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Frequently Asked Questions

Ordinance Related

 

Unsafe Neighborhood Buildings/Structures:

If you are aware of an unsafe structure in the City of Negaunee, call 906-475-4154 to have an officer dispatched to assess the situation.

Reporting Yards with Weed and/or Garbage:

NOXIOUS WEEDS, JUNK, RUBBISH AND/OR MISCELLANEOUS DEBRIS IN YARDS: The presence of noxious weeds, junk, rubbish and debris is prohibited by city ordinance. 

Abandoned/Junk Vehicles:

Inoperable or junk vehicles are prohibited by City Ordinance. Abandoned vehicles may be handled in several ways. If the vehicle you believe is abandoned is parked roadside or on City property, give us a call at 906-475-4154 and an officer will investigate. However, if you are a tow operator, a repair facility/mechanic, or a private property owner with an unwanted vehicle on your property, you will need to do things a little bit differently.

Winter Parking on the City Right-of-Ways:

City Ordinance 692.03l allows for parking on the City rights-of-way during the months of November, December, January, February, March and April; however, you do so at your own risk and you may not cause any issue for plow drivers and/or the safety of the community.

Winter Parking:

The annual parking ban begins November 1st and runs through April 30th of each winter season. For more detailed information about the parking restrictions during this time period, view the General Parking Violations.

City Ordinance 692.03l allows for parking on the City rights-of-way during the months of November, December, January, February, March and April; however, you do so at your own risk and you may not cause any issue for plow drivers and/or the safety of the community.

Snowmobile Operation

You may operate a snowmobile at a maximum speed of 10 mph on the rightmost shoulder of city streets with the exception of: Iron Street and US 41.

**It is Illegal to Operate or Ride Snowmobiles on City Sidewalks**

ATV Operation Within City Limits

An ATV is defined as: Any 3- or 4-wheeled vehicle designed for off-road use that has low pressure tires, a seat designed to be straddled by the rider and is powered by a 50cc to 500cc gas engine.

As of 10/10/2005 a city ordinance took effect regarding the use of ATVs within the City of Negaunee. The main points of the ordinance are:

  • Operation allowed on all city roadways and alleys that have not been specifically prohibited (see map) for the purpose of accessing ATV trails.
  • Age-specific requirements:
    • Persons under age 12 are not allowed to operate ATVs on city roadways or alleys
    • Riders ages 12-15 must have direct adult supervision and be in possession of a valid ATV/ORV safety certificate (contact the Marquette County Sheriff Department for safety class information)
  • Hours of operation: 8am to 8pm EST
  • Speed is not to exceed 5mph and ATVs are to travel single file with the flow of traffic.
  • All State regulations apply (i.e. helmet required, no double riding, etc) and each violation of this ordinance are punishable by fines up to $100 plus the cost of prosecution.

Prohibited Roadways and Areas:

  • Iron Street
  • US-41
  • BR-28
  • City-owned parks & natural areas
  • Cemeteries
  • Any highway area normally occupied by a ditch, front/back slope or utility

Beach/Park Use at Teal Lake

Effective 06/01/2004 there is a Beach/Park Use Policy which applies to the use of the Teal Lake beach and park area. The rules apply to both the designated swimming area (beach) and non-designated swimming area of the park unless otherwise stated.

Gas Motors on Teal Lake

Per city ordinance, gas-powered motors are prohibited on Teal Lake regardless of whether they are being operated or are simply attached to a boat (not in use). You must detach any gas-powered motor from your watercraft before launching onto Teal Lake.

Hunting Within City Limits

City Ordinance prohibits the discharge of firearms (defined as any rifle, pistol, shotgun, air gun, BB gun or any other firearm capable of projecting lead or any other object) within the City of Negaunee. Hunting with firearms is not allowed; however, hunting with a bow and arrow is acceptable provided it is done in non-residential areas, safety precautions are taken and common sense is used.

Hunter safety courses may be offered through the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department. Call 906-225-8435 for more information.

Winter Road Conditions

To check on the condition of roads for traveling during the winter season, you can call the MSP Winter Travel Hotline at 1-800-381-8477 or get the AAA Snow Report at 1-800-644-7669.

