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<br />GENERAL ORDINANCES 213
<br />having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is
<br />unlawful is authorized to weigh the same either by means of
<br />loadometers or scales and may require that such vehicle be driven
<br />to the nearest scales in the event such scales are within two miles.
<br />The officer may then require the driver to immediately unload
<br />such portion of the load as may be necessary to decrease the
<br />gross weight of such vehicle to the maximum therefor specified
<br />in this section.
<br />Sec. 489(40). Permits for excessive size and weight.
<br />The Mayor and Chief of Police may, in their discretion, upon
<br />:application in writing and good cause being shown therefor, is-
<br />sue a special permit in writing authorizing the applicant to op-
<br />erate or move a vehicle upon the highways of a size or weight
<br />exceeding the maximum specified in this section. Every such
<br />permit shall be issued for a single trip and may designate the
<br />route to be traversed and contain any other restrictions or condi-
<br />tions deemed necessary by the one granting such permit. Every
<br />such permit shall be carried in the vehicle to which it refers and
<br />shall be open to inspection by any such officer, and it shall be un-
<br />lawful for any person to violate any of the terms or conditions
<br />of such special permit.
<br />Sec. 489(41). Mayor and chief of police may decrease.
<br />weight limits.
<br />The Mayor and Chief of Police may adopt regulations de-
<br />creasing the weight and load limit specified in subsection 38 for
<br />a total period not to exceed 90 days in any calendar year, when
<br />operation over streets or highways by reason of deterioration,
<br />rain, snow or other climatic conditions, will seriously damage
<br />such streets or highways unless such weights are reduced. No
<br />such regulation shall be effective unless signs stating the weight
<br />specified in such regulations are erected at each end of the sec-
<br />tion of the street or highway affected.
<br />Sec. 489(42). Restrictions as to tire equipment.
<br />(a) Every solid rubber tire on a vehicle moved on any high-
<br />way shall have rubber on its entire traction surface at least one
<br />inch thick above the edge of the flange of the entire periphery.
<br />(b) No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on
<br />214 CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY CODE
<br />its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat or spike or any other
<br />proturberance of any material other than rubber, which projects
<br />bevond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, without its
<br />being transported on a temporary track of plank or other suit-
<br />able material, except that it shall be permissible to use farm ma-
<br />chinery having protuberance which will not seriously injure the
<br />highway, and to use tire chains of reasonable proportions when
<br />required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tend-
<br />ing to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.
<br />(c) The Mayor or Chief of Police may, in their discretion,
<br />issue special permits authorizing the operation upon a highway
<br />of traction engines or tractors having movable tracks with trans-
<br />verse corrugations upon the periphery of such movable tracks.
<br />Sec. 489(43). Trailers and towed vehicles.
<br />(a) No motor vehicle shall be driven upon any highway draw-
<br />ing or having attached thereto more than one other vehicle, ex-
<br />cept that a motor vehicle with semi -trailer may draw in addition
<br />thereto one other vehicle.
<br />(b) The draw bar or other connection between any two ve-
<br />hicles, one of which is towing or drawing the other on a highway,
<br />shall not exceed fifteen feet in length from one vehicle to the
<br />other. Whenever such connection consists of a chain, rope, or
<br />cable, there shall be displayed upon such connection a red flag
<br />or cloth, not less than twelve inches both in length and width.
<br />(c) Provided that the Mayor and Chief of Police may in
<br />their discretion issue special permits for vehicles to be driven
<br />upon the streets drawing or having attached thereto more than
<br />one other vehicle, trailer or semi -trailer.
<br />Sec. 489(44). Brakes.
<br />Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be
<br />equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and
<br />to stop such vehicle or vehicles, and such brakes shall be main-
<br />tained in good working order and shall conform to regulations
<br />to be promulgated by the commissioner.
<br />Sec. 489(45). Horns and warning devices.
<br />(a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall
<br />GENERAL ORDINANCES 215
<br />be equipped with a horn in good working order capable of emit-
<br />ting sound audible under normal conditions over a distance of
<br />not less than two hundred feet; and it shall be unlawful for any
<br />vehicle to be equipped with or for any person to use upon a ve-
<br />hicle any siren, exhaust, compression or spark plug whistle or
<br />for any person at any time to use a horn otherwise than as a
<br />reasonable warning or to make an unnecessary or unreasonably
<br />loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device,
<br />except that the vehicles of common carriers, or extraordinarily
<br />large and heavy vehicles may be equipped with such type of
<br />warning device as the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles
<br />may require or permit.
<br />(b) Every police and fire department vehicle and every am-
<br />bulance used for emergency calls shall be equipped with a siren
<br />or exhaust whistle of a type not prohibited by the department.
<br />Sec. 489(46). Mirrors.
<br />All motor vehicles so constructed or loaded as to prevent the
<br />driver from obtaining a view of the highway to the rear shall be
<br />equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the driver a
<br />plain view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred
<br />feet to the rear of such vehicle.
<br />Sec. 489(47). Windshields on motor vehicles.
<br />It shall be unlawful for any person to drive any vehicle upon
<br />a highway with any sign, poster or other non -transparent material
<br />upon the front windshield, side wings, or rear windows of such
<br />motor vehicle other than a certificate or other paper required to
<br />he so displayed by law, or which may be permitted by the Director
<br />of the Division of Motor Vehicles.
<br />Sec. 489(48). Prevention of noise, smoke, etc.—muf-
<br />fler cutouts regulated.
<br />(a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway un-
<br />less such motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler in good work-
<br />ing order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or un-
<br />usual noise, annoying smoke and the escape of excessive gas,
<br />steam, or oil. All exhaust pipes carrying exhaust gases from the
<br />216 CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY CODE
<br />motor shall be directed parallel with the ground or slightly up-
<br />ward.
<br />(b) It shall be unlawful to use a "muffler cutout" on any mo-
<br />tor vehicle upon a highway.
<br />(c) No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway un-
<br />less such vehicle is so constructed as to prevent its contents froth
<br />dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom.
<br />Sec. 489(49). Required lighting equipment of vehicles.
<br />(a) When vehicles must be equipped.—Every vehicle upon a
<br />highway within this City during the period from a half hour after
<br />sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when
<br />there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible any per-
<br />son on the highway at a distance of two hundred feet ahead,
<br />shall be equipped with lighted front and rear lamps as in this
<br />subsection respectively required for different classes of vehicles
<br />and subject to exemption with reference to lights on parked ve-
<br />hicles as declared in subsection fifty-six.
<br />(b) Head Lamps on Motor Vehicles.—Every motor vehicle
<br />other than a motorcycle, road -roller, road machinery, or farm
<br />tractor shall be equipped with two head lamps, no more and no
<br />less, of approximately equal candle power at the front of and
<br />on opposite sides of the motor vehicle which head lamps shall
<br />comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in sub-
<br />section fifty-one or subsection fifty-two and except as to acetylene
<br />head lamps shall be of a type which has been approved by the
<br />Commissioner.
<br />(c) Head Lamps on Motorcycles.—Every motorcycle .shall
<br />be equipped with at least one and not more than two head lamps
<br />which shall be of a type approved by the commissioner and shall
<br />project sufficient light to the front of such motorcycle to reveal
<br />a person at a distance of two hundred feet, but shall not project
<br />a glaring or dazzling light to persons approaching such motor-
<br />cycle.
<br />(d) Rear Lamps.—Every motor vehicle and every trailer or
<br />semi trailer which is being drawn at the end of a train of ve-
<br />hicles shall carry at the rear a lamp exhibiting a red or yellow
<br />light plainly visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a
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