CARSTAIRS - Council has approved a number of amendments to the town’s traffic bylaw, including new definitions for motor vehicles.
The move came by way of motion at the recent, regularly-scheduled council meeting.
Chief administrative officer (CAO) Rick Blair said the updates were the first for the bylaw in several years.
“There were a bunch of changes, but it was really just updating it to the current provincial traffic guidelines,” Blair to the Albertan. “It’s definitions that have changed.
“It is nothing that is really operationally significant. It was really just updating it. It hasn’t been updated in a long time.”
The updated bylaw now defines a motor vehicle as “vehicle propelled by any power other than muscular power or a moped.”
Off-highway vehicles are now defined as “any motorized mode of transportation built for cross-country travel on land, water, snow, ice or marsh or swamp land or on other natural terrain (and includes) low pressure tire vehicles, motorcycles and related two-wheel vehicles, miniature motor voices, mini bikes and snow vehicles.”
Recreational vehicle are now defined as “a vehicle designed to provide temporary living accommodation for travel, vacation or recreational use, and to be driven, towed or transported.”
Commercial vehicle is now defined as “a vehicle operated on a highway by or on behalf of a person for the purpose of providing transportation but does not include a private passenger vehicle.”
Under the parking and moving offences section, an updated section reads: “A trailer shall not be parked on a highway (in town) unless the trailer is attached to a vehicle by which it may be drawn unless the trailer has been issued a permit by the CAO, allowing the trailer to remain on the roadway detached from the vehicle.”
As well, another update reads: “No vehicle shall be displayed for sale, lease or rent on land owned or leased by the Town of Carstairs unless permission has been granted by the CAO.”
Another update reads that “No person shall park or permit to be parked a vehicle, trailer or boat which cannot be completely parked within the confines of the person’s driveway space.”
Under the updated bylaw, bicycles being operated by person under the age of 18 years old may be operated on the sidewalk provided due consideration is given to other users of the sidewalk.”
The complete updated Bylaw No. 1062 is available for viewing on the town’s website.
