Chapter 70 — GENERAL PROVISIONS

For the purpose of this title, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. Whenever any words and phrases used in this title are not defined, but are defined in the Vehicle Code of the state and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply.

CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER. The Director of Public Works.

COACH. Any motor bus, motor coach, trackless trolley or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers. CURB. The lateral boundary of the roadway whether such curb is marked by curbing, construction, or is not so marked. CURB , as used in this title, includes the line dividing the roadway of a street from parking strips in the center of a street, nor from tracks or rights-of-way of public utility companies.

DIVISIONAL ISLAND. A raised island located in the roadway and separating opposing or conflicting streams of traffic.

HOLIDAYS. Those designated pursuant to § 33.21.

LOADING ZONE. The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading and unloading of passengers or materials.

OFFICIAL TIME STANDARD. Whenever certain hours are named in this title, they mean standard time or daylight savings time as may be in current use in this city.

PARKING METER. A mechanical device installed within or upon the curb or sidewalk area, immediately adjacent to a parking space, for the purpose of controlling the period of time occupancy of such parking meter space by any vehicle.

PARKWAY. That portion of a street other than a traveled roadway.

PASSENGER LOADING ZONE. The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

PEDESTRIAN. Any person afoot.

POLICE OFFICER. Every officer of the Police Department of this city or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.

STOP. Complete cessation of movement.

TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES. All signs, signals, markings and devices placed on or adjacent to a street or highway for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic, in accordance with Cal. Veh. Code §§ 21400 et seq. VEHICLE CODE. The Vehicle Code of the state, as it now exists or may hereinafter be amended.

('83 Code Ch. 10.04) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of this city in his enforcement of the provisions of this title. The removal, obliteration or concealment of any chalk mark or other distinguishing mark used by any police officer or other employee or officer of this city in connection with the enforcement of the parking regulations of this title shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provisions of this title, constitute such interference or obstruction.

('83 Code § 10.08.010) Penalty, see § 10.99

The provisions of this title shall apply to the operator 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 operator to violate any of the provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted by law.

('83 Code § 10.08.020) Penalty, see § 10.99

(A) The provisions of this title regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to vehicles operated by the Police or Fire Department, any public ambulance or any public utility vehicle or any private ambulance which has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle, when any vehicle mentioned in this section is operated in the manner specified by the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

(B) The exemptions provided in division (A) of this section shall not, however, relieve the operator of any such vehicle from the obligation to exercise due care for the safety of others or the consequences of his willful disregard of the safety of others.

(C) 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 or operated by the United States Post Office Department while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

('83 Code § 10.08.030)

TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES

(A) The Director of Public Works shall have the power and duty to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained official traffic-control devices when and as required to make effective the provisions of this title.

(B) Whenever the Vehicle Code requires, for the effectiveness of any provisions thereof, that the traffic-control devices be installed to give notice to the public of the application of such law the Director of Public Works is authorized to install or cause to be installed the necessary devices subject to any limitations or restrictions set forth in the law applicable thereto.

(C) The Director of Public Works may also place and maintain or cause to place and maintain such additional traffic-control devices as he may deem necessary or proper to regulate traffic or to guide or warn traffic, but he shall make the determination only upon the basis of traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations and in accordance with the standards, limitations and rules as may be set forth in this title. ('83 Code § 10.12.010) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

Statutory reference:

Traffic signs, signals and markings, see Cal. Veh. Code §§ 21351 et seq.

(A) The Director of Public Works is directed, subject to the approval of the City Manager, to install and maintain official traffic signals at those intersections and other places where traffic conditions are such as to require that the flow of traffic be alternately interrupted and released in order to prevent or relieve traffic congestion or to protect life or property from exceptional hazard.

(B) The Director of Public Works shall ascertain and determine the locations where such signals are required by field investigation, traffic counts and other information as may be pertinent, and his determinations therefrom shall be made in accordance with those traffic engineering and safety standards and instructions set forth in the California Planning Manual Part 8, Traffic, issued by the State Department of Transportation.

