Coachella Municipal Code Ch. 10.24 Bicycles

The ordinance codified in this chapter shall be known as the "Bicycle Licensing Ordinance."

(Prior code § 6-1)

"Bicycle" means any device upon which a person may ride, which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains, or gears having either two or three wheels (one of which is at least twenty (20) inches in diameter) or having a frame size of at least fourteen (14) inches, or having four or more wheels.

(Prior code § 6-2)

A. The chief of police, or the chiefs designee, is authorized and directed, upon application and payment of the license fee, to issue a bicycle registration form and licensing indicia provided by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, all in accordance with the requirements of Division 16.7, Registration and Licensing of Bicycles, Vehicle Code, Sections 39000 et seq. Licenses must be obtained for:

1. Each bicycle first sold as a new bicycle in the State of California after September 20, 1974;

2. Any bicycle operated by a resident of the city within the jurisdiction of the city; and

3. Any bicycle first sold as a new bicycle on or after September 20, 1974, operated on any street, road, highway, or public property within the jurisdiction of the city, if such bicycle has not been previously licensed and does not bear proof of licensing indicia or registration previously issued in accordance with Division 16.7, Vehicle Code.

B. Any bicycle not subject to this chapter may be licensed upon request of the owner.

C. Bicycle licenses shall be renewed every third year, commencing with January 1, 1979. Renewal of a bicycle license shall be indicated by a supplementary adhesive device affixed parallel to and above or below the indicia with the expiration date shown. The period of renewal shall be accomplished during the month of January of the renewal year.

D. It is unlawful for any person to tamper with, destroy, mutilate, or alter any license indicia or registration form, or to remove, alter, or mutilate the serial number, or the identifying marks of a licensing agency's identifying symbol, or any bicycle frame licensed under the provisions of this chapter and as stipulated in Division 16.7, Vehicle Code.

E. Retailers within the city, upon the approval of the chief of police or the chiefs designee, may voluntarily supplement the police department's bicycle licensing activities. Any retailer who wishes to participate must agree to follow police department procedures and proceed as follows:

1. Offer purchasers of bicycles the opportunity to license their bicycles at the time of purchase;

2. Assist bicycle purchasers in the completion of license registration forms;

3. Collect bicycle license fees;

4. Issue bicycle licenses and renewals;

5. Maintain records of licenses issued and fees collected;

6. Remit fees and records in a timely fashion to the police department; and

7. In all things pertaining to the licensing of bicycles, submit to the direction of the chief of police, or the chiefs designee.

F. The chief of police, or the chiefs designee, shall provide all registration forms, licenses, and instructions as required to support the retailers as they perform bicycle licensing services.

G. The chief of police, or the chiefs designee, may at any time compel a retailer to surrender any and all registration forms, fees, and records in possession of the retailer.

H. The retailer shall at any time allow the city treasurer to inspect all records of bicycle licenses issued and license fees collected, and shall be financially responsible for the safekeeping of such license and fees as come into the possession of the retailer.

I. For purposes of this chapter, the chiefs designee may be a private contractor hired by the city council upon recommendation of the chief of police.

(Prior code § 6-3)

License fees shall be established by resolution of the city council and shall not exceed the amounts provided in Vehicle Code Section 39004. Licensing fees collected in accordance with this chapter shall be retained for use in support of only those reasons enumerated in Vehicle Code Section 39004.

(Prior code § 6-4)

In addition to the standard information and requirements of Vehicle Code Section 39005, the following will be accomplished:

A. In addition to the information required on Form 193 (California Bicycle License Application), the following information will be required in the "miscellaneous information" block:

1. Purchase price of the bicycle;

2. Retailer's name and address whom the bicycle was purchased; and

3. Date of birth of the licensee.

B. A change of address of the licensee will be accomplished on the original application form when requested.

C. The information required for registration of a new bicycle will be verified from the retailer's sales receipt.

(Prior code § 6-5)

A. In addition to normal business information, retailers within the city must provide the following information upon a sales receipt to purchasers of bicycles:

1. Name and address of the retailer;

2. The year and make of the bicycle;

3. The serial number of the bicycle; and

4. The name and address of the purchaser;

B. Retailers within the city must comply with the following:

1. All bicycles sold by retailers within the city must be permanently stamped or cast with serial numbers in those places required by Vehicle Code, Section 39007, and such retailers are prohibited from selling any bicycle that does not conform with this provision.

2. All bicycle retailers must acquire a business license in accordance with licensing provisions of this code. Future issuance of business licenses are to be conditioned upon the retailer's promise to abide by and perform in concert with this chapter.

(Prior code § 6-6)

A. Whenever any person sells or otherwise disposes of a bicycle, he shall endorse upon the registration certificate previously issued for such bicycle a written transfer of same, giving full information required in the "transfer of ownership" block and shall deliver the registration certificate, so endorsed, to the police department within ten (10) days.

B. Any person who purchases or otherwise acquires possession of a bicycle shall within ten (10) days of taking possession apply for the transfer of license to his or her own name.

(Prior code § 6-7)

A. Any owner of a bicycle licensed pursuant to this chapter who changes his or her address shall within ten (10) days notify the police department.

B. In the event that any bicycle license indicia or registration form issued pursuant to this chapter is lost, stolen or mutilated, the licensee of such bicycle shall immediately notify the police department and within ten (10) days the licensee shall apply for a duplicate license; the appropriate fee shall be paid upon receipt of the duplicate license.

(Prior code § 6-8)

Bicycle licenses which have been issued pursuant to previous city ordinance shall remain valid until their assigned expiration dates, but in no case any later than three years after passage of this chapter except that an owner of a previously registered bicycle may apply for license reissue, providing the requirements of this chapter are met. The appropriate fee for relicensing will be paid.

(Prior code § 6-9)

No person shall ride or park any bicycle in the city on or along any public sidewalk or pathway usually reserved for and used by pedestrian traffic. This section shall not apply to children under thirteen (13) years of age.

(Prior code § 6-10)

No person operating any bicycle in the city shall carry any passenger on said bicycle.

(Prior code § 6-11)

Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable as provided in Section 1.08.010 of this code in conformance with Vehicle Code Section 39011; provided, however, that if any person under the age of eighteen (18) years violates any provision of this chapter, he or she, may consent that in lieu of having a criminal complaint filed against him, the chief of police, or the chiefs designee, may impound his bicycle for a period not to exceed five days.

(Prior code § 6-12)