Compton Municipal Code § 12-2 Regulations

[Ord. #856, § 3401; Ord. #2231, § 2]

a. It shall be the duty of the officers of the Police Department and/or other authorized City officers to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

b. Officers of the Police Department and/or other authorized City officers are authorized to direct traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance with traffic laws, provided that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

c. Officers of the Fire Department, in the course of their duties at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic.

[Ord. #856, § 3402]

No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order, direction, or signal of a Police Officer.

[1]

Editor's Note: Former subsection 12-2.3, Direction of Traffic, previously codified herein and containing portions of Ordinance No. 856, was repealed in its entirety by Ordinance No. 2231.

[Ord. #856, § 3404]

The provisions of this section shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, any county, city and county or municipal corporation, or other public agency, and no driver shall violate any of the provisions of this section, except as expressly permitted in this section.

[Ord. #856, § 3405]

a. The provisions of this section regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of the Police or Fire Department, any public ambulance, or any public utility vehicle, or any private ambulance, which public utility vehicle or private ambulance has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle when any vehicle mentioned in this section is operated in the manner specified in the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

b. The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his willful disregard of the safety of others.

c. The provisions of this section regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of a City department or public utility while necessarily in use for construction or repair work, or any vehicle owned by the United States while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

[Ord. #856, § 3406]

a. The driver 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 any public utility, including but not limited to any fire hydrant, ornamental lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, ornamental shade tree or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, shall within 24 hours after such accident make a written report of such accident to the Police Department of the 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 owing and of the person driving or in charge of such vehicle or animal, the license number of every such vehicle, and shall briefly describe the property damaged in such accident.

[Ord. #856, § 3407]

The Traffic Authority shall have the exclusive power and duty to place and maintain or cause to be placed or maintained official traffic control devices when and as required under this section to make effective the provisions of the section and may place and maintain such additional traffic control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic under this section or under state law, or to guide or warn traffic.

[Ord. #856, § 3408]

The Traffic Authority is hereby authorized:

a. To install and maintain official traffic signals at such intersections and other places as he may deem necessary for the regulation of traffic.

b. To establish safety zones at such places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians.

c. To mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at such places as he may deem advisable, consistent with the Vehicle Code and this Code.

[Ord. #856, § 3409]

a. The driver of any vehicle and the person in charge of any animal, and the motorman of any street car, shall obey the instructions of any traffic control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with this section unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exemptions granted by this section.

b. The driver of any vehicle and the person in charge of any animal, and the motorman of any street car, shall obey the instructions of any barrier or sign erected by any of the public departments of this City or public utilities in this City, or by any other person, pursuant to law.

[Ord. #856, § 3410]

No provision of this section for which signs or markings are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at the time and place of the alleged violation, an official sign or marking is not in place and sufficiently legible and visible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person.

[Ord. #856, § 3411]

The Traffic Authority may erect and maintain signs at any intersection prohibiting the making of left turns by drivers of vehicles wherever the said Traffic Authority determines that such left turns would cause traffic congestion or traffic hazard. The making of such left turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours in which event the same shall be plainly indicated on the signs erected by said Traffic Authority.

[Ord. #856, § 3412]

When authorized signs are erected giving notice thereof, no vehicle shall be turned to the left in violation of the directions contained on said signs.

[Ord. #856, § 3413]

a. The Traffic Authority may place markers, buttons or signs within or adjacent to intersections, indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at such intersections.

b. When authorized markers, buttons or other indications are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning thereat, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of such indications.

[Ord. #856, § 3414]

No vehicle shall be turned at any time at an intersection in the Central Traffic Districts or in any business district in a complete circle or in such manner as to proceed in the opposite direction upon the street upon which said vehicle is traveling at the time of entering said intersection.

[Ord. #856, § 3415]

The Traffic Authority may designate that traffic upon any street or alley shall be one way only, and shall place and maintain signs giving notice thereof, and no such regulations shall be effective unless such signs are in place. Signs indicating the direction of lawful traffic movement shall be placed at every intersection where movement of traffic in the opposite direction is prohibited.

