Ask Your Municipal Government

Q.  At the corner of Crow Dr and 45th St a series of NO PARKING OR BE TOWED signs have been placed inside tire rims and placed on the city street. They do not look official and I am wondering why. I like to walk the path from that corner. Are these signs legitimate?
 
 

A.  On April 29, 2021, the City of Laramie Published a Press Release--45^th Street & E Crow Drive Road Closure and Pilot Hill Trail Access Information

Laramie, WY – Beginning May 5^th and running through June 9^th, the City of Laramie will begin the process of re-drilling municipal well 41T3, which will require the closing of motor vehicle access to the corner of 45^th Street and E Crow Drive—see map inserted below.

During this time, access to the Pilot Hill trail system will not be accessible through the construction area. Alternatively, Pilot Hill Project staff encourage trail users to access the system from the east end of Willett Drive. Pilot Hill visitors can also utilize the Recreation Center parking lot and cross Grand Avenue at the Grand Avenue and South Boulder Drive stoplight intersection. 

Q.  Are there any laws regarding dead trees in town? Or yards that are neglected?

A.   Inserted below is the City of Laramie’s Municipal Code related to weeds and dead trees. If you have a specific concern, you may contact the City’s Code Enforcement Inspector at 721-5285.

Chapter 8.28 - WEEDS AND DEAD TREES^[2]

Footnotes:

--- (2) ---Editor's note— Ord. No. 1541, § 1, adopted Nov. 5, 2008, amended former Ch. 8.28, §§ 8.28.010, 8.28.020, in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Ch. 8.28 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from the prior Code and Ord. No. 780, § 1; 1984; Ord. No. 1483, §§ 2, 3, 2006.

8.28.010 - Definitions.

The definitions contained in Section 8.32.180 shall apply in this chapter as though such were set forth in full. As used in this chapter:

"Abate" or "abatement" means the action taken to remove or alleviate a nuisance, including, but not limited to cutting or digging and destroying or removing all dead trees or limbs and offending vegetation.

"Developed parcel" means any parcel of land that has been used or is being used for commercial or residential use with a principal structure covering over five percent of the parcel.

"Offending vegetation" or "offensive growth" means weeds, long grass, or other rank growth which violates the sections of this chapter.

"Ownership" means ownership of land which shall be deemed to exist from the centerline of any abutting alley, to and including the curb and gutter area of any abutting street of such lot or tract of land.

"Undeveloped parcel of land" means any parcel of land zoned for but not currently being used for commercial or residential use.

"Weeds, long grass, or other rank growth" means any plant which:

1. Ordinarily grows without cultivation, or;
2. Is not grown for the purposes of landscaping or food production, or;
3. Has not been maintained and has become a public nuisance.

(Ord. No. 1541, § 1, 11-5-2008)

8.28.020 - Dead trees or limbs and offensive growth—Public nuisance violation.

The existence of offensive dead trees or limbs, weeds, long grass, or other rank growth on developed and undeveloped parcels which endanger safety and health, are offensive to the senses, are a threat to safety, obstruct street or sidewalk traffic, or obstruct the free use of property so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property, constitutes a public nuisance violation specific to this chapter of the municipal code.

(Ord. No. 1535, § 1, 9-2-2008)

8.28.030 - Duty to remove dead trees and limbs and offensive growth.

1. Developed Parcel. It shall be the duty of every owner or occupier of a developed parcel to cut, destroy or remove, or cause to be cut, destroyed or removed, all dead trees or limbs and all weeds, long grass, or other rank growth having reached a height in excess of six inches growing thereon, and upon one-half of any road, street or alley abutting this property.
2. Undeveloped Parcel. Within one hundred fifty feet of any developed parcel, it shall be the duty of every owner or occupant of an undeveloped parcel to cut, destroy or remove, or cause to be cut, destroyed or removed, all dead trees or limbs and all weeds, long grass, or other rank growth having reached a height in excess of six inches growing thereon, and upon one-half of any road, street or alley abutting this property.
3. Traffic Hazards. It shall be the duty of every owner or occupier of a developed or undeveloped parcel to remove dead trees or limbs and offensive growth which obstructs street or sidewalk traffic. All dead trees or limbs and all offensive weeds, long grass, or other rank growth in developed and undeveloped areas shall also comply with and be subject to all requirements imposed under this code including Chapter 12.16.

(Ord. No. 1535, § 1, 9-2-2008)

Q.  What is legally required of city officials/ police officers when reporting an abandoned vehicle on public property? Where does the notice have to be placed and does it need to be clearly visible?

A.  All of this is governed by W.S. 31-13-104, specifically subsections c and f below. The City of Laramie Police Department uses the neon green stickers, which are normally affixed to the driver side window. On other vehicles, such as trailers, we may have to get creative, however, per statute it must be in a “prominent” position.

(c) Any police officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that a vehicle has been abandoned may remove the vehicle, or cause it to be removed, at the expense of the owner to a place of impoundment designated by the county commissioners of the county in which the vehicle is impounded. Removal of an abandoned vehicle from private property by a police officer shall be upon the written request, upon a form prescribed by the department, of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property. The police department having jurisdiction shall immediately send a written report of the removal by a police officer to the sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is impounded, which report shall include a description of the vehicle, the date, time and place of removal, the grounds for removal, and place of impoundment of the vehicle. The sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is impounded shall submit the report provided by the police department to the department with a determination of the fair market value of the vehicle as required in this subsection. Upon receipt of a report as provided, the department shall provide written notification to the vehicle owner of record and to lienholders of record, stating the grounds for removal by a police officer and the name of the place of impoundment of the vehicle. Notice shall not be required if the fair market value of an abandoned vehicle removed by a police officer is less than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) as determined by the sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is impounded. As to vehicles not registered in this state, the department shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owner or any lienholder of removal by a police officer and the place of impoundment of the vehicle. The department shall forward a copy of the notice to the owner or person in charge of the place of impoundment of a vehicle removed by a police officer. As used in this subsection, “abandoned vehicle” means as defined in W.S. 31-13-101(a)(x)(A) and (B).

(f) A notice of intent to impound an abandoned vehicle by a police officer shall be placed in a prominent position on a vehicle when a police officer reasonably believes it is abandoned. The notice of intent shall remain on the vehicle at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to removal if abandoned on a highway and five (5) days if abandoned on public or private property and impounded by a police officer.