this lane unless prohibited by signage, screens, or road markings. U-turns are prohibited.
  6. Solid yellow lines are the same as double yellow lines.
  7. Broken yellow lines indicate that there is two-way traffic, but passing and overtaking is allowed. U-turns are permitted.
  8. Yellow lines with one side solid and one side broke indicate that vehicles are permitted to pass and overtake from the side that is broken but is prohibited to pass and overtake from the side that is solid. U-turns are permitted if started from the side with the broken lines. (this subsection excludes centre left turn lanes)
  9. The same regulations as set above count for white lines, but that they have traffic flowing in the same direction.
  10. Some white and yellow lines may be used to mark parking spaces, road boundaries, crosswalks, etc. In these scenarios, the regulations above should be ignored.

§ 3.

  1. A thick white line across the roadway indicates the same as a stop sign unless signage or traffic lights indicate otherwise.
  2. An emergency lane is a lane at the right side of a highway which is usually separated with a solid white line and possible rumble strips. Vehicles are permitted to pass these lines and stop in the emergency lane if they follow proper precautions (such as hazard lights). Emergency lanes cannot be used for overtaking and must be used to come to a complete stop. Vehicles cannot drive in an emergency lane due to fuel outages or other maintenance issues and must come to a full stop and call the appropriate services.
  3. A centre left turn lane is a special lane that is surrounded by broken yellow lines facing the inside and solid yellow lines on the outside. Vehicles are permitted to pass in and out of this lane but cannot overtake and must turn left within 40 studs of entering the lane, unless they are preparing to merge into another lane (vehicles cannot drive in the center left turn lane for more than 100 studs in order to merge into another lane, however). The lane can be used by both directions of traffic. U-turns are permitted.
  4. Triangular white icons on the road that have their apexes pointed towards traffic indicate the same as a yield sign would.
  5. Crosswalks are areas on the road designated for pedestrians to cross. Crosswalks are split into 6 different types and are illustrated in this image.
  6. Other markings may be on the road to warn drivers or give additional information.

Chapter 4. Parking and Towing

§ 1.

  1. ‘Parking’ shall be defined as stopping a motor vehicle and exiting it or leaving it stopped for 1 minute or more.
  2. ‘Parking a bicycle’ shall be defined as stopping a bicycle and dismounting it or leaving it stopped for 1 minute or more.
  3. ‘Parking spaces’ shall be defined as any area designated for parking by signage or road markings.
  4. ‘Stopping’ shall be defined as stopping a motor vehicle (down to 0s/s), if a vehicle is waiting, it shall not be stopping.
  5. ‘Waiting’ shall be defined as waiting (with due reason) for:
    a. A red traffic light.
    b. A stop sign.
    c. A yield sign.
    d. A stopped vehicle (or to avoid a collision).
    e. The right-of-way at an intersection.
    f. The orders of a DOT, DPW, fire/ambulance service, or law enforcement employee.
    g. Any other road situation that requires waiting.

§ 2.

  1. ‘Illegal Parking’ shall be a traffic infraction in Firestone. Illegal Parking shall be defined as: “parking in an improper manner”. The base citation amount for illegal parking is $40. Improper manners in which to park shall be prescribed below.
    a. Vehicles cannot park on a sidewalk.
    b. Vehicles cannot park on the roadway and may be cited for additional charges such as Motorized Obstruction of Traffic.
    c. Vehicles cannot park in multiple parking spaces.
    d. Vehicles cannot park in a handicap spot without the proper authorization granted by the Department of Transportation. Parking in a handicap spot shall add $60 to the base citation.
    e. Vehicles cannot park in an electric charging spot if they are not an electric vehicle. Parking in an electric charging spot shall add $20 to the base citation.
    f. Electric vehicles cannot park in an electric charging spot if they are not charging.
    g. Vehicles cannot park in or at a refuelling station if it may block other road users to refuel unless the vehicle is also refuelling.
    h. Vehicles cannot park in a manner that obstructs property, pedestrians, or traffic flow.
    i. Vehicles cannot park at or within 30 studs of a traffic sign, signal, or crosswalk.
    j. Vehicles cannot park in any area where it is prohibited to park (to be indicated by signage or road markings).
    k. Vehicles cannot park in any area not designated for stopping as defined in § 3(1) of this chapter. Parking in an area not designated for stoppings shall also add $60 to the base citation if they are stopped in prohibition of § 3(1c).
    l. Vehicles cannot park at a sidewalk painted red.
    m. Vehicles cannot park in any way that endangers the public.
    n. Should a vehicle be illegally parked, the vehicle cannot be cited for more than $100 unless other charges are for an unrelated matter.
    o. Vehicles are exempt from these parking laws should they be authorized to park in the area (to be indicated by road signage or road markings).

