The Hardwick Select Board accepted amendments and adopted changes to the Town of Hardwick Traffic Ordinance at a Select Board meeting on May 18, 2023. The purpose of the Ordinance is to promote public health, safety, and welfare by establishing safe speed limits on certain paved and unpaved town highways in the Town of Hardwick.
A summary of the changes to Articles VII and VIII are as follows:
ARTICLE VII. SPEED REGULATIONS
Specific roads have been identified by Town Highway # for each of the following categories: twenty-five (25) miles per hour, thirty (30) miles per hour, thirty-five (35) miles per hour, fifty (50) miles per hour, and those roads where no speed limit has been established by the Selectboard. The change breaks down each speed category and lists the speed limits of specific roads and streets. It also has a section that covers Routes 14, 15 & 16.
ARTICLE VIII. PENALTIES
VIOLATIONS & PENALTIES. It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any person to operate a motor vehicle in excess of the above posted speed limits. The penalty for a violation of this ordinance is assessed according to the Judicial Bureau Waiver Penalty Schedule in effect at the time of violation.
ENFORCEMENT. The violation of this ordinance shall be a civil matter which may be enforced in the Vermont Judicial Bureau in accordance with the provisions of 24 V.S.A. §§ 1974a and 1977 et seq. and Rule 80.6 of the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure. For purposes of enforcement in the Judicial Bureau, any Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to issue tickets and may be the appearing officer at any hearing.
This ordinance may be enforced by any qualified law enforcement officers in the State of Vermont.
Section 3. Any person who violates the provisions of Article V and Article VI are subject to penalties that pertain to Title 23, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 1003, 1007 and 1081 (b) as set forth in the Vermont Uniform Violations and Offenses Waiver Schedule of Fines and Point Assessment Manual.
The amendments to the Traffic Ordinance shall become effective July 16, 2023, unless a petition signed by at least five percent of the voters of the Town of Hardwick is filed with the Town Clerk by July 1, 2023, asking for a vote to disapprove the ordinance. If a petition is received, the Hardwick Select Board will hold a special meeting and the voters may vote on that question. Copies of the adopted ordinance are available at the Town Clerk’s and Town Manager’s Office at 20 Church Street, Hardwick, VT For questions, contact David Upson, Town Manager at 802-472-6120. Click here for a full copy of the ordinance.