El Centro Municipal Code § 17-64 Reserved

Every person riding, driving, propelling or in charge of any vehicle, upon meeting any other vehicle at any place upon any street within the city, shall turn to the right, and, on all occasions when it is practicable so to do, shall travel on the right side of such street, and as near the right-hand curb thereof as possible.

(Ord. No. 109, § 3; Ord. No. 391, § I)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or drive on or across any vacant lot or lots in this city not owned by such person without having first procured the written permission of the owner thereof.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person having such written permission to ride or drive on or across any such vacant lot or lots to refuse to produce and exhibit the same to the chief of police or other officer of the city on demand.

(c) Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation of this section, the last assessment roll of this city shall be prima facie evidence of ownership of any such lot or lots, and shall be admitted in evidence for such purpose.

(Ord. No. 26, §§ 1—3)

(a) No person shall drive a vehicle in an alley in excess of ten (10) miles per hour.

(b) No person shall drive a vehicle in an alley at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent, having due regard for the traffic upon, and the surface and width of the alley, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.

(Ord. No. 675, §§ 1, 2)

(a) No person shall operate a vehicle upon any property not owned by such person, other than a public street or highway, in the city at a speed in excess of ten (10) miles per hour, without the permission of the owner of such property.

(b) No person shall operate a vehicle upon any property not owned by such person, other than a public street or highway, in the city at a speed greater than is prudent, or reasonable, having due regard for the number of persons on, obstructions on, and surface of such property, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.

(c) Permission to exceed speed. Upon the trial of any person charged with violations of either paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, the last assessment roll of this city shall be prima facie evidence of the ownership of such property and admitted in evidence for such purpose, and the failure of the person charged with the violation of paragraph (a) of this section to produce evidence of the permission to exceed the speed therein set forth shall be prima facie evidence that such person did not have such permission.

(Ord. No. 704, §§ 1—3)

(a) Pursuant to section 22358 of the Vehicle Code of the state and upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, the speed permitted by state law outside of business and residence districts as applicable upon the following streets is found to be greater 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 herein set forth on those streets or parts of streets herein designated when signs are erected giving notice thereof:

*Speed limit is measured from Adams Avenue to the Railroad (40 mph) and from the Railroad to Cruickshank Drive (45 mph)

(b) The council may, by resolution, establish lesser speeds than established herein in areas adjacent to schools.

(Ord. No. 65-4; Ord. No. 73-2, § 1; Ord. No. 79-3, §§ 1—3; Ord. No. 83-4, §§ 1—4; Ord. No. 91-14, § 1; Ord. No. 92-1, § 1; Ord. No. 94-10, § 1; Ord. No. 01-09, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-01; Ord. No. 09-03, §§ 1, 2, 6-3-09; Ord. No. 16-04, § 2, 4-19-16)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 16-04, § 2, adopted April 19, 2016, repealed the former § 17-57, and enacted a new § 17-57 as set out herein. The former § 17-57 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 65-4; Ord. No. 73-2, § 1; Ord. No. 79-3, §§ 1—3; Ord. No. 83-4, §§ 1—4; Ord. No. 91-14, § 1; Ord. No. 92-1, § 1; Ord. No. 94-10, § 1; Ord. No. 01-09, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-01; Ord. No. 09-03, §§ 1, 2, 6-3-09.

No left-hand turn of an automobile, truck or other vehicle shall be made at any intersection where the same is posted, conspicuously, by order of the council, with a sign plainly indicating that such left-hand turn is prohibited.

(Ord. No. 301, § 1; Ord. No. 302, § I)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate, or to cause to be driven or operated, at any place on Main Street between Fourth Street and Eight Street, or on Fifth or Sixth Street between Broadway and State Street, any truck, dray, wagon or other vehicles whose length exceeds fifteen (15) feet or whose width, or the width of whose bed or load, exceeds six (6) feet, or any truck, dray, wagon or other vehicle carrying or transporting hay, fertilizer or livestock of any kind.

(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section shall not apply to vehicles used exclusively for carrying passengers, or to trucks or other vehicles when delivering or receiving freight where access to the same cannot be had from an alley.

(Ord. No. 201, § 1)

(a) Except for the purposes listed in subparagraph (b) hereof, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive, park or operate or cause to be driven, parked or operated any truck, truck tractor, trailer or any combination thereof normally used for hire, transporting or otherwise employed to gain commercial profit for the owner or operator on those certain portions of the street lying within the corporate boundaries of El Centro as follows:

(1) In the Cuyamaca Tract recorded in map Book 2, page 57 of the City of El Centro in the official records in the County of Imperial, State of California, more particularly described as:

a. Commencing from a northerly extension of the westerly lot line of Lot 63 across El Centro Avenue, thence easterly on El Centro Avenue to the west line of 12th Street;

b. Commencing from a northerly extension of the west lot line of Lot 50 across Euclid Avenue, thence easterly on Euclid Avenue, thence easterly on Euclid Avenue to the west lot line on 12th Street;

c. Commencing from a northerly extension of the west lot line of Lot 25 across Woodward Avenue, thence easterly on Woodward Avenue to the west line of 12th Street.

(2) On Main Street, State Street, Broadway Avenue from the westerly edge of Fourth Street extending west to Imperial Avenue; on Main Street from Imperial Avenue extending west to the west city limits on Main Street; and on the following intersecting streets between Broadway Avenue and State Street: Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, and Fourteenth Streets.

(3) On 5th Street in the city beginning at the end of north curb radius on Adams Avenue (Highway 86) thence north to end of north curb radius of Euclid Avenue. Beginning at the end of west curb radius on Euclid Avenue, thence east of end of west curb radius on 4th Street.

(4) On Cottonwood Circle in the city, Ocotillo Drive, thence south to the most southerly curbline of the cul-de-sac south of Smoketree Drive.

(5) On Driftwood Drive from 7th Street to Willow Drive; on Willow Drive from Centinela Drive to Southwind Drive; on Southwind Drive from Willow Drive to Woodside Drive; on Woodside Drive from Southwind Drive to Centinela Drive; and on Centinela Drive from Willow Drive to 8th Street.

(6) On Ocotillo Drive in the city beginning at the west curb on 14th Street, thence west to LaBrucherie Road.

(7) Imperial Avenue in the city beginning from the south property line of Adams Avenue (State Route 86), thence south to the on-off ramp of Interstate 8 located near Ocotillo Drive.

(8) On Smoketree Drive beginning one hundred fifty (150) feet west of the west curbline of Third Street continuing east to the east curbline of Third Street; on Driftwood Drive from Fourth Street to Third Street; on Third Street from Ross Avenue to Smoketree Drive; on Aurora Drive from Fourth Street to Second Street.

(9) On Danenberg Drive beginning at 4th Street thence easterly to Farnsworth Lane.

(b) Subparagraph (a) shall not apply to the following purposes, provided, that the most direct route is used to the restricted street from the truck route and from the restricted street to the truck route:

(1) Pickups and deliveries of materials, goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure;

(2) Movie or television production under permit from the city;

(3) Bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure upon the restricted street for which a building permit has previously been obtained;

(4) Construction, installation or repair of any public utility, provided that the vehicle is owned by a public utility or a licensed contractor;

(5) Transportation of persons by a common carrier;

(6) Construction, repair or maintenance of city streets, storm drains, and sanitary sewers;

(7) On Imperial Avenue from Commercial Avenue to Adams Avenue, commercial vehicles used for driver license testing purposes by the state department of motor vehicles and commercial vehicles going to or leaving from a city licensed repair and/or service business.

(c) For the purposes of this section it is presumed that a commercial vehicle is a vehicle of a type used or maintained for the sole purpose of commercial hire, compensation, or profit or designated, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of goods.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to vehicles owned or operated by the city or its contractors, garbage and trash trucks licensed by the city, passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission, any vehicle owned by a public entity while necessary in construction, installation or repair of any public utility, vehicles servicing persons or firms located within the area and recreational vehicles.

(Ord. No. 81-24, § 1; Ord. No. 81-27, § 1; Ord. No. 83-2, § 1; Ord. No. 94-1, § 1; Ord. No. 96-17, § 1; Ord. No. 05-02, § 1)

Cross reference— Design and operation of garbage collection trucks, § 12-29.

Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle sounding a siren and having at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle, except as otherwise directed by a traffic officer:

(a) The driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the highway clear of any intersection and thereupon stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

(b) The motorman of every street car shall immediately stop such car clear of any intersection and keep in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

(c) All pedestrians upon the highway shall remain in a place of safety or proceed to the nearest curb or place of safety until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

Cross reference— Ambulance service established, Ch. 13, Art. II.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 21806.

It shall be unlawful for any person to stop or park any truck, automobile, or other vehicle within less than three hundred (300) feet of any conflagration, or fire, in this city for the extinguishment of which the services of the fire department are required, except such as may be in the service of the fire department, or members thereof, and under its direction.

(Ord. No. 226, § 3)

State Law reference— Following emergency vehicles, Veh. Code § 21706; operation within fire areas restricted, Veh. Code § 21707.

(a) Right-of-way. Funeral processions bearing a flag or other mark, sign or insignia indicating "funeral," when proceeding on vehicles on the streets of this city shall have the right-of-way over all other vehicular traffic, excepting authorized emergency vehicles.

(b) Yielding of right-of-way. Every operator of a vehicle licensed under the Vehicle Code shall yield the right-of-way to such funeral procession, except operators of authorized emergency vehicles.

(c) Cutting through funeral procession. No operator of any vehicle licensed under the Vehicle Code, excepting authorized emergency vehicles, shall cut in or go between vehicles of a marked funeral procession.

(Ord. No. 532, §§ 1—3)

(a) Intent and purpose. It shall be the intent and purpose of section 17-64.1 through 17-64.7 to provide for the public necessity, health, safety or general welfare through the establishment of procedures for terminal designation and truck route designation to terminals for interstate trucks.

(b) Since the Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA1982) and AB866 (enacted as Chapter 145 of the Statutes of the 1982-83 State Legislative session) revised current state law on truck combinations' length and width and implements federal requirements dealing with access to the federally designated system by interstate trucks, it is required that the City of El Centro enact an ordinance delineating the process of application for terminal and route designation within the bounds of the city limits by citizens/business establishments requiring the service of said interstate trucks off said federally designated system (i.e., I-8).

(Ord. No. 84-15, § 1)

The terms "terminal" and "interstate truck" as used in sections 17-64.1 through 17-64.7 shall be defined as follows:

(1) Terminal: A facility at which freight is consolidated to be shipped or where full load consignment may be loaded and off-loaded or at which the vehicles are regularly maintained, stored or manufactured.

(2) Interstate truck: Truck, tractor and semitrailer, or a truck tractor, semitrailer, and trailer or doubles as regulated by California Vehicle Code, section 35401.5(a)(1) and (2).

(Ord. No. 84-15, § 1)

(a) Those persons qualifying as a "terminal" as defined in section 17-64.2(1) and requiring terminal access from federally designated highways, shall submit an application and appropriate fee to the Engineering Department, City Hall, 1275 Main Street, El Centro, California. Said application shall be prepared and be on file with the office of city engineer.

(b) Upon receipt of the application, the city engineer or director of public works will determine the applicant's conformance with the "terminal" designation and if so approved, will then determine the capability of the route requested and/or alternate routes. Capability will be determined by the adequate turning radii and lane widths of ramps, intersections and highways. Also a determinant factor will be general traffic conditions such as sight distance, speed and traffic volumes for safe operation. Access off the federally designated highways will require Cal Trans (District 11) approval.

(c) If the requested route passes through several jurisdictions (i.e., county or other municipality), applicant shall comply with that jurisdiction's application process. Coordination will be the responsibility of the applicant.

(Ord. No. 84-15, § 1)

(a) Fees/costs for the application of a terminal designation. Application fee is to cover the cost of reviewing route(s) and terminal designation and to be established by city council resolution. The application fee is nonrefundable.

(b) If the application for a terminal designation is approved, the applicant will be required to pay for the purchase and installation of terminal access signs and trailblazer signs. Trailblazer signs will be required at every decision point on the route to the terminal. Said costs to be determined by the office of the city engineer or director of public works of the city.

(Ord. No. 84-15, § 1)

(a) If all feasible routes to a requested terminal are deemed unsatisfactory by the office of the city engineer or director of public works, the applicant may request retrofitting the deficiencies, but all costs of engineering, construction and inspection will be borne by the applicant.

(b) When the work is done by the city, the applicant shall deposit with the City of El Centro the estimated cost of retrofitting. Adjustments between the estimated and actual cost shall be made after completion of the work and any difference between the actual and the estimated cost shall be billed or refunded to the applicant as the case may be. When the work is done by the applicant, the applicant may file with the city engineer, on a form satisfactory to the city engineer, a statement detailing the actual costs of the retrofitting.

(c) If at any time within five (5) years from the date of completion of the retrofitting by the applicant, should any applicant seek terminal approval which would use the route upon which such retrofitting was accomplished, any such applicants' fee may include that applicants proportionate share of the retrofitting, as determined by the city engineer, which fee shall be disbursed by the City of El Centro to the applicant who paid for the retrofitting as well as to any applicant who contributed to the cost of retrofitting under this subsection. Nothing herein shall require the payment of a proportionate fee if the applicant doing the work failed to file the report with the city engineer required by subsection (b) above.

(Ord. No. 84-15, § 1)

The city engineer or director of public works are authorized to revoke any approved route if said route proves to be a safety hazard for any vehicular traffic. A safety hazard is defined as inability of the interstate trucks to negotiate route and/or said trucks causing unsafe driving conditions for other vehicular traffic and/or pedestrians.

(Ord. No. 84-15, § 1)

(a) If the office of the city engineer or director of public works denies terminal designation and/or route feasibility or revokes a previously approved route per section 17-64.6 above, the applicant/ terminal owner, within ten (10) days following the date of a decision of the city engineer or director of public works on a revocation of terminal access or terminal designation may appeal said decision to the city council. An appeal shall be made on a form prescribed by the city and shall be filed with the city clerk. The appeal shall state specifically wherein there was an error or abuse of discretion by the city engineer or director of public works or wherein its decision is not supported by the evidence in the record. Within five (5) days of the filing of an appeal, the city engineer or director of public works shall transmit to the city clerk the terminal application, the sketches of the revoked route and all other data filed therewith, the report of the city engineer or director of public works, the findings of the city engineer or director of public works and his decision on the application.

(b) The city clerk shall give notice to the applicant and to the appellant (if the applicant is not the appellant) and may give notice to any other interested party of the time when the appeal will be considered by the city council.

(c) If Cal Trans (District 11) and not the city engineer or director of public works denies or revokes terminal access from federally designated highways, no appeal may be made to the city council, but must be made to said Cal Trans (District 11).

(Ord. No. 84-15, § 1)