Article I. Standard Traffic Ordinance

12-101. Standard traffic ordinance incorporated.

There is hereby incorporated by reference for the purpose of regulating traffic within the corporate limits of the City of Ottawa, Kansas, that certain standard traffic ordinance known as the Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas Cities, Edition of 2023, prepared and published in book form by the League of Kansas Municipalities, Topeka, Kansas. One copy of said Standard Traffic Ordinance shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Adopted by Ordinance No. 4120-23,” and to which shall be attached a copy of this article or said ordinance and filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours. The police department, municipal judge, and all administrative departments of the city charged with enforcement of the ordinance shall be supplied, at the cost of the city, such number of official copies of such Standard Traffic Ordinance similarly marked, as may be deemed expedient.

(K.S.A. 12-3009 et seq.; Code 2015; Ord. 3929-16; Ord. 3958-17; Ord. 3994-18; Ord. 4092-21; Ord. 4104-22; Ord. 4120-23)

12-102. Traffic infractions and traffic offenses.

A. An ordinance traffic infraction is a violation of any section of this ordinance that prescribes or requires the same behavior as that prescribed or required by a statutory provision that is classified as a traffic infraction in K.S.A. 8-2118.

B. All traffic violations that are included within this ordinance, and are not ordinance traffic infractions, as defined in subsection (A), shall be considered traffic offenses.

(Code 2015; Ord. 3929-16; Ord. 3958-17; Ord. 3994-18; Ord. 4092-21; Ord. 4104-22; Ord. 4120-23)

12-103. Careless driving.

It shall be unlawful for any person to drive, operate, halt or attempt to operate a vehicle upon the streets, highways or alleys of the City in a careless, heedless, or inattentive manner, or without due regard or caution or circumspection, or in a manner not constituting the degree of reckless driving, but so as to endanger any person or property. The fine for violation of this ordinance shall be not less than forty dollars ($40.00) nor more than six hundred ($600.00).

(Code 2015)

12-104. Limited time parking zones; penalties.

A. Whenever any appropriate sign shall be placed and maintained in any block by lawful authority of the City giving notice that the street or highway or City-owned parking lot may be used for parking or standing vehicles for a limited time only, it shall be unlawful for any person to fail or refuse to comply with such sign.

B. Violation of subsection (A) shall be punishable by a fine of not less than three dollars ($3.00) and not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

(Code 2015)

12-105. Same; business district defined.

For the purpose of the Standard Traffic Ordinance adopted in herein, whenever the phrase “Business District” is used, it shall be defined as follows:

Street	From	To
Hickory Street	1st Street	5th Street
Main Street	Tecumseh Street	5th Street
Walnut Street	1st Street	5th Street
1st Street	Walnut Street	Cedar Street
2nd Street	Walnut Street	Cedar Street
3rd Street	Walnut Street	Cedar Street
4th Street	Walnut Street	Cedar Street
5th Street	Walnut Street	Cedar Street

(Code 2015)

12-106. Penalty for scheduled fines.

The fine for violation of an ordinance traffic infraction or any other traffic offense in which the municipal judge establishes a fine in a fine schedule shall not be less than $40.00 nor more than $500.00. A person tried and convicted for violation of an ordinance traffic infraction or other traffic offense in which a fine has been established in a schedule of fines shall pay a fine fixed by the court not to exceed $500.

(Code 2015; Ord. 3929-16; Ord. 3958-17; Ord. 3994-18; Ord. 4092-21; Ord. 4104-22; Ord. 4120-23)