Council votes on parked trailers, vehicles left parked 5 days

Havre City Council members voted unanimously Monday night to approve ordinances that will result in fines and the impoundment of any trailer or recreational vehicle parked on a city street for more than 48 hours.

Council member Brian Barrows was absent.

The Committee passed 7-0 on second reading an ordinance that says owners of RVs and trailers parked on city streets for more than 48 hours will be subjected to fines of $100 on the first offense, $200 on the second offense and $300 and impoundment or removal of vehicles on the third offense. Council had passed the ordinance change during its first reading 7-0 at their Feb. 6 meeting.

Council President Andrew Brekke said the proposal now becomes law.

Council members also passed on first reading a proposal that stripped language from existing city code that exempted people visiting from outside the city who stay in their trailers and RVs from the 48-hour parking limit.

Brekke said the new ordinance and penalties now apply to all RVs and trailers parking on streets, so the language exempting tourists from the 48-hour limit is no longer needed.

In other business, the Council unanimously passed on second reading a change to city code that says a vehicle must be moved one vehicle length after five consecutive days or be fined up to $300.

The new language also applies to vehicles situated in a parking zone or handicapped parking zone for more than six hours, or occupying a handicapped parking space on a public way for more than six hours. The new ordinance is meant to target vehicles left unattended on any public way.

Brekke said under language in the previous ordinance, a vehicle could be moved only a few inches forward or backward to be in compliance with the law.