Chowchilla Municipal Code Ch. 10.08 Traffic Administration

There is established in the police department a traffic section, to be under the control of an officer of police appointed by and administratively responsible to the chief of police.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-17)

It shall be the duty of the traffic section, with such aid as may be rendered by other members of the police department, to enforce the street traffic in this city, to make arrests for traffic violations, to investigate traffic accidents, to cooperate with the city administrator and other officers of the city in the administration of the traffic law and in developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out those duties specially imposed upon said section by this title and related traffic ordinances of this city.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-18)

It shall be the general duty of the city administrator to determine the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control devices and signals, to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering and traffic investigations of traffic conditions and to cooperate with other city officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by ordinances of this city. Whenever by the provisions of this title a power is granted to the city administrator or a duty imposed upon him, the power may be exercised or the duty performed by his deputy or by a person authorized in writing by him.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-23)

The city administrator shall exercise the powers and duties as provided in this title and in related traffic ordinances of this city. Whenever the city administrator is required or authorized to place or maintain official traffic-control devices or signals, he may cause such devices or signals to be placed or maintained.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-22)

The traffic section shall maintain a suitable system of filing traffic accident reports. Such reports shall be available for the use and information of the city administrator.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-20)

The traffic section shall annually prepare a traffic report which shall be filed with the city council. Such a report shall contain information on traffic matters in this city as follows:

A. The number of traffic accidents, the number of persons killed, the number of persons injured, and other pertinent traffic accident data;

B. The number of traffic accidents investigated and other pertinent data on the safety activities of the police;

C. The plans and recommendations of the section for future traffic safety activities.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-21)

Whenever the accidents at any particular location become numerous, the traffic section shall cooperate with the city administrator in conducting studies of such accidents and determining remedial measures.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-19)

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 shall, within twenty-four hours after such accident, make a written report of such accident to the police department of this city.

B. Every such report shall state the time when 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 and during the time he is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event he shall make a report as required in subdivision A of this section within twenty-four hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-31)

Whenever the city administrator finds that any hedge, shrubbery or tree growing in a parkway obstructs the view of any intersection, or any traffic upon the streets approaching such intersection, he shall cause the hedge, shrubbery or tree to be immediately removed or reduced in height.

(Ord. 286-78 § 1 (part), 1978: prior code § 12-96)