Athens City Code

1. (1) Owners and operators of shopping centers in the city are authorized to post signs on and about the parking areas and private roadways on their properties giving notice that cruising on the property is prohibited.
2. (2) The term "cruising," as used in this section, means the continual, repeated, and aimless operation of a motor vehicle back and forth, through, around or within the parking areas and private roadways of a shopping center after 8:00 p.m. until the following sunrise, other than for the purpose of entering or leaving a parking space where the vehicle has been parked while the driver or passengers is or was visiting the shopping center or business.
3. (3) It shall be a violation of this section and a trespass for any person to cruise on any shopping center parking area and/or private roadways that have been posted by the owner or operator as authorized in subsection (a) of this section.

(Code 1972, § 9-206; Code 1995, § 15-306)

Except for necessary access to property abutting thereon, no motor vehicle shall be driven upon any street that is barricaded or closed for repairs or other lawful purpose.

(Code 1972, § 9-106; Code 1995, § 15-102)

It is unlawful for any person to stand, sit, or engage in any activity whatever on any public street, sidewalk, bridge, or public ground in such a manner as to prevent, obstruct or interfere with the free passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic thereon.

(Code 1972, § 10-232; Code 1995, § 11-704)

No driver shall enter any intersection or marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of such intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of traffic in or on the intersecting street or crosswalk. This provision shall be effective notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed.

(Code 1972, § 9-403; Code 1995, § 15-503)

1. (1) Authorized emergency vehicles shall be fire department vehicles, police vehicles, and such ambulances and other emergency vehicles as are designated by the chief of police.
2. (2) No driver of any vehicle shall follow any authorized emergency vehicle apparently traveling in response to an emergency call closer than 500 feet or drive or park such vehicle within 500 feet of where fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.

(Code 1972, §§ 9-102, 9-104; Code 1995, §§ 15-201, 15-203)

It is unlawful for any person traveling upon any bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, sled, roller skates, skateboard or any other vehicle to cling to, or attach himself or his vehicle to, any other moving vehicle upon any street, alley, or other public way or place.

(Code 1972, § 9-120; Code 1995, § 15-113)

It is unlawful for any person to ride, or for the owner or operator of any motor vehicle being operated on a street, alley or other public way or place, to permit any person to ride on any portion of such vehicle not designed or intended for the use of passengers. This section shall not apply to persons engaged in the necessary discharge of lawful duties nor to persons riding in the load-carrying space of trucks.

(Code 1972, § 9-121; Code 1995, § 15-114)

1. (1) It is unlawful for any person to cause unnecessary noise by unnecessarily sounding the horn, racing the motor, or causing the screeching or squealing of the tires on any motor vehicle. Furthermore, no person shall drive a motor vehicle on any road, street, or highway unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.
2. (2) It is unlawful to use a muffler cutout on any motor vehicle upon any road, street or highway.

(Code 1972, § 9-124; Code 1995, § 15-117)

No person shall operate upon any street of the city any vehicle, motor-propelled or otherwise, which by reason of its weight or the character of its wheels or track is likely to damage the surface or foundation of the street.

(Code 1972, § 9-119; Code 1995, § 15-120)

1. (1) Any person who drives, parks, stands, or otherwise operates a motor vehicle on, through or within a parking area, driving area or roadway located on privately owned property which is provided for use by patrons, customers or employees of business establishments upon such property or adjoining property, or for use otherwise in connection with activities conducted upon such property or adjoining property, after such person has been requested or ordered to leave the property or to cease doing any of the foregoing actions, commits a civil offense. A request or order under this section may be given by a law enforcement officer or by the owner, lessee, or other person having the right to the use or control of the property, or any authorized agent or representative thereof, including, but not limited to, private security guards hired to patrol the property.
2. (2) As used in this section, the term "motor vehicle" includes an automobile, truck, van, bus, recreational vehicle, camper, motorcycle, motor bike, moped, go-cart, all-terrain vehicle, dune buggy, and any other vehicle propelled by motor.
3. (3) A property owner, lessee or other person having the right to the use or control of property may post signs or other notices upon a parking area, driving area or roadway giving notice of this section and warning that violators will be prosecuted, provided that the posting of signs or notices shall not be a requirement to prosecution under this section and failure to post signs or notices shall not be a defense to prosecution hereunder.
4. (4) The maximum penalty for a violation of this section shall be a civil penalty not in excess of $50.00.

(Code 1995, § 11-809; Ord. No. 931, 9-20-2005)