28-627. Powers of local authorities

(L19, Ch. 120, sec. 4. Eff. until 9/1/20)

A. This chapter and chapters 4 and 5 of this title do not prohibit a local authority, with respect to streets and highways under its jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the police power, from:

1. Regulating the standing or parking of vehicles.

2. Regulating traffic by means of police officers, traffic control signals or volunteer posse organization members authorized by the sheriff under section 11-441 for the purpose of directing traffic only.

3. Regulating or prohibiting processions or assemblages on the highways.

4. Designating particular highways as one-way highways and requiring that all vehicles on one-way highways be moved in one specific direction.

5. Regulating the speed of vehicles in public parks.

6. Designating any highway as a through highway and requiring that all vehicles stop before entering or crossing the highway or designating any intersection as a stop intersection and requiring all vehicles to stop at one or more entrances to the intersection.

7. Restricting the use of highways as authorized in section 28-1106.

8. Regulating the operation of bicycles and requiring the registration and licensing of bicycles, including the requirement of a registration fee.

9. Regulating or prohibiting the turning of vehicles or specified types of vehicles at intersections.

10. Altering the prima facie speed limits as authorized by this chapter.

11. Designating routes over streets and highways for vehicles not exceeding one hundred two inches in width, exclusive of safety equipment.

12. Adopting other traffic regulations that are specifically authorized by this chapter or chapter 4 or 5 of this title.

13. Designating routes on certain streets and highways for the purpose of allowing off-highway vehicle operators to gain access to or from a designated off-highway recreation facility as defined in section 28-1171, off-highway vehicle trail as defined in section 28-1171 or off-highway vehicle special event as defined in section 28-1171.

14. Adopting reasonable restrictions for the safe operation of personal delivery devices. The local authority may allow all of the following:

(a) A personal delivery device's weight to exceed two hundred pounds, excluding cargo.

(b) A personal delivery device to operate at a speed that exceeds seven miles per hour.

(c) An owner and operator of a personal delivery device to maintain an insurance policy that provides less than $100, 000 for damages arising from the operations of the personal delivery device.

15. Regulating electric bicycles and electric standup scooters. A local authority may consider the environmental benefits and traffic benefits of electric bicycles and electric standup scooters when regulating electric bicycles and electric standup scooters.

B. A local authority shall not erect or maintain a stop sign or traffic control signal at any location that requires the traffic on any state highway to stop before entering or crossing any intersecting highway unless approval in writing has first been obtained from the director.

C. An ordinance or regulation enacted under subsection A, paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 or 10 of this section is not effective until signs giving notice of the local traffic regulations are posted on or at the entrances to the highway or part of the highway affected as is most appropriate.

D. The definition of motor vehicle prescribed in section 28-101 does not prevent a local authority from adopting ordinances that regulate or prohibit the operation of motorized skateboards, except that a local authority shall not adopt an ordinance that requires registration and licensing of motorized skateboards. For the purposes of this subsection, " motorized skateboard" means a self-propelled device that does not have handlebars and that has a motor, a deck on which a person may ride and at least two tandem wheels in contact with the ground.

E. In addition to the appointment of peace officers, a local authority may provide by ordinance for the appointment of:

1. Unarmed police aides or municipally approved private contractors who are employed or contracted by the police department and who are empowered to commence an action or proceeding before a court or judge for a violation of the local authority's ordinances regulating the standing or parking of vehicles. A municipally approved private contractor shall not include a relative of an employee or of an elected official of the municipality. The authority of the unarmed police aide or municipally approved private contractor as authorized in this section is limited to the enforcement of the ordinances of local authorities regulating the standing or parking of vehicles. Pursuant to rules established by the supreme court, an unarmed police aide appointed pursuant to this paragraph may serve any process originating out of a municipal court in the municipality in which the unarmed police aide is employed. Service of process under this paragraph shall only be made during the hours the municipal court is open for the transaction of business and only on court premises. This paragraph does not grant to unarmed police aides or municipally approved private contractors other powers or benefits to which peace officers of this state are entitled.

2. Traffic investigators who may:

(a) Investigate traffic accidents within the jurisdiction of the local authority.

(b) Commence an action or proceeding before a court or judge for any violation of a state statute or local ordinance relating to traffic, if the violation is related to a traffic accident within the jurisdiction of the local authority.

(c) Pursuant to rules established by the supreme court, serve any process originating out of a municipal court in the municipality in which the traffic investigator is employed. Service of process under paragraph 1 of this subsection shall only be made during the hours the municipal court is open for the transaction of business and only on court premises.

F. A traffic investigator appointed pursuant to this section shall:

1. Be unarmed at all times during the course of the traffic investigator's duties.

2. Be an employee of the appointing local authority.

3. File written reports as required pursuant to section 28-667.

G. Notwithstanding subsection E of this section, an unarmed police aide, a municipally approved private contractor or a traffic investigator shall not serve any process resulting from a citation issued for a violation of article 3 or 6 of this chapter or of a city or town ordinance for excessive speed or failure to obey a traffic control device that is obtained using a photo enforcement system.

H. This section does not grant other powers or benefits to traffic investigators to which peace officers of this state are entitled.

I. Pursuant to section 28-1092, a local authority shall provide reasonable access to and from terminals and service facilities on highways under its jurisdiction.