Council approves municipal ordinance on liability coverage; debate over enforcement on state highways

The Rawlins City Council approved the second reading, and waived further reading, of an ordinance amending Rollins Municipal Code section 10.15.07 concerning failure to maintain liability coverage.

Council Member Steve Sanger raised concerns that the city was effectively layering a municipal requirement on state highways within city limits and that the sheriff's office and Wyoming Highway Patrol would not be able to enforce a municipal ordinance on state-controlled routes. City Attorney Pineda Mayberry and Rollins Police Chief explained the distinction: officers with municipal authority can cite municipal ordinances into municipal court, while sheriff or state patrol would enforce state statute in circuit court. Mayberry said the municipal ordinance tailors statutory language to the city's limited administrative authorities (for example, the city cannot perform county assessor duties referenced in state statute) and allows local enforcement by municipal officers and municipal-court adjudication.

Chief Ward (Rollins Police Department) noted the practical effect that local officers can use municipal court for these matters but that serious or repeated offenses can be charged in circuit court. The council approved the second reading by a 4to1 roll-call vote (Council Member Steve Sanger cast the lone nay). No change to state statute or sheriff/highway patrol enforcement authority occurred; the ordinance gives the city an additional local enforcement path through municipal court.