Request a NPD Patch

This patch is the current emblem in use by the Negaunee Police Department. Patches are not available at this time, but maybe become available in the future.

This patch was used by the Negaunee Police Department for decades and was replaced in 2007. It is available to the general public without the requirement of a trade for display purposes only. These patches are used (taken from uniforms) but most are in good general condition and are presented in an informational notecard.

Scams reported in the area include, but are not limited to:

The One Ring Scam: The Better Business Bureau recently issued an alert on The One Ring Scam, a type of phone scramming. How it works:

  • Your cell phone rings once or twice, just enough to show up as a missed call from an unknown or international area code.
  • No voicemail will be left and if you try to call it back, either no one will answer or you will only hear a weird noise on the other end.
  • Victims are later billed for the incoming international call if they answer and the premium service charge. In some cases, crammers may try to avoid detection by only adding a small charge.

If you think you’ve fallen for the scam, immediately notify your cell phone provider and keep an eye on your phone bill.

Similar to email, if you do not recognize the source, just ignore it. Visit the Better Business Bureau Alert Page for more information.

Re-Shipping Scam: The re-shipping scam begins with Internet users being befriended by someone needing assistance with shipping a package. The scammer will send a package, usually containing electronics such as cell phones and other trendy devices, to the victim’s address with forwarding information. An incident occurring locally involved a package containing electronic items being re-shipped to an address in Africa. The items inside the package were purchased using stolen credit card numbers and the victim’s identity.

Be cautious when receiving or responding to requests from people you don’t know personally. If you receive a package that you did not order, return it to the delivery service from which it came. And, don’t give out personal information over the Internet, especially when it is being solicited by an unknown party.

If you believe you have been victimized by a scam, contact your local law enforcement agency.

Publisher’s Clearing House Scam: Victims are contacted by someone claiming to be from Publisher’s Clearing House asking for money to be sent in order to claim a prize. Do not send any money or give out any personal information in response. When you actually win a prize, you do not have to pay for it.

Asset Liquidation Scam: A certified letter is sent from Central Office of Asset Liquidation asking you to send money to secure a “guaranted cash prize” that has gone unclaimed. Do not send any money or any personal information in response. The fact that you have to sign for a certified letter lends an air of validity, but this is a scam. VIEW AN EXAMPLE

UBI Scam: With this potential scam, a notice is received in the mail (from Singapore) indicating the recipient will receive $5,000 for signing a release and “fulfilling contest requirements.” A return envelope is provided which will send the release form to an address in Australia. Do not sign any type of release and do not send your information to any unknown destination – particularly when that destination is a foreign country. VIEW THE NOTICE

Jewelry/Merchandise Claim Scam: Area residents have received a notice in the mail stating they can pay a marginal fee (using a credit card) for shipping and/or processing. Do not answer these mailings and do not give any credit card information or bank account information.

Jury Duty Scam: Someone calls identifying themselves as a jury duty coordinator. They inform you that you have missed an appointment and there is now a warrant for your arrest for not appearing for duty. When you protest saying you never received a summons, they ask for your social security number and other information on the pretense of canceling the warrant. This is not how the jury duty system works in Marquette County. Never give your social security number out over the phone regardless of who the caller says they are. If you have questions about jury duty and your responsibilities, you can call the Marquette County Clerk’s Office.

THIS SCAM HAS BEEN REPORTED NATIONWIDE AND THE FBI HAS FURTHER INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE IF YOU WISH TO READ MORE ABOUT IT: www.fbi.gov

Internal Revenue Service – We have had two different types of scams involving the IRS reported in our area.

  • Refund to your credit card: The IRS will never solicit your information online and has no need to ask for your credit card number(s).
  • Email about refund eligibility: The IRS will never contact you through email about refunds or to collect information from you. Do not click on any links inside these types of emails as they make your computer vulnerable to “phishing”, which is an illegal and fraudulent attempt to acquire sensitive information such as passwords, credit card info or account numbers.

