Arcata Municipal Code Art. 14 Bicycles

The term bicycle means and indicates a light vehicle without a motor having two or three wheels, handlebars, or other steering mechanism not utilizing gears, and a seat or seats, propelled by the operator, having a frame size of at least 14 inches and wheels 20 inches or more in diameter.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle on any street, road, highway, or other public property within the City of Arcata which has not been registered and licensed as provided in this article, except as may be specifically exempted herein.

(b) License from other jurisdiction: During the effective term of a bicycle license issued by any other city or county within the State of California, the bicycle to which said license is issued shall be exempt from requirements of Section 3701 (a), provided that such exemption shall expire 10 days after the registered owner of the bicycle establishes residency within the City of Arcata.

Every person desiring to license a bicycle in the City of Arcata shall make application to the Police Department of the City of Arcata; said application shall be in duplicate and shall contain the name and address of the applicant, the make, model, name, type of bicycle and the manufacturer’s serial number. In the event the manufacturer’s serial number is missing, not legible, or not sufficient to identify said bicycle, the application for registration shall be accepted and upon issuing a license for said bicycle an Arcata serial number shall be placed upon said bicycle.

(a) Every person desiring a bicycle license shall pay to the Police Department of the City of Arcata a license fee as set forth in the Schedule of Fees adopted by resolution of the City Council for the remainder of the then current licensing period, payable in advance at the time application for such license is made.

(b) Said license shall be valid for the period established by law. (Ord. 1193, eff. 7/31/1992)

Any and all license fees collected shall be used to implement and improve bicycle registration and safety programs within the City of Arcata. All fees so derived shall be deposited with the Finance Officer of the City of Arcata to the credit of the City of Arcata Bicycle Registration and Safety Fund.

Upon approval of the application and payment of the license fee, a bicycle license shall be issued. Said license shall bear a distinctive number, and shall be affixed in a conspicuous manner to the frame of the bicycle for which said license was issued.

A penalty as set forth in the Schedule of Fees adopted by resolution of the City Council in addition to any license fee shall be imposed upon the bicycle owner who fails to comply with Section 3701(a) within 15 days after said person becomes subject to the provisions of this article.

Upon loss of the license, the licensee shall be required to report its loss or theft within 20 days. Upon receipt of such report, the license shall be canceled and a new license issued upon receipt of a fee of $1.00.

At the time of issuance of a bicycle license hereunder, the manufacturer’s name and serial number or any Arcata identification number placed upon said bicycle pursuant to Section 3702 of this Article shall be recorded and a record kept of the name and address of the owner thereof and of the license number issued for said bicycle.

(a) It shall be the duty of any resident of the City of Arcata, or any person owning or operating a business located in the City of Arcata which is engaged in the buying and/or selling of new or used bicycles, who sells or otherwise transfers ownership of any bicycle, licensed or unlicensed, to report such sale or transfer within ten (10) days thereafter by notifying the Police Department of said City of said sale or transfer in writing. In the case of a bicycle validly licensed pursuant to this Article, said notice shall include the name and address of the transfer and the license number of said bicycle. In the case of a bicycle not previously licensed pursuant to the Article, or a bicycle for which a license issued pursuant to this Article has expired, said notice shall include the name and address of said transferee and the manufacturer’s name, model, and serial number of said bicycle.

(b) Within ten (10) days of such sale or other transfer, the transferee shall:

(1) In the case of a bicycle not previously licensed pursuant to this Article, or a bicycle for which a license was issued pursuant to this Article which license has expired, license said bicycle pursuant to this Article.

(2) In the case of a bicycle for which a valid license is in effect under the provisions of this Article, apply for a transfer of said license. Application for said transfer shall be made upon forms provided for that purpose; and upon receiving said application for transfer and the fee of $1.00 as is hereby imposed the transfer shall be noted upon the bicycle licensing and registration records.

Within 10 days after any bicycle registered hereunder is dismantled or taken out of operation such information shall be reported to the Police Department of the City of Arcata by the person in whose name the bicycle has previously been registered. Upon dismantling a bicycle, the licensee shall surrender his license to the Police Department of the City of Arcata.

No person shall willfully remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the manufacturer’s serial number or the City of Arcata identification number on any bicycle for any reason, nor shall any person remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license during the period in which such license is in effect.

No person shall buy, sell, receive, dispose of, or conceal any bicycle or bicycle equipment from which the manufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered or destroyed.

(a) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Article shall upon conviction thereof be punished as provided in Title I of this Code.

(b) As an alternative to any fine imposed hereunder or in addition to said fine any bicycle owned or operated by said person as is convicted of a violation of any section or subsection of this Article may be impounded for a period not to exceed 30 days; provided that prior to the release of said bicycle from impound it shall be licensed in accordance with this Article.

The owner of a bicycle that is lost or stolen shall report the same to the Police Department of the City of Arcata. A report shall be made to the Department of Justice relative to said lost or stolen bicycle. Said report shall be made at the time or times and in conformity with the regulations of the Department of Justice of the State of California.