El Segundo Municipal Code Ch. 4 Miscellaneous Traffic Provisions

A. Marker Authority; Multiple Lanes: The City Traffic Engineer is authorized to place official traffic-control devices within or adjacent to intersections and indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at the intersections, and the City Traffic Engineer is authorized to locate and indicate more than one lane of traffic from which drivers of vehicles may make right- or left-hand turns, and the course to be traveled as so indicated may conform to or be other