Compton Municipal Code § 12-5 Speed Limits

Section 21 of the California Vehicle Code declares that, unless expressly authorized, all provisions of the Vehicle Code ("Code") shall be applicable and uniform throughout the State and in all counties and municipalities.

Section 22352 of the Code establishes a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour on any highway other than a State highway, in any business or residence district; however, whenever a local authority determines based on an Engineering and Traffic Survey that a speed greater than 25 miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of traffic and would be reasonable and safe on a street, other than a State highway, Section 22357 of the Code explicitly authorizes a local authority by ordinance to determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 30 miles per hour to a maximum speed limit of 65 miles per hour.

The higher prima facie speed limit established by the local authority shall not become effective until signs giving notice of the prima facie speed limit are erected on the affected street(s).

Additionally, Section 40902 of the Code, relating to "speed traps" requires that the local authority must first conduct an Engineering and Traffic Study in order to prosecute a speed violation based on the use of radar, laser or other electronic device. The last Engineering and Traffic Survey was conducted on behalf of the City approximately seven years ago and adopted by the Council on June 22, 2010 pursuant to Ordinance No. 2, 210; thus, the engineering firm of Evan Brooks Associates ("Brooks") was contracted to perform an Engineering and Traffic Survey in 2016.

[Ord. #856, § 3470; Ord. #860; Ord. #947; Ord. #975; Ord. #1031; Ord. #1058; Ord. #1149; Ord. No. 2210; Ord. #2294; Ord. No. 2361]

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 22357 of the California Vehicle Code, the City Council does hereby determine, upon the basis of an Engineering and Traffic Survey that the speeds permitted by state laws upon the street section set forth in this section are less than necessary to facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic in a reasonable and safe manner, and, therefore, it is declared that, when appropriate signs are erected giving notice thereof, the prima facie speed limits on said street sections shall be as follows:

That appropriate speed limit signs shall be posted and/or changed, immediately, as necessary.

[Added by Ord. #1058, § 3471; Ord. #1149; Ord. #1419]

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Council by the provisions of Section 511.3 of the Vehicle Code of the State, the Council determines, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, that the prima facie speed limit of 55 miles per hour is more than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist upon such streets, and it is hereby declared that the prima facie speed limit shall be as set forth on those streets or parts of streets as follows:

The speed limits set forth in this subsection on the streets, or portions thereof, set forth in this subsection shall be the prima facie speed limits and shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon such streets, or portions thereof. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply in respect to any 25 mile per hour prima facie limit which is applicable when passing a school building, or the grounds thereof, as provided in Section 511 (b-2) of the Vehicle Code of the State.

With respect to any of the streets, or portions thereof, set forth in this subsection, which streets are boundary line streets and highways, where portions thereof are within jurisdictions other than the City, the provisions of this subsection to that extent and to those boundary line streets and highways, if any, shall not be effective unless and until all authorities having jurisdictions of those portions of the streets or highways set forth in this section have approved the same.

[Added by Ord. #1058, § 3472]

Reference is hereby made to the following portions of streets where the State speed law of 55 miles per hour is applicable for a distance of not exceeding 2,000 feet in length between districts, either business or residence, and it is hereby determined upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that the speed permitted by state law upon the following described portions of said streets which are not State highways is greater than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist upon the described portions of such streets, and is hereby declared that the prima facie speed limit shall be as herein set forth on these portions of streets herein designated when signs are erected giving notice thereof:

Portion of Street Affected

[Added by Ord. #1058, § 3473]

The City traffic authority is authorized to regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner at speeds slightly at variance from the speeds otherwise applicable within the district or at intersections, and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.

[Added by Ord. #1172, § 3474; Ord. #1943, § 2]

a. In accordance with subsections 12-2.30a through g, and when signs are erected giving notice thereof, the following streets are hereby declared to be limited truck traffic routes for the movement of vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of 6,000 pounds:

Alameda Avenue – From north to south City limits.

Atlantic Avenue – From north to south City limits.

Long Beach Boulevard – From north to south City limits.

Santa Fe Avenue – From Artesia Boulevard to Alondra Boulevard.

Wilmington Avenue – From north to south City limits.

b. In accordance with subsections 12-2.30a through g, and when signs are erected giving notice thereof, the following streets are hereby declared to be unlimited truck traffic routes for the movement of vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of 6,000 pounds:

Alondra Boulevard – From east to west City limits.

Artesia Boulevard – From east to west City limits.

Compton Boulevard – From Wilmington Avenue to west City limits.

El Segundo Boulevard – From Central Avenue to Wilmington Avenue.

Greenleaf Avenue – From Alameda Street to Long Beach Boulevard.

Rosecrans Avenue – From east to west City limits.

[Ord. #1759, § 1; Ord. #2049, § 1; Ord. #2222, § 3]

a. Definitions:

1. MOTOR VEHICLE – Shall mean a vehicle which is self-propelled.

2. VEHICLE – Shall mean a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

3. TRAILER – Shall mean a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon any other vehicle. "Trailer" includes a semitrailer when used in conjunction with an auxiliary dolly, if the auxiliary dolly is of a type constructed to replace the function of the drawbar and the front axle or axles of a trailer.

4. COMMERCE – Shall mean the exchange of goods, productions, or property of any kind.

5. COMMERCIAL – Shall mean relating to or connected with trade and traffic or commerce in general.

6. TRUCK TRACTOR – Shall mean a motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.

7. TRUCK – Shall mean a motor vehicle designed, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

8. PARK OR PARKING – Shall mean the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.

b. That it shall be unlawful for those vehicles outlined in paragraph a to park, drive or otherwise use the public streets and private property in residential areas.

c. That this Compton Municipal Code Section shall include but is not limited to those commercial vehicles outlined in paragraph a designed or operated for the transportation of property and whose body weight or whose combined body and load weight exceeds 6,000 pounds. Notwithstanding this paragraph, it shall be unlawful for those vehicles defined in paragraph a to use or park on the public streets or private property in residential areas.

d. The penalty for the violation of subsection 12-5.6 may include the towing away of those vehicles or motor vehicles outlined in paragraph a through c at the owner's expense when such towing is necessary in the interest of public health, safety and welfare of the community.

e. Subsection 12-5.6 shall not prohibit:

1. The operation of emergency vehicles upon any street in the City or any bona fide delivery truck delivering or picking up merchandise.

2. The operation of trucks owned or operated by the City, public utilities, any contractor or material mover, while engaged in the repair, maintenance or construction of streets, street improvements, or street utilities within the City.

3. The operation of trucks upon any officially established detour in any case where such truck could lawfully be operated upon the street for which such detour is established.

4. The owner of recreational vehicles who park such vehicles owned by them on private property also owned by them providing the vehicle(s) is operational and does not constitute a public nuisance nor violate any other provisions of the Compton Municipal Code.