Atwater Municipal Code Ch. 10.12 Enforcement of Traffic Regulations

It shall be the duty of the officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police to enforce all street traffic laws of this City and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in this City.

(Prior Code § 3-2.301(a))

Officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or other signal in conformance with traffic laws; provided, that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

(Prior Code § 3-2.301(b))

Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire or when in the course of their duties they are protecting the personnel or equipment of the fire department, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic.

(Prior Code § 3-2.301(c))

No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order of a police officer or fire department official when directing traffic.

(Prior Code § 3-2.303)

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon a highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.

(Prior Code § 3-2.304)

No person other than an officer of the police department or a person deputized by the chief of police or person authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal, except that persons may operate when and as herein provided by mechanical signal erected by order of the City Traffic Engineer.

(Prior Code § 3-2.305)

The provisions of this title shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, any county or City, and it is unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted in this title or by the Vehicle Code.

(Prior Code § 3-2.306)

The provisions of this title regulating the operating, parking, and standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of the police or fire department, any public ambulance or any public utility vehicle or any private ambulance, which public utility vehicle or private ambulance has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle, when any vehicle mentioned in this section is operated in the manner specified in the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

(Prior Code § 3-2.307(a))

The exemptions set forth in Section 10.12.080 shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his willful disregard of the safety of others.

(Prior Code § 3-2.307(b))

The provisions of this title regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of a City department or public utility while necessarily in use for construction or repair work or any vehicle owned by the United States while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

(Prior Code § 3-2.307(c))

The driver of a vehicle or the person in charge of any animal involved in any accident resulting in damage to any property publicly owned or owned by a public utility, including but not limited to any fire hydrant, ornamental lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any ornamental shade tree, traffic-control device or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, shall within 24 hours after such accident make a written report of such accident to the police department of this City.

(Prior Code § 3-2.308(a)

Every such report shall state the time, when and the place where the accident took place, the name and address of the person owning and of the person driving or in charge of such vehicle or animal, the license number of every such vehicle, and shall briefly describe the property damaged in such accident.

(Prior Code § 3-2.308(b))

A driver involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of Sections 10.12.110 and 10.12.120 if and during the time such driver is physically incapable of making a report; but in such event the driver shall make a report as required in Section 10.12.110 within 24 hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Prior Code § 3-2.308(c))