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Finance committee backs ordinance tightening oversized-vehicle enforcement
Summary
The finance committee recommended approval of an ordinance change that shifts enforcement of oversized-vehicle rules to the police department, tightens the measurement definition (including deflated or missing tires) and limits permits to two per 30 days for the same vehicle to curb permit abuse.
Deputy City Attorney David Hopinson told the committee the ordinance under consideration removes enforcement of oversized-vehicle violations from the compliance department and places it solely with the Cheyenne Police Department, revises the definition to account for deflated or missing tires and limits permits so the same vehicle cannot receive more than two permits within any 30-day period.
The change, Hopinson said, is meant to prevent “consecutive permits” that allow oversized vehicles to remain on public streets indefinitely and to give law enforcement clearer authority when a vehicle has reduced operability because of missing or deflated tires. “Any actual measurements shall be increased as necessary to account for deflated tires or missing tires,” Hopinson said during his staff report.
Dr. Michelle Aldrich (W3 city council representative) urged the committee to approve the tweaks, saying the measure responds to resident complaints and examples of permit abuse. Aldrich said one person had purchased 15 permits at once and described a camper on College Drive that measures just over 9 feet with inflated tires but under 9 feet when tires are flat; the vehicle has been the subject of repeated enforcement requests. “This is a result of many phone calls and emails… these were complaint driven,” Aldrich said.
Captain James of the police department supported the clarifying language, saying it will give chiefs and CSOs criteria to approve or deny permits and make enforcement more practical. He also raised practical measurement problems — roof-mounted air conditioners and other attachments can be difficult for community service officers to account for — and urged clear guidance for officers.
Councilman White moved to adopt the ordinance on second reading, Councilman Wolf seconded, and the committee recorded a unanimous voice vote to recommend adoption to the governing body.
The committee’s recommendation sends the ordinance to the full governing body for final action.