§ 3.

  1. ‘Illegal Stopping’ shall be a traffic infraction in Firestone. Illegal Stopping shall be defined as: “stopping in an improper manner”. The base citation amount for illegal stopping is $40. Improper manners in which to stop shall be prescribed below. Illegal Stopping cannot be a charge alongside Illegal Parking unless the charges are for separate occasions.
    a. Vehicles cannot stop inside any intersection (intersections, in this case, shall exclude entrances and exits to unpaved roadways). Opposed to all other infractions listed in this section, vehicles are unauthorized to wait OR stop within an intersection at any time, unless to avoid a collision. Waiting in an intersection shall be classed as Illegal Stopping, even though the vehicle is waiting and not stopping.
    b. Vehicles cannot stop in any area where it is prohibited to stop (to be indicated by signage or road markings).
    c. Vehicles cannot stop next to or within 30 studs of any fire hydrant. They can also not stop at or within 30 studs of any fire lane or fire exit/entrance as marked by road markings and signage. Stopping in these areas shall add $60 to the base citation.
    d. Vehicles cannot stop inside or 20 studs within a tunnel’s entrance/exit unless allowed by signage or road markings.
    e. Vehicles cannot stop in any way that endangers the public.
    f. Vehicles cannot stop on a crosswalk. Opposed to all other infractions listed in this section, vehicles are unauthorized to wait OR stop on a crosswalk at any time, unless to avoid a collision. Waiting on a crosswalk shall be classed as Illegal Stopping, even though the vehicle is waiting and not stopping.
    g. Vehicles cannot stop on a sidewalk.
    h. Should a vehicle be illegally stopped, the vehicle cannot be cited for more than $100 unless other charges are for an unrelated matter.
    i. Vehicles are exempt from these stopping laws should they be authorized to park in the area (to be indicated by road signage or road markings).

§ 4.

  1. ‘Illegal Bicycle Parking’ shall be a traffic infraction and be defined as: “parking a bicycle in a manner that it obstructs or hinders road users or pedestrians, or poses a threat to public safety”. The punishment for Illegal Bicycle Parking shall be a $15 citation.

§ 5.

  1. The Department of Transportation is permitted to tow any vehicle that is parked in any way as prescribed § 2 of this chapter, stopped vehicles cannot be towed, as the driver is still inside the vehicle.
  2. The Department of Transportation is permitted to tow any vehicle that belong(s)ed to a subject that has been arrested and is currently in prison.
  3. The Department of Transportation is permitted to tow any vehicle that is parked at or inside any restricted area (as defined by legislation and the Constitution, specifically C.V.IV/V/VI/VII).
  4. The Department of Transportation is permitted to tow any vehicle that was involved in an accident unless the owner of the vehicle negates such action.
  5. The Department of Transportation or any other law enforcement agency shall be permitted to move or tow away a bicycle that is illegally parked, as defined in § 4 of this chapter.
  6. The Department of Transportation shall be prohibited to tow any vehicle or bicycle as allowed by this section if the owner enters the vehicle after returning and is willing to move the vehicle, or if a person is inside of the vehicle. If the owner fails to move the vehicle or exit the vehicle and is inside of it, the person can be punished for Obstruction Against DOT and any other relevant charges. If a person is inside of the vehicle and fails to exit the vehicle that is being lawfully towed, the person can be punished for Obstruction Against DOT.
  7. Any person that interferes or hinders with a lawful tow initiated by a law enforcement officer or the Department of Transportation can be charged with Obstruction Against DOT.

Part 2: Traffic Act Part 2

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