“Customer Service Evaluator” jobs in the newspaper: In this instance, companies advertising customer service jobs ask you to cash a large check and then send money to them as a “test” of a new moneygram system. Usually you are asked to send the money to a location outside of the United States. Although it might be tempting to cash the check, do not do so as this is a scam for which you could be left responsible for thousands of dollars when the check does not clear. Several of these companies list Wal-Mart as the place to send the money gram from, although Western Union and others have also been suggested.

Receiving a check in the mail for no known reason: This scam works similarly to the Customer Service Evalutor job scam in that you receive a check in the mail to be cashed. You are promised a portion of the money for your services and asked to forward a portion to someone you do not know. DO NOT CASH ANY CHECK IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE SENDER OR THE REASON FOR THE CHECK BEING ISSUED TO YOU. If you have any questions or concerns whatsoever over a check received in the mail – DO NOT CASH IT. “Free money” isn’t free when you get held responsible for the full amount of the check after it fails to clear the banking system.

Social Security Benefit Inquiries: Callers are asking citizens for banking information as it pertains to Social Security benefits. Never give out bank account information or your social security number, even if the caller says they need to “verify” information they claim to already have.
Diabetes Associations: Callers are contacting citizens on behalf of the “Diabetic Club”. They ask if you are diabetic, offer a free test meter and then attempt to get insurance and/or medicare card information. Never give out information of this kind, even if the caller says they need to “verify” information they claim to already have.

WalMart Gift Certificates: A text message is sent to your cell phone offering a $1000 WalMart gift certificate. This has been confirmed by WalMart as a scam. Do not respond – do not give out any information.

If you encounter what you believe is a scam, you may alert the police to it by calling 906-475-4154.

Home & Personal Property Checks

Planning a trip? If you live in the city limits of Negaunee and wish to have Officers make periodic checks of your home while you are out of town, you may request a Home & Property Check. There is no cost for this service.  There is a tab on the Police Department home page to complete the form online.

Obtaining a Restraining Order (Personal Protection Order)

Personal protection orders are handled by the Marquette County Clerk. If you are in need of such an order, call 906-225-8330 for more information.

Criminal vs. Civil Matters

A criminal matter involves the violation of a criminal law or ordinance and is handled by a police agency. For example, your car being taken by someone without your permission/knowledge would be a criminal complaint.

A civil matter can be described as a contractual disagreement (verbal or written) between two parties. For example, if you sell a vehicle to someone and sign off on the title, but they do not pay the amount agreed upon after taking delivery of the vehicle, it is a civil matter as an agreement was made between two parties. Landlord/tenant disputes are usually civil matters as well as they involve lease violations.

For the most part, civil matters are handled through the courts; however, on occasion the police may be of assistance. If you are unsure about your complaint being criminal or civil, or are looking for direction in handling a civil matter, call the department and an Officer may be able to assist you.

Bicycle Registration

Residents of Negaunee can get bicycles registered free of charge. You may bring your bicycle to the police department and complete a registration form, or download online, print and bring it to the department once it is completed.

Expired Medication Disposal

The Negaunee Police Department has a drop-off box for old medications that you no longer want in your home. Please note we can only accept medications in pill form – no bottles, no patches, no syringes or other sharps and no liquids of any kind. The pills must be removed from the container and placed in a clear plastic zip lock type bag for disposal.  The drop-box is located in the outer lobby of the police department near the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the library. Drop your pills off during regular business hours (Monday through Friday between 9am and 4pm), or any time an Officer is at the station.

I am locked out of my house.

Officers MAY or MAY NOT attempt to gain entry into a home depending on the circumstances of the situation. Please understand Officers are not responsible for any damages occurring and we recommend you keep a spare key in a safe, secure place.

Keys Locked Inside Vehicle

If any resident should accidentally lock their keys in their car, an Officer of this department can attempt to unlock the vehicle once the resident completes the required consent form. Officers are not always able to unlock vehicles due to a variety of reasons, but in most cases the attempts are successful.

Michigan Motor Vehicle Code

Michigan Uniform Traffic Code

Emergency Vehicle Laws

The Michigan Emergency Vehicle Caution Law states:

ROADS WITH TWO OR MORE LANES OF TRAVEL IN THE SAME DIRECTION: The operator of a vehicle traveling on a highway designed with two or more lanes of travel in the same direction shall, upon approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated, carefully move into an open lane at least one lane away from the emergency vehicle. If this is not possible due to traffic, weather, or road conditions, the operator shall slow down and pass with caution, allowing the emergency vehicle as much space as possible.