[Ord. #856, § 3416]

When signs are erected on one way streets or in any alley giving notice thereof, no person shall drive any vehicle in a direction contrary thereto.

[Ord. #856, § 3417]

The Traffic Authority may designate and describe any street or portion thereof as a through street, or any intersection at which vehicles are required to stop at one or more entrances thereto, and the Traffic Authority shall erect and maintain stop signs as follows:

A stop sign shall be erected on each and every street intersecting such through street or portion thereof so designated and at those entrances of other intersections where a stop is required.

Every such sign shall be placed at or near the entrance to the highway or intersection where a stop is required and every such sign shall conform to the requirements of the Vehicle Code.

[Ord. #856, § 3418]

When stop signs are erected as herein provided, at the entrance to any intersection, every driver of a vehicle and every motorman of a street car shall stop at every such sign, before entering the intersection, except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic control signal.

[Ord. #856, § 3419]

The driver of a vehicle emerging from any alley, driveway or buildings, shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or into the sidewalk area extending across any alley way.

[Ord. #856, § 3420]

a. No driver of a vehicle shall follow any fire apparatus answering a fire alarm, closer that 500 feet, or park any vehicle within 500 feet of a fire, or operate or park any vehicle in such manner as to interfere with any fire apparatus or line of fire hose when in use at a fire or when in place for use in response to a fire alarm.

b. No street car or vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of the Fire Department when laid down on any street, private driveway or street car tract, to be used at any fire or alarm of fire without the consent of the officials of the Fire Department in command.

[Ord. #856, § 3421]

No driver of a vehicle or motorman of a street car shall drive between the vehicles comprising a funeral procession while they are in motion and when the vehicles in such procession are conspicuously so designated. This provision shall not apply at intersections where traffic is controlled by official traffic signals or police officers.

[Ord. #856, § 3422]

A person operating a motorcycle or bicycle shall not ride other than upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, nor carry any other person upon such motorcycle or bicycle other than upon a firmly attached seat to the rear of the operator and unless said motorcycle, or bicycle is equipped with adequate foot rests and hand grips for the use of such extra passenger, nor shall any person ride upon a motorcycle or bicycle other than as above authorized.

[Ord. #856, § 3423]

No person riding upon any bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, roller skates or any toy vehicle, shall attach the same to himself to any street car or moving vehicle upon any roadway.

[Ord. #856, § 3424; Ord. #2177, § 1]

The driver of a vehicle shall not drive within any sidewalk area, parkway or median except at a permanent or temporary driveway.

[Ord. #856, § 3425]

No person shall ride or drive any animal or any vehicle over or across any newly made pavement or freshly painted markings in any street when a barrier or sign is in place warning persons not to drive over or across such pavement or markings, or when a sign is in place stating that the street or any portion thereof is closed.

[Added by Ord. #859, § 3425.1; Ord. #1894, § 2]

a. The Street Superintendent may close streets, highways, roads and alleys to travel during the course of improvement if he deems it necessary to avoid injury to or interference with the work or improvement of any public road, highway or alley or portion thereof, and the same shall thereupon remain closed to travel until such improvement is completed or said Superintendent shall order the road or highway or alley reopened.

b. Whenever any public road or portion thereof shall be closed to travel under the provisions of paragraph a hereof, it shall be the duty of the contractor, foreman, engineer or other person in charge of the work of improving said road, to post conspicuously at each end of the portion of the highway closed, and at all intersections thereof with other public roads, signs containing in clearly legible letters not less than three inches high, the words "Road Closed," and in clearly legible letters not less than one-inch high the words "By Order of the Street Superintendent" and a designation of the portion of said highway in width closed, if less than the whole width thereof is closed to travel.

c. No person shall lead, ride or drive any horse, mule or other animal, or drive or propel any wagon, automobile or other vehicle upon any public road, highway or alley, or portion thereof, that is closed to travel under the provisions of paragraph a of this section, provided nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit riding or driving thereon for purposes connected with the improvement thereof which is in progress; and provided further, that no person shall be guilty of a violation of this section who shall go upon the closed portion of any public road, highway or alley at any intersection thereof with another public road, or at either end of such closed portion of such road unless at such intersection or at such end of the closed portion of such road, as the case may be, the sign required by paragraph b hereof is posted, or unless such person has before going upon the closed portion of such road, been informed that such road, highway, alley, or portion thereof is closed to travel.

d. Any violation of this section is an infraction of the Compton Municipal Code.

