Each week, Herald reporter Charly Haley answers your questions about local government, laws and other local topics.
Q . Is there a law that requires people to park a certain distance away from stop signs?
A . Yes, city code states people must park 50 feet away from a stop sign, said Jane Williams, city traffic engineer.
The same city ordinance states that people cannot park in front of a public or private driveway, within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, within 15 feet of a railroad crossing and within 20 feet of an unmarked entrance to a fire station, among other restrictions.
Broken stoplight?
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Q . Is the stoplight at the intersection of 42nd Street and 11th Avenue South broken? It’s a very long red light crossing 42nd between the Alerus Center and Valley Dairy there.
A . Because a traffic signal is an electrical device, there are numerous reasons why a signal is not responding, Williams said.
South 42nd Street has a timed-based coordination plan, and, to keep in time with the other signals on that street, it may not immediately respond to side street traffic.
With the recent blizzard conditions, wind may have moved the video detection cameras, Williams said. When this happens, the traffic engineering department repositions the cameras.
Williams said the city will look into that intersection. Anyone who has a problem with a traffic signal should report it to the city by calling 311.
“Since a signal can malfunction at any time we appreciate the public being our eyes and alerting us of any problem,” Williams said.
