Earlier editions: 2026-07
Title 12 — Vehicles and Traffic
Cathedral City Municipal Code Ch. 12.16 Traffic-Control Devices
Cathedral City Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Cathedral City
Cite as: Cathedral City Municipal Code Chapter 12.16 · Text as of 2026-10-04
§ 12.16.010. Installation—Authority.¶
The city traffic engineer 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 under the traffic ordinances and resolutions of this city to make effective the provisions of said ordinances and resolutions.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.020. Installation—Required when.¶
Whenever the Vehicle Code requires that for the effectiveness of any provisions thereof that traffic-control devices be installed to give notice to the public of the application of such law, the city traffic engineer 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.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.030. Additional devices.¶
The city traffic engineer may also place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained such additional traffic-control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic or to guide or warn traffic, but he shall make such determination only upon such principles and traffic investigations and in accordance with such standards, limitations and rules as may be set forth in the traffic ordinances of this city or as may be determined by ordinance or resolution of the legislative body of this city or as may be proper under standards officially in effect for the state.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.040. Required for enforcement purposes.¶
No provision of the Vehicle Code or of this title for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violation unless appropriate signs are in place and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person, giving notice of such provisions of the traffic laws. Such signs shall comply with the requirements of the Vehicle Code of the state.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.050. Obedience required.¶
The driver of a vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the traffic ordinances of this city unless otherwise directed by a police officer or other city personnel authorized by the provisions of this chapter, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to emergency calls.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.060. Installation of traffic signals.¶
The city traffic engineer shall recommend the locations where official traffic signals are required by resorting to field observations, traffic counts and other traffic information that may be pertinent, and his determinations therefrom shall be made in accordance with generally accepted traffic engineering and safety standards.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.070. Installation at intersections—Required where.¶
The city traffic engineer shall, upon direction of the city council by resolution, 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.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.080. Installation at intersections—Street name sign requirement.¶
Whenever the city traffic engineer installs and maintains an official traffic signal at any intersection, he or she shall likewise erect and maintain at such intersection street name signs visible to the principal flow of traffic unless such street name signs have previously been placed and are maintained at any such intersection.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.090. Lane markings.¶
The city traffic engineer 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 roadway, excepting state highways within the city.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.100. Distinctive roadway markings.¶
The city traffic engineer 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 such marking or sign and markings. Such marking or signs and marking shall have the same effect as similar markings placed by the State Department of Transportation pursuant to the provisions of the Vehicle Code.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.110. Safety zones.¶
The city traffic engineer is authorized to establish safety zones at such places as the city traffic engineer may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.120. Removal, relocation or discontinuation.¶
The city traffic engineer is authorized to remove, relocate or discontinue the operation of any traffic control not specifically required by state law or this title whenever he or she determines in any particular case that the conditions which warranted or required the installation no longer exist.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
§ 12.16.130. Hours of operation.¶
The city traffic engineer shall determine the hours and days during which any traffic-control device shall be in operation or be in effect except in those cases where such hours or days are specified in this title.
(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)
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