[Ord. #856, § 3426; Ord. #1894, § 3]

a. No person shall operate any of the following vehicles in the Central Traffic District between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day.

1. Any freight vehicle more than 8 1/2 feet in width, with load, or any freight vehicle so loaded that any part of its load extends more than 20 feet to the front or rear of said vehicle;

2. Any vehicle carrying building material that has not been loaded, or is not to be unloaded, at some point within the Central Traffic District;

3. Any freight vehicle with a trailer;

4. Any vehicle conveying refuse, rubbish or garbage;

5. Any vehicle carrying crude or fuel oil.

b. Provided that the Chief of Police may by written permit authorize the operation of any such vehicle for the purpose of making necessary emergency deliveries to or from points within the Central Traffic District.

c. Any violation of this section is an infraction of the Compton Municipal Code.

[Ord. #856, § 3427]

No person shall operate or drive any vehicle used for advertising purposes or any advertising vehicle equipped with a sound-amplifying or loud-speaking device upon any street or alley at any time within the Central Traffic District.

[Ord. #856, § 3428]

No person shall drive any animal-drawn vehicle into or within the Central Traffic District between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day.

[Ord. #856, § 3429; Ord. #1561, § 1; New; Ord. #1782, § 1; Ord. #1920, § 1; Ord. #1943, § 1]

a. Whenever this Chapter or any section designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a street, the use of which is permitted by any commercial vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of 6,000 pounds, the Traffic Authority is hereby authorized to designate such streets by appropriate signs as "LIMITED TRUCK TRAFFIC ROUTES" and "UNLIMITED TRUCK TRAFFIC ROUTES" for the movement of commercial vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of 6,000 pounds.

b. When any such truck traffic route or routes are established and designated by appropriate signs, the operator of any commercial vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of 6,000 pounds may use the routes accordingly:

1. Northbound and southbound truck routes: Limited truck routes. May be used only when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on such restricted streets, or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure upon such restricted streets for which a building permit has previously been obtained.

2. Atlantic Avenue: Unlimited truck route. May be used for unrestricted through truck traffic.

3. Eastbound and westbound routes: Unlimited truck routes on portions of streets. May be used for unrestricted through truck traffic on designated portions of streets.

c. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

1. Public or private school buses or passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission; or

2. Any commercial vehicles owned by a public utility or licensed contractor while necessarily in use in the construction, installation or repair of any public utility, or to any vehicle subject to the provisions of Section 1031-1036 of the Public Utilities Code; or to

3. Any person acting under authority of a permit granted by the Traffic Authority.

d. No person shall drive, park, stop or stand any commercial vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of 6,000 pounds, or exceeding 96 inches in total outside width (vehicle or load or a combination of both) on any street or portion thereof except when making pickups or deliveries under the conditions described in paragraph b above; provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any vehicle operated under the authority of the public utilities.

e. A commercial vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of 6,000 pounds is prohibited from traveling into the City except as provided for in paragraphs b through d.

f. If a commercial vehicle exceeding a maximum gross limit of 6,000 pounds is not exempted by paragraphs b through d above, it must utilize Atlantic Avenue or one of the peripheral freeways (San Diego 405, Harbor 110, Artesia 91, Long Beach 710, Century 105) and refrain from entering the City of Compton.

g. Except for Atlantic Avenue and the relevant freeways listed in paragraph f, the City does not have designated truck routes for northbound and southbound commercial vehicles exceeding a maximum gross limit of 6,000 pounds that seek to traverse the City without meeting the requirements of paragraph b through d.

h. Truck Fines. A violation of the maximum gross weight limit of 6,000 pounds is an infraction and shall be punished by a fine as set out in Chapter 1, subsection 1-6.3.

[Ord. #856, § 3430]

a. The Traffic Authority may designate and describe any street or portion thereof as a street, the use of which is prohibited by any commercial vehicle or by any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of 6,000 pounds. The Traffic Authority shall erect and maintain appropriate signs on streets so designated.

b. The provisions of this section shall not apply to passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission.

[Ord. #856, § 3431]

a. The Traffic Authority shall establish, designate and maintain crosswalks at intersections and other places by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway as follows:

Crosswalks shall be established and maintained at all intersections within the Central Traffic District and at such intersections outside such district, and at other places within or outside said district where the Traffic Authority determines that there is particular hazard to pedestrians crossing the roadway subject to the limitation contained in paragraph b of this subsection.

b. Other than crosswalks at intersections no crosswalk shall be established in any block which is less than 400 feet in length. In any block exceeding 400 feet in length not more than one additional crosswalk shall be established and such crosswalk shall be located as nearly as practicable at midblock.

[Ord. #856, § 3432]

No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than by a crosswalk in the Central Traffic District or in any business district.

[Ord. #856, § 3433]

No pedestrian shall cross a roadway at any place other than by a route at right angles to the curb, or by the shortest route to the opposite curb except in a marked crosswalk.

[Added by Ord. #867, § 3434.1]

No person shall play ball or any game of sport with a ball or football or throw, cast, shoot or discharge any stone, pellet, bullet, arrow or any other missile, in, over, across, along or upon any street or sidewalk or in any public park, except on those portions of said park set apart for such purpose.

[Ord. #856, § 3435]

a. The motorman or operator of any street car shall not drive any street car at a speed exceeding the prima facie speed limits fixed by the California Vehicle Code for vehicles.

b. The provisions of this section shall not apply when a street car is being operated upon a private right-of-way which is effectively protected from vehicular traffic.

[Ord. #856, § 3436]

No person shall operate any train or train of cars, or permit the same to remain standing, so as to block the movement of traffic upon any street for a period of time longer than five minutes.

[Ord. #856, § 3437]

The driver of any vehicle proceeding upon any street car track in front of a street car upon a street shall remove such vehicle from the track as soon as practical after signal from the operator of said street car unless prevented by other vehicles or while awaiting a traffic signal.

[Ord. #856, § 3438]

No person shall board or alight from any street car or vehicle while such street car or vehicle is in motion.

[Ord. #856, § 3439]

No person shall ride on any street car or vehicle upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for the use of passengers. This provision shall not apply to any employee engaged in the necessary discharge of a duty, or to persons riding within truck bodies in space intended for merchandise.

[Ord. #856, § 3440]

No person shall drive any vehicle through or under any safety gate or railroad barrier which is maintained at a railroad crossing for the purpose of warning persons of the approach of a train or car, while such gate or barrier is closed or while it is being opened or closed.

[Ord. #856, § 3467]

No person shall dust, wipe, wash, or otherwise clean, use or employ any method of dusting, wiping, washing or otherwise cleaning any vehicle or portion thereof while on any street unless such vehicle is owned by or under the direct control or supervision of the person doing any of the acts here enumerated.

[Added by Ord. #867, § 3467.1; Ord. #1894, § 4]

a. No person shall repair, or make any repairs, or add or install any part or accessory to or on any vehicle while the same is upon any public street or alley.

b. The provisions of this subsection shall not be deemed to prohibit the driver of any vehicle, which is disabled while on any public street or alley to such extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping, from making, or causing to be made, the repairs necessary to enable such vehicle to be moved from the public street or alley.

c. Any violation of this section is an infraction of the Compton Municipal Code.

[Ord. #856, § 3469]

No person shall hitchhike within the limits of the City.

[Ord. #856, § 3475; Ord. #1180]

No person shall store, display, or park any vehicles in his possession or under his control, upon any public street or highway at a location thereon within one mile of the place or places of business of such person engaged in conducting or carrying on any one or more of the following or similar type businesses: buying, selling, exchanging, repairing, washing, painting, adding onto, installing any part on, overhauling, financing, repossessing, parking, towing, storing, or servicing any vehicle, either new or used, of a type required to be registered under the Vehicle Code of the State of California.

This section shall not apply to any vehicle registered in the name of such person or to any vehicle for which an application and fee for registration in the name of such person has been filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles of the State of California.