Bell Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 General Provisions, Administration and Enforcement

The following words and phrases, when used in this title, shall for the purpose of this title have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section. Whenever any words or phrases used in this title are not defined, but are defined in the Vehicle Code of the State of California and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply.

"Central traffic district"

means all streets and portions of streets within an area as may be prescribed by resolution of the city council.

"City traffic engineer"

means the director of public works.

"Coach"

means any motor bus, motor coach, trackless trolley, or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers.

"Council"

means the city council of the city.

"Curb"

means the lateral boundary of the roadway, whether such curb be marked by curbing, construction, or not so marked; the word "curb" as used in this title shall not include 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"

means a raised island located in the roadway and separating opposing or conflicting streams of traffic.

Holidays.

Within the meaning of this chapter, holidays shall be those designated by Section 6700 et seq., of the Government Code.

"Loading zone"

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

Official Time Standard.

Whenever certain hours are named in this title, they mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in the city.

"Parking meter"

means 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"

means that portion of a street other than a traveled roadway.

"Passenger loading zone"

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

"Pedestrian"

means any person afoot.

"Police officer"

means 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,"

when required, means complete cessation of movement.

"Vehicle code"

means the Vehicle Code of the State of California, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.

(Prior code § 3100)

The office of city traffic engineer is established.

(Prior code § 3110)

It shall be the duty of the city traffic engineer to carry out the powers and duties imposed upon him or her by this code, and to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the city council.

(Prior code § 3111)

A. Authority of Police and Fire Department Officials. Officers of the police and fire departments are authorized to direct traffic by voice, hand, or other signal in conformance with traffic laws, except that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, such officers may direct traffic as conditions may require.

B. Persons Other Than Officials Shall Not Direct Traffic. No person other than an officer of the police department or members of the fire department or a person authorized by the chief of police or a person otherwise authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal.

(Prior code §§ 3112, 3113)

No person shall fail or refuse to comply with nor refuse to perform any act forbidden by any lawful order, signal or direction of a person authorized by the law to issue such order, signal or direction.

(Prior code § 3114)

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon a highway has all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter.

(Prior code § 3115)

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of this city in their enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. 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 chapter shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provisions of this chapter, constitute such interference or obstruction.

(Prior code § 3116)

The provisions of this chapter 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 such operator to violate any of the provisions of this chapter except as otherwise permitted by law.

(Prior code § 3117)

A. The provisions of this chapter regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to vehicles operated by the police or fire departments, 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 foregoing exemptions shall not relieve the operator of any such vehicle from the obligation to exercise due care for the safety of others or the consequences of his or her wilful disregard of the safety of others.

C. The provisions of this chapter regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicles 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.

(Prior code § 3118)

A. The operator 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, parking meter, lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any tree, traffic-control device or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, within 24 hours after such accident, shall make a written report of such accident to the police department of this city.

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

C. The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this section if he or she is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event he or she shall make a report as required in subsection A of this section within 24 hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Prior code § 3119)

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 authorized to do so by this code or by order of the city council.

(Prior code § 3137)