Cheyenne Oversize Vehicle Ban Advances Despite Opposition

A proposal to ban oversize vehicles from parking on Cheyenne streets for more than 72 hours passed the Cheyenne City Council on second reading on Monday night, despite several comments from the public opposing the ban.

It now moves on to the Committee of the Whole next week before likely coming up on a third and decisive vote at the next regular council meeting on December 9.

The proposed law would ban parking oversized vehicles on city streets for more than 72 hours, allowing for the purpose of loading, unloading, winterizing or de-winterizing the vehicle.

Definitions Of Oversized Vehicles

The proposal defines 'oversized vehicle": "Oversized vehicle" shall mean any vehicle or any combination of vehicles which exceeds twenty-five (25) feet in length, seven (7) feet in width or eight (8) feet in height, exclusive of projecting lights and other devices allowed by title 31, chapter 5, article 9 of Wyoming statutes. "Oversized vehicle" shall not include any tractor unit subject to Section 10.52.020 of the Cheyenne city code;"

It further defines vehicle "Vehicle" means any device, in, upon, or by which a person or property may be transported or drawn upon a public street, alley or highway, including house trailers and transportable homes that are not installed on a permanent foundation and not taxable as real property.

Efforts to ban long-term parking of oversized vehicles on city streets are not new in Cheyenne, dating back to at least the time of Mayor Leo Pando in the 1990s..

On Monday several members of the public commented against the proposal. There was also one supportive comment from a woman who said that as a mother, she supported the ban to help keep kids safe.

But the overwhelming sentiment among residents who spoke to the council was negative, with several calling the proposal government overreach.

Lee Filer told the council "Most of these vehicles are registered. They pay for their plates at the county just like everyone else does. That helps pave the roads and all that. If the vehicles are registered, I don't see a need for this at all.''

Filer, while speaking as a private citizen, was elected to the Wyoming Legislature last month as a Republican from House District 44.

But some council members said that while people supporting the measure may not have showed up at the council meeting, they hear from people unhappy about large vehicles on city streets quite often.

A pair of amendments to the measure were defeated, including a proposal that would have said the ban would not be in effect from just before Memorial Day until just after Labor Day.

The vote to approve the ordinance was 7-2, with Bryan Cook and Pete Laybourn voting no. Laybourn, interestingly, said he doesn't think the governemnt overreach arguement against the measure is valid, since regulation of city streets is well within the city council's duties. But he said he has a lot of questions about enforcing the ordinance and said it's "not ready for prime time" right now.

You can see a video of the council meeting below.