Azusa Municipal Code Art. I In General

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Bus loading zone means a public place alongside the curb of a street or elsewhere in the City which has been designated by the City engineer for the loading or unloading of passengers by a public carrier engaged in the transportation of passengers.

Commercial vehicle means a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under the California Vehicle Code, or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means the weight specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.

Gross combination weight rating (GCWR) means the weight specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination or articulated vehicle. In the absence of a weight specified by the manufacturer, GCWR shall be determined by adding the GVWR of the power unit and the total unladed weight of the towed units and any load thereon.

Loading zone means that space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading and unloading of passengers or materials.

Oversized vehicle shall be defined as any vehicle whether motorized or non-motorized, that exceeds twenty three (23) feet in length, or eighty (80) inches in width or ninety-six (96) inches in height regardless of its weight. Any extension caused by any mirror, load height or any accessory attached to such vehicle shall be considered part of the measured distance.

Notwithstanding the length, width, and height requirements for an oversized vehicle, the following vehicles shall also be considered oversized vehicles subject to the prohibitions contained in this section:

1. Buses as defined in the California Vehicle Code;

2. Trailer coaches as defined in the California Vehicle Code; and

3. Recreational vehicles as defined in this chapter.

Park means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading merchandise or passengers. For purposes of this definition a vehicle that is moved to a location or parking place that is within a two-hundred (200) foot radius if its original location or parking place shall be deemed to be parked at the same original location.

Parkway means that portion of a street other than a roadway or sidewalk.

Passenger loading zone means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

Pipe or pole dolly means a vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, having one (1) or more axles which axles, if there be more than one (1), are not more than fifty-four (54) inches apart, and two (2) or more wheels, used in connection with a motor vehicle solely for the purpose of transporting poles, timbers, pipes, or integral structural materials and connected with the towing vehicle both by chain, rope, cable, or drawbar, and by the load, without any part of the weight of the dolly resting upon the towing vehicle.

Police officer means every officer of the police department or any City employee authorized by the chief of police to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of this chapter.

Recreational vehicle shall be defined as a motor home, slide-in camper, travel trailer, truck camper, or camping trailer, with or without motor power, designed for human habitation for recreational or emergency occupancy. Recreational vehicle shall also include:

1. Camping trailer. A vehicular portable unit mounted on wheels and constructed with collapsible partial sidewalls which fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold at the campsite and designed for human habitation for recreational or emergency occupancy;

2. Motor home. A vehicular unit built on or permanently attached to a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis, chassis cab or van, which becomes an integral part of the completed vehicle, designed for human habitation for recreational or emergency occupancy;

3. Slide-in camper. A portable unit, consisting of a roof, floor and sides, designed to be loaded onto and unloaded from the bed of a pickup truck, and designed for human habitation for recreational or emergency occupancy and shall include a truck camper.

4. Travel trailer. A portable unit, mounted on wheels, of such a size and weight as not to require special highway movement permits when drawn by a motor vehicle and for human habitation for recreational or emergency occupancy.

Semitrailer means a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property, used in conjunction with a motor vehicle, and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon, or is carried by, another vehicle.

Stop, when required, means complete cessation of movement.

Streetcar means a car, other than a railroad train, for transporting persons or property and operated upon rails, principally within the City.

Taxistand means a public place alongside the curb of a street or elsewhere in the City which has been designated by the council as reserved exclusively for the use of taxicabs.

Trailer means a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property on its own structure and for being drawn by a vehicle. "Trailer" includes a semitrailer when used in conjunction with an auxiliary dolly, if the auxiliary dolly is of a type constructed to replace the function of the drawbar and the front axle or axles of a trailer.

Truck tractor means a motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load, other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and the load so drawn. As used in this section, "load" does not include items carried on the truck tractor in conjunction with the operation of the vehicle if the load carrying space for these items does not exceed thirty-four (34) square feet.

Unladed weight means the weight of a vehicle equipped and ready for operation on the road including the body, fenders, oil in motor, radiator full of water, with five gallons of gasoline or equivalent weight of other motor fuel; also equipment required by law, and unless exempted under California Vehicle Code Section 661, any special cabinets, boxes or body parts permanently attached to the vehicle, and any machinery, equipment or attachment which is attendant to the efficient operation of the body or vehicle.

Vehicle means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

(Code 1971, §§ 11.04.020, 11.04.030, 11.04.080, 11.04.090, 11.04.110, 11.04.120, 11.04.140, 11.04.150; Ord. No. 2019-01, § 1, 9-16-19)

Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.

In addition to the definitions set forth in section 74-1, all definitions of words and phrases in the state Vehicle Code are incorporated in this chapter as though set forth in full in this chapter.

(Code 1971, § 11.04.170)

There is established the traffic code regulating traffic upon the public streets in this city as set forth in this chapter.

(Code 1971, § 11.08.010)

The council is authorized to have this chapter printed and to sell copies of it at a price sufficient to cover the cost of printing and distribution, such charges to be fixed by the council.

(Code 1971, § 11.08.020)

(a) 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 state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in this city.

(b) 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 signal in conformance with traffic laws, provided that for 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 traffic laws.

(c) Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity.

(Code 1971, § 11.08.030)

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

(Code 1971, § 11.08.040)

No person other than an officer of the police department or a person assigned 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 a person may operate when and as provided in this chapter any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by direction of the council.

(Code 1971, § 11.08.050)

(a) The person in charge of any garage or repair shop to which is brought any motor vehicle which shows evidence of having been involved in an accident shall notify the police department immediately after such vehicle is received.

(b) Every person or officer, manager, agent or employee thereof who repossesses in the city any motor vehicle sold, exchanged or financed by such person shall immediately, after such repossession, make out and file, either in person or by authorized agent, at the police department, a full and complete report of the repossession of such vehicle. The report shall be written and shall contain the name and address of the person from whom such repossession was made, the make, the state license number, motor number, style and seating capacity of the motor vehicle repossessed. Such report shall not be required when a repossession is made with the knowledge of the person in charge of such vehicle.

(Code 1971, § 11.08.080)

(a) Those portions of Foothill Boulevard extending from San Gabriel Avenue to Alameda Avenue and of Azusa Avenue from Sixth Street to Santa Fe Avenue, inclusive, shall be known as a business district.

(b) Whenever it shall be deemed necessary by the council, other streets or portions of streets may be designated as a business district.

(c) When such streets or portions of streets have been so designated by the council, the provisions of this chapter applicable to a business district shall be in full force and effect.

(Code 1971, § 11.08.090)

(a) Any section of this chapter which regulates traffic or delegates the regulation of traffic upon state highways in any way for which the approval of the department of public works is required by state law shall cease to be operative six months after receipt by the city council of written notice of withdrawal of approval of the department of public works.

(b) Whenever this chapter delegates authority to a city officer or authorizes action by the city council to regulate traffic upon a state highway in any way which by state law requires the prior approval of the department of public works, no such officer shall exercise such authority nor shall such action by the city council be effective with respect to any state highway without the prior approval in writing of the department of public works in and to the extent required by Vehicle Code §§ 17000 et seq., and 21000 et seq.

(Code 1971, § 11.08.100)