(C) Whenever the Director of Public Works installs and maintains an official traffic signal at any intersection he shall likewise erect and maintain at the intersection street name signs clearly visible to traffic approaching from all directions unless the street name signs have previously been placed and are maintained at any such intersection. ('83 Code § 10.12.020) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

The Director of Public Works is authorized to mark centerlines and lane lines upon the surface of the roadway to indicate the course to be traveled by vehicles and may place signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the centerline of the highway. ('83 Code § 10.12.030) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

The Director of Public Works is authorized to place and maintain distinctive roadway markings as described in the Vehicle Code on those streets or parts of streets where the volume of traffic or the vertical or other curvature of the roadway renders it hazardous to drive on the left side of the markings or signs and markings. The markings or signs and markings shall have the same effect as similar markings placed by the State Department of Transportation pursuant to provisions of the Vehicle Code.

('83 Code § 10.12.040) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

The Director of Public Works is authorized to remove, relocate or discontinue, subject to the approval of the City Manager, the operation of any traffic control signal not specifically required by the Vehicle Code or this title whenever he determines in any particular case that the conditions which warranted or required the installation no longer exist or obtain.

('83 Code § 10.12.050)

The Director of Public Works shall determine the hours and days during which any traffic-control signal shall be in operation or be in effect, except in those cases where the hours or days are specified in this title. ('83 Code § 10.12.060) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

(A) No person, unless authorized by this city, shall paint any street or curb surface; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the painting of numbers on a curb surface by any person who has complied with the provisions of this code relating thereto.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a violation of this section shall be deemed to be an infraction. ('83 Code § 10.12.070) Penalty, see § 10.99

Statutory reference:

Curb markings, Cal. Veh. Code § 21458

When determined to be necessary by the Director of Public Works, he shall place and maintain markers, buttons or signs within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at such intersections, and he shall locate and indicate more than one lane of traffic from which vehicles may make right or left turns. ('83 Code § 10.16.010) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

Statutory reference:

Turning movements, Cal. Veh. Code §§ 22101 and 22113

The Director of Public Works shall determine those intersections at which vehicles should or should not make right, left or U-turns, and he shall place proper signs at such intersections regulating the turns. ('83 Code § 10.16.020) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

When the Director of Public Works determines that the making of right turns against a traffic signal "STOP" indication would seriously interfere with the safe and orderly flow of traffic, he shall place appropriate signs prohibiting this traffic movement.

('83 Code § 10.16.030) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

Whenever the Council designates any street or alley, for one-way traffic, the Director of Public Works shall place and maintain signs giving notice thereof.

('83 Code § 10.20.010) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

Statutory reference:

One-way street designations, see Cal. Veh. Code § 21657

Whenever any street or portion thereof is designated as a through street, or when the Council directs the installation of special stop signs, the Director of Public Works shall erect and maintain stop signs on each and every street intersecting such through street or portion thereof, and at such other locations as may be designated by Council resolution. Every such sign shall conform with, and be placed as provided for in the Vehicle Code. ('83 Code § 10.24.010) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

The Director of Public Works is authorized to regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner at speeds slightly at variance from the speeds otherwise applicable within the district or at intersections and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.

('83 Code § 10.56.020) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

(A) The Director of Public Works shall establish, designate and maintain crosswalks at intersections and other places by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway where the Director of Public Works determines that there is particular hazard to pedestrians crossing the roadway subject to the limitation contained in division (B) of this section.

(B) Other than crosswalks at intersections, no crosswalk shall be established in any block which is less than 400 feet in length except by direction of the City Manager.

(C) The Director of Public Works may place signs at or adjacent to an intersection in respect to any crosswalk directing that pedestrians shall not cross except in the crosswalk so indicated.

('83 Code § 10.32.010) (Ord. 845, passed - -82)

Statutory reference:

Establishment of crosswalks, see Cal. Veh. Code § 21106