Title
Ordinance No. 24-22 Amending Section 202 (Definitions) of Part 2 (Definitions) of Article 1 (Administration and Enforcement) and Creating Section 232 (License Plates Displayed) of Part 2 (Vehicle Equipment and Inspection) of Article 22 (Vehicle Equipment and Inspection) of Chapter 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, As Amended; Pertaining to Display of License Plates.
Presenter:
Commander John Koch, Colorado Springs Police Department
Emily Vandenberg, Prosecuting Attorney, City Attorney’s Office
Body
Summary:
The proposed ordinance would allow CSPD officers and parking enforcement to cite drivers and/or vehicle owners into municipal court for failing to display current, valid license plates and registration stickers assigned to the vehicle or for covering or obscuring a license plate.
Background:
The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has researched additional options to improve traffic safety, ensure violators are held accountable for failing to display current registration, and for obscuring their license plates. Because failure to display valid registration is a significant problem in Colorado, CSPD seeks additional tools for enforcement at the municipal level.
CSPD recommends passing an Ordinance Amending Section 202 (Definitions) of Part 2 (Definitions) of Article 1 (Administration and Enforcement) and Creating Section 232 (License Plates Displayed) of Part 2 (Vehicle Equipment and Inspection) of Article 22 (Vehicle Equipment and Inspection) of Chapter 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, As Amended; Pertaining to Display of License Plates.
Because state law already requires proper license plate display and valid registration, and prohibits obscuring a license plate, and because CSPD already cites these violations into County Court, there will be no warning period. CSPD will begin citing violators in accordance with law and department policy once the necessary administrative steps have been taken.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
City Code § 10.22.232 will allow the City to issue municipal court summons for violations of license plate requirements that already exist under state law. Pursuant to City Code § 11.4.104, this will be a non-jailable violation with a penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) and/or a sentence to probation. The penalty from a ticket would be collected by the Municipal Court and then deposited into the City’s General Fund.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
The City Municipal Court and the City Attorney Prosecution Division have been consulted and support the proposed ordinance.
Alternatives:
City Council can adopt the proposed ordinance as presented, amend the proposed ordinance, or decline to adopt the proposed ordinance.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Move approval of Ordinance No. 24-22 Amending Section 202 (Definitions) of Part 2 (Definitions) of Article 1 (Administration and Enforcement) and Creating Section 232 (License Plates Displayed) of Part 2 (Vehicle Equipment and Inspection) of Article 22 (Vehicle Equipment and Inspection) of Chapter 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, As Amended; Pertaining to Display of License Plates.
Summary of Ordinance Language
An Ordinance enacting license plate display requirements on vehicles operated within the City.