ROADS WITH ONE LANE OF TRAVEL FOR EACH DIRECTION: The operator of a vehicle traveling on a roadway which only has one lane of travel for each direction shall, upon approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated, carefully move over into the open adjacent lane if possible. If this is not possible due to traffic, weather, or road conditions, the operator shall slow down and pass with caution, allowing the emergency vehicle as much space as possible.

A person found responsible for violating this law is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to enhanced penalties of up to 15 years in prison and/or a $7,500.00 fine if the violation causes injury or death to a police officer, firefighter, or other emergency response personnel.

  • Emergency vehicles are defined as: Police, Fire, Rescue, Ambulance and Road Service Vehicles.
  • Under a change in the law effective 06/02/2004, road service vehicles (including wreckers) are considered to be emergency vehicles for the purpose of this law only.
  • You do not have to move over in traffic for an emergency vehicle that does not have its emergency lights activated; however, you should always pass with caution and give the emergency vehicle as much room as possible.

Helmet Laws for Moped/Motorized Scooter

The Michigan Motor Vehicle Code specifies the legal age for a person to operate a moped on public streets/roads and highways to be 15 and older. Those persons who do not have a valid Michigan driver’s license must apply for a special restricted license and be able to demonstrate to the Secretary of State that he/she is competent to operate the vehicle safely. A road test for the special restricted license is not necessary.

The motorcycle helmet laws in Michigan require persons under age 19 operating a moped/motorized scooter on a public thoroughfare to wear a crash helmet approved by the State of Michigan.

Call the Secretary of State 906-226-7556 (Marquette Office) for further information on the operation of mopeds/motorized scooters.

Legal Age for Moped/Motorized Scooter Operation

The Michigan Motor Vehicle Code specifies the legal age for a person to operate a moped on public streets/roads and highways to be 15 and older. Those persons who do not have a valid Michigan driver’s license must apply for a special restricted license and be able to demonstrate to the Secretary of State that he/she is competent to operate the vehicle safely. A road test for the special restricted license is not necessary.

The motorcycle helmet laws in Michigan require persons under age 19 operating a moped/motorized scooter on a public thoroughfare to wear a crash helmet approved by the State of Michigan.

Call the Secretary of State 906-226-7556 (Marquette Office) for further information on the operation of mopeds/motorized scooters.

Proper Hand Signals for Bicycle Safety

Bicycles must observe the same rules of the road as vehicles. This means pay attention for stop signs, traffic lights and be aware of other traffic around you. Use hand signals to communicate your intentions:

  • Stopping/Slowing: Extend left arm out parallel with the road with your hand/forearm pointing down (perpendicular with the pavement).
  • Turning Right: Extend left arm out parallel with the road with your hand/forearm raise up (perpendicular with the pavement).
  • Turning Left: Extend your left arm straight out parallel with the road.

Michigan Booster Seat Requirements

Here are some things to keep in mind while traveling in the State of Michigan:

  • Police can stop your vehicle if you or your front seat passenger(s) are not wearing seat belts.
  • Police can stop your vehicle if a child under age 4 is not in a car seat or if children age 4 through 15 are not wearing seat belts no matter where they are riding in the vehicle.
  • The driver is responsible and can be ticketed for seat belt violations by those age 15 and under. Tickets for seat belt violations by subjects 16 years of age and older will be issued to the violator.

The following pertains to children under 4 years of age:

  • All children under 4 years of age must be properly restrained in a car seat when traveling in a motor vehicle, regardless of riding in the front or back seat.
  • Infants under 1 year of age should 1) face the rear, 2) be semi-reclined and 3) be snugly fastened in a car seat.
  • Toddlers between 20 and 40 pounds should 1) face the front, 2) sit upright and 3) be snugly fastened in a car seat.

Effective 07/01/2008 Michigan’s Booster Seat Law will be enforced. This means all children must be in a booster seat used in conjunction with a lap/shoulder safety belt until they are 8 years old OR at least 4’9″ tall – whichever comes first. If your child does not meet either the age requirement or the height requirement, your child is required by law to be in a booster seat with the lap/shoulder belt in place.

Michigan Seat Belt Laws

Here are some things to keep in mind while traveling in the State of Michigan:

  • Police can stop your vehicle if you or your front seat passenger(s) are not wearing seat belts.
  • Police can stop your vehicle if a child under age 4 is not in a car seat or if children age 4 through 15 are not wearing seat belts no matter where they are riding in the vehicle.
  • The driver is responsible and can be ticketed for seat belt violations by those age 15 and under. Tickets for seat belt violations by subjects 16 years of age and older will be issued to the violator.

The following pertains to children under 4 years of age:

  • All children under 4 years of age must be properly restrained in a car seat when traveling in a motor vehicle, regardless of riding in the front or back seat.
  • Infants under 1 year of age should 1) face the rear, 2) be semi-reclined and 3) be snugly fastened in a car seat.
  • Toddlers between 20 and 40 pounds should 1) face the front, 2) sit upright and 3) be snugly fastened in a car seat.

Effective 07/01/2008 Michigan’s Booster Seat Law will be enforced. This means all children must be in a booster seat used in conjunction with a lap/shoulder safety belt until they are 8 years old OR at least 4’9″ tall – whichever comes first. If your child does not meet either the age requirement or the height requirement, your child is required by law to be in a booster seat with the lap/shoulder belt in place.

Curfew Hours

Per State of Michigan law, juveniles under the age of 12 years are not to be on any public street, alley or park without adult supervision between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am. Juveniles under the age of 16 years are not to be on any public street, alley or park without adult supervision between 12:00am and 6:00am. Juveniles found in violation of curfew will be taken to the police department and their parents notified to pick them up. Repeated violations may result in juveniles being petitioned into Probate Court. Additionally, because allowing their children to violate curfew is a Misdemeanor, parents may be cited.

Report Internet Abuses Against Children

To report Internet abuse involving a child victim, contact the Michigan Attorney General at www.michigan.gov/ag/.

List of Local Sex Offenders

Information for the State of Michigan Sex Offender Registry can be found at www.mipsor.state.mi.us.

How to Pay a Traffic Citation

If you receive a parking ticket you may remit payment in several ways:

  • Mail payment using the brightly colored payment envelope left on your vehicle (do not mail cash).
  • Place payment in the brightly colored payment envelope and drop it in the Utility Payment box located near the front entrance of the Negaunee City Library to save yourself the cost of postage.
  • Come to the Negaunee Police Department in person.

FOR TRAFFIC CITATION PAYMENTS CONTACT THE 96th DISTRICT COURT 906-485-5579

    How can I file a complaint against a city employee?

    Complaint forms for making a non-criminal complaint against any City employee can be obtained at the Police Department. If the employee in question is a Negaunee Police Officer, you may also talk to the Chief of Police. Completed forms should be turned in to the City Manager’s Office or Police Department.

    Criminal complaints should be reported to a police agency in the appropriate jurisdiction (where the incident occurred).

    Lost pet. What to do?

    If you have lost a pet, you can help by notifying the following agencies:

    Your Local Police – Contact the department where you live:
    Negaunee PD: (906) 475-4154
    Ishpeming PD: (906) 486-4416
    Ishpeming Twp PD: (906) 485-1888
    Marquette Co Sheriff: (906) 225-8435
    Chocolay Twp PD: (906) 249-4040
    Forsyth Twp PD: (906) 346-9225
    Central Dispatch: (906) 475-9912
    UPAWS: (906) 475-6661

    You can visit the Lost & Found Paws of the U.P. Facebook page to help spread the word.

    I’m having trouble with wild animals. Can the police help?

    Although the City of Negaunee does not have an Animal Control Department, we may be able to assist you with at-large animals such as dogs and cats. We also have live traps available to the public for catching wild animals such as skunks and raccoons.  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ANIMALS CAUGHT. Traps can be signed out at the Negaunee Police Department and there is no fee, providing the traps are returned clean and in good condition. UPAWS (906-475-6661) may also be a useful resource for tips on dealing with animals.