Culver City Municipal Code Ch. 7.01 General Provisions

Section

General Provisions

Traffic Administration

Enforcement and Obedience to Traffic Regulations

Traffic Control Devices

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Unless otherwise specified, a violation of a provision of this Chapter shall be deemed a civil offense, punishable by a fine as established by resolution of Council.

('65 Code, § 21-1) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1; Ord. No. 93-011 § 1; Ord. No. 96-033 § 1)

Whenever any words or phrases used in this Chapter are not defined herein, but are defined in the California Vehicle Code and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply.

('65 Code, § 21-1.1) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

Whenever in this Chapter the following terms are used, they shall have the meaning ascribed to them, unless it is apparent from the context thereof that some other meaning is intended:

CURB. The physical lateral boundary of the roadway whether such curb be marked by curbing construction or not so marked; the word CURB as herein used shall not include the line dividing the roadway of a street from parking strips in the center of a street, nor from the tracks or from rights-of-way of public utility companies.

DIVISIONAL ISLAND. A raised island located in the roadway and separating opposing conflicting directions of traffic.

HOLIDAYS. Those days set forth in Cal. Gov't Code §§ 6700(a) through (l) and 6701 and Thanksgiving Day.

LOADING ZONE. The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

OFFICIAL TIME STANDARD. Whenever certain hours are named herein, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in this City.

PARKING METER. A mechanical device installed within or upon a parkway or sidewalk, immediately adjacent to a parking space, for the purpose of controlling the period of time occupancy of such parking meter space by any vehicle.

PARKWAY. That portion of a street other than a roadway or sidewalk.

PASSENGER LOADING ZONE. The space adjacent to a curb reserved for exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

POLICE OFFICER. Every officer of the Police Department of this City.

VEHICLE CODE. The Vehicle Code of the State of California.

('65 Code, § 21-1.2) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION

It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police, with such aid as may be rendered by other members of the police department, to enforce the street regulations of the City and all of the State vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in the City, to make arrests for traffic violations, to investigate traffic accidents and to cooperate with the City Engineer and other officers of the City in the administration of traffic laws and in developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out those duties specially imposed by this Chapter.

('65 Code, § 21-2.1) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

It shall be the general duty of the City Engineer to determine the installation and proper timing of traffic control devices and signals, to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering and traffic survey 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 the City.

('65 Code, § 21-2.2) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

A. Whenever the Public Works Director is required or authorized to install, place or maintain official traffic control devices, signals or markings, he may cause such devices, signals or markings to be placed or maintained.

B. It shall be the duty of the Public Works Director to install and maintain all official traffic control devices, markings, signs and signals required by the Vehicle Code, this Chapter, resolution of the City Council or the City Engineer pursuant to his authority as granted herein.

('65 Code, § 21-2.3) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1; Am. Ord. No. 97-009 § 1 (part))

Whenever the accidents at any particular location becomes excessive, the Chief of Police shall cooperate with the City Engineer in conducting studies of such accidents and in determining remedial measures.

('65 Code, § 21-2.4) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

The Chief of Police shall maintain a suitable system of filing traffic accident reports. Such reports shall be available for use and information of the Chief of Police or his designee(s) and the City Engineer.

('65 Code, § 21-2.5) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

The Chief of Police 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 Chief of Police and the City Engineer for future traffic safety activities.

('65 Code, § 21-2.6) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

Whenever the Chief of Police shall determine that an emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings, or functions, or for other reasons, the Chief of Police shall have power and authority to order temporary signs to be erected or posted indicating that the operation, parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on such streets and alleys as the Chief of Police shall direct during the time such temporary signs are in place. Such signs shall remain in place only during the existence of such emergency and the Chief of Police shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.

('65 Code, § 21-2.7) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

A. There is hereby established an advisory traffic committee to serve without compensation, consisting of the Chief of Police, City Engineer, City Planner, Fire Chief and the Public Works Director or each of their designees.

('65 Code, § 21-2.8)

B. It shall be the duty of the Traffic Committee to suggest the most practicable means for coordinating the activities of all officers and agencies of this City having authority with respect to the administration and enforcement of traffic regulations; to stimulate and assist in the preparation and publication of traffic reports; to receive complaints regarding traffic matters; and to recommend to the City Council, to the Chief of Police, to the City Engineer, and to other City officials ways and means for improving traffic conditions and the administration and enforcement of traffic regulations.

('65 Code, § 21-2.9)

(Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

ENFORCEMENT AND OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

Officers of the Police Department and such officers as are assigned by the Chief of Police are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, audible or other signal in conformance with traffic laws, except that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department or members of the Fire Department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary contained in this Code or the Vehicle Code.

('65 Code, § 21-3.1) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

No person other than an officer of the Police Department or members of the Fire Department or a person authorized by the Chief of Police or a person authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal, except that persons may operate, when and as herein provided, any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the City Engineer.

('65 Code, § 21-3.2) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

No person, public utility or department in the City shall erect or place any barrier or sign on any street unless of a type approved by the City Engineer, or disobey the instructions, remove, tamper with or destroy any barrier or sign lawfully placed on any street by any person, public utility or by any department of this City.

('65 Code, § 21-3.3) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of this City in their enforcement of the municipal code provisions, or any other city, county or state law. A violation of this section shall be deemed a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), six (6) months in jail, or both.

('65 Code, § 21-3.4A) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1; Ord. No. 96-033 § 2 (part))

No person shall remove, obliterate or conceal any chalk mark, crayon mark or other distinguishing mark used by any police officer or other employee or officer of this City in connection with the enforcement of municipal, county or state parking regulations.

('65 Code, § 21-3.4B) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1; Ord. No. 96-033 § 2 (part))

The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this State, any county or city, and it shall be unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this Chapter except as otherwise permitted in this Chapter or by state statute.

('65 Code, § 21-3.5) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

A. Exemptions to certain vehicles. The provisions of this Chapter 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 provisions of this Chapter regulating the parking or standing or vehicles shall not apply to:

1. 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.

2. Any vehicle displaying a valid permit issued by the City Manager under the authority of City Council Policy 3003, as that policy may be amended from time to time, provided that said permit is displayed and used consistent with such City Council Policy. ('65 Code, § 21-3.6)

C. Effect of exemption. Subsection A. does not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway, nor protect him from the consequences of an arbitrary exercise of the privileges granted in that Section. ('65 Code, § 21-3.7)

(Ord. No. 83-027 § 1; Ord. No. 84-022 § 1; Ord. No. 2006-009 § 22 (part); Ord. No. 2011-007 § 1)

Pursuant to Cal. Veh. Code § 22651(n), and amendments thereto, any vehicle which is parked or left standing or remains standing contrary to the provisions of this Chapter or a resolution of this Council may be removed in the manner and subject to the procedures set forth in the Vehicle Code and amendments thereto, and the Chief of Police is hereby empowered to make such removal or cause such removal to be made, provided the signs required by Cal. Veh. Code § 22651(n), and amendments thereto, have been erected or placed at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to such removal and providing that the signs indicate that the area posted is “TOW-AWAY ZONE,” or that vehicles in violation will be towed away or impounded.

('65 Code, § 21-3.8) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

The Public Works Director is hereby authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this Chapter, to place, and when required herein shall place, the following curb markings to indicate vehicle stopping, parking or standing regulations, and said curb markings shall have the meanings as herein set forth.

A. “Red” shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time, except as permitted by the Vehicle Code, and except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone.

B. “Yellow” shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day except Sundays (and holidays) for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers and personal baggage, or commercial loading or unloading of materials, providing that the loading or unloading of passengers and baggage shall not consume more than three (3) minutes, nor the commercial loading or unloading of materials more than twenty (20) minutes. Delivery or pickup of express and parcel post packages and United States mail is included herein.

C. “White” shall mean no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers and personal baggage, which shall not exceed three (3) minutes, and such restrictions shall apply at all times except when the business abutting said zone is closed.

D. “Green” shall mean no stopping, standing or parking between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day, except holidays, for a period of time longer than is indicated by an appropriate sign or marking.

E. “Blue” shall mean parking limited exclusively to vehicles of disabled persons.

('65 Code, § 21-3.9) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

A. The Public Works Director shall have the power and duty to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained official traffic control devices when and as required to make effective the provisions of this Chapter.

B. Whenever the Vehicle Code requires for the effectiveness of any provisions thereof that traffic control devices be installed to give notice to the public of the application of such law, the Public Works Director is hereby authorized to install or cause to be installed the necessary devices subject to any limitations or restrictions set forth in the law applicable thereto.

C. The Public Works Director shall also place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained such additional traffic control devices as the City Engineer may deem necessary or proper to regulate traffic or to guide or warn traffic, provided that the City Engineer shall make such determination only upon the basis of traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations and in accordance with such standards, limitations, and rules as may be set forth in this Chapter or as may be determined by resolution of the Council.

('65 Code, § 21-4.1) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

No provision of the Vehicle Code or of this Chapter for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator unless appropriate signs are in place, giving notice of such provisions of the traffic law.

('65 Code, § 21-4.2) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

A. The Public Works Director shall install and maintain official traffic signals at those intersections and other places where traffic conditions are such as to require that the flow of traffic be alternately interrupted and released in order to prevent or relieve traffic congestion or to protect life or property from exceptional hazard.

B. Subject to City Council approval, the City Engineer shall ascertain and determine the locations where such signals are required by field observation, traffic counts and other traffic information as may be pertinent and his determinations therefrom shall be made in accordance with those traffic engineering and safety standards and instructions set forth in the Department of Transportation Traffic Manual.

C. Whenever the Public Works Director installs and maintains an official traffic signal at any intersection, he shall likewise erect and maintain at such intersection street name signs visible to traffic approaching from all directions.

('65 Code, § 21-4.3) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

The Public Works Director is hereby authorized to mark center lines and lane lines upon the surface of the roadway, as determined by the City Engineer, to indicate the course to be traveled by vehicles and may place signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the center line of the highway.

('65 Code, § 21-4.4) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

Subject to the City Council approval, the Public Works Director shall remove, relocate or discontinue the operation of any traffic control device not specifically required by State law or this Chapter whenever the City Engineer shall determine in any particular case that the conditions which warranted or required this installation no longer exist.

('65 Code, § 21-4.5) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

The City Engineer shall determine the hours and days during which any traffic control device shall be in operation or be in effect, except in those cases where such hours or days are specified in this Chapter or by resolution of the City Council.

('65 Code, § 21-4.6) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

The Public Works Director is authorized to place and maintain distinctive roadway markings as described in the Vehicle Code on those streets or parts of streets where the volume of traffic or the vertical or other curvature of the roadway renders it hazardous to drive on the left side of such marking or signs and markings.

('65 Code, § 21-4.7) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1)

A. No person or agency shall paint any street or curb surface unless authorized by the City Engineer; provided, however, that this Section shall not apply to the painting of numbers on a curb surface by any association, corporation or person who has complied with the provisions of this chapter or resolution of this City pertaining thereto.

B. Violation of this Section shall constitute a misdemeanor, punished by a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), six (6) months in jail, or both.

('65 Code, § 21-4.8) (Ord. No. 83-027 § 1; Am. Ord. No. 97-009 § 2)