Coalinga Municipal Code Art. 2 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. 536, eff. October 3, 1987)

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 Manager 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. 536, eff. October 3, 1987)

It shall be the general duty of the City Manager 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 Manager 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. 536, eff. October 3, 1987)

The City Manager shall exercise the powers and duties as provided in this title and in related traffic ordinances of this City. Whenever the City Manager 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. 536, eff. October 3, 1987)

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 Manager.

(Ord. 536, eff. October 3, 1987)

The traffic section shall annually prepare a traffic report which shall be filed with the City Manager. 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. 536, eff. October 3, 1987)

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

(Ord. 536, eff. October 3, 1987)

(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 (24) 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 subsection (a) of this section within twenty-four (24) hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Ord. 536, eff. October 3, 1987)

Whenever the City Manager 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, and assess such cost to the owner of the property when such growth is located.

(Ord. 536, eff. October 3, 1987)

The City of Coalinga's Fire and Rescue Services shall implement user fees for the delivery of Fire and Rescue Services, personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of motor vehicle accidents and other fire and rescue incidents within its response jurisdiction. The rate of user fees shall be that which is usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) as initially designated in Exhibit "A" [attached to Ord. No. 759] and as may be amended from time to time by resolution of the Coalinga City Council. The UCR fees may include any services, personnel, supplies, and equipment which have baselines established and included in the fee schedule adopted by the City Council.

(Ord. No. 759, § 1, eff. 7-17-2010)

The Fire and Rescue Service user fee shall be billed to the responsible party, representing an add-on cost to the claim for damages for damage or injury to the vehicles, property and/or person. The user fees shall be billed to the insurance carrier of the owner of the vehicle, real property, or other responsible party. In the event services are required relating to utilities which are causing safety problems to highway areas, and if the area is deemed unsafe by emergency responders, the billing process shall apply to said utility whose equipment-related problems caused the need for emergency services response.

(Ord. No. 759, § 1, eff. 7-17-2010)

The City Council may make rules or regulations and from time to time may amend, revoke or add rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the section as they may deem necessary or expedient regarding the procedure for billing and collection of the user fee for Fire and Rescue Services.

(Ord. No. 759, § 1, eff. 7-17-2010)

Fire and Rescue Service user fees for emergency responses to motor vehicle accidents are applicable only to persons involved in motor vehicle accidents who do not reside within the City of Coalinga and who are not City of Coalinga rural water service recipients. The residents of the City of Coalinga and its rural water service recipients subsidize emergency services costs through their taxes and fees.

(Ord. No. 759, § 1, eff. 7-17-2010)

Fire and Rescue Service user fees for emergency responses involving intoxicated drivers and hazmat clean-up may be subject to all applicable fees regardless of residency.

(Ord. No. 759, § 1, eff. 7-17-2010)