California City Municipal Code Art. 1 General and Administrative

This chapter regulates the use of streets and highways within the City by motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians to the extent the use is not regulated by State law.

Unless this chapter provides to the contrary, this chapter does not apply to vehicles operated by the Police Department, Fire Department, U.S. Postal Service, or emergency vehicle authorized to do business in the City while providing emergency services.

Definitions contained in the Vehicle Code and Streets and Highway Code are incorporated by this reference.

(a) A Traffic Division is established for the Police Department under the control of a police officer appointed by the Chief of Police.

(b) The Traffic Division shall:

(1) Enforce the street traffic regulations of the City and the State vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in the City;

(2) Make arrests for traffic violations;

(3) Investigate traffic accidents;

(4) Cooperate with the Traffic Engineer in the administration of the traffic laws in developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and in conducting studies of accidents and determining remedial measures; and

(5) Carry out those duties specifically imposed upon the Traffic Division by the provisions of this chapter.

(6) Maintain a suitable system of filing traffic accident reports available for the use and information of the Traffic Engineer.

(7) Annually file a traffic report with the Council containing information on traffic matters as follows:

(i) The number of traffic accidents, the number of persons killed, the number of persons injured, and other pertinent traffic accident data;

(ii) The number of traffic accidents investigated and other pertinent data regarding the safety activities of police officers; and

(iii) The plans and recommendations of the Traffic Division for future traffic safety activities.

(a) A Traffic Engineer shall be appointed by the City Manager and exercise the powers and duties set forth in this chapter and other traffic regulations of the City.

(b) The Traffic Engineer shall have the following duties:

(1) Determine the installation, proper timing, and maintenance of traffic control devices and signals;

(2) Conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures;

(3) Conduct engineering and traffic investigations of traffic conditions;

(4) Cooperate with other City officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions; and

(5) Carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by the laws of the City.

(a) The Traffic Committee consists of the Traffic Engineer, the Chief of Police, and the City Manager. The Traffic Engineer shall serve as chair of the Committee.

(b) The Traffic Committee shall:

(1) Suggest the most practicable means for coordinating the activities of officers and agencies of the City having authority with respect to the administration or enforcement of traffic regulations;

(2) Stimulate and assist in the preparation and publication of traffic reports;

(3) Receive complaints having to do with traffic matters; and

(4) Recommend to the council and to the Traffic Engineer, the Chief of Police, and other City officials ways and means for improving traffic conditions and the administration and enforcement of the traffic regulations.

(a) Police Officers may direct traffic by voice, hand, audible, or other signals in conformance with the traffic laws. No person shall fail or refuse to comply with or to perform acts forbidden by lawful order, signal, or direction of a traffic or police officer, a member of the Fire Department, a person authorized by the Chief of Police, or by law.

(b) No person other than an officer of the Police Department, members of the Fire Department, persons authorized by the Chief of Police, or persons authorized by law, shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand, or other signals. Persons may operate mechanical push-button signals erected by order of the Traffic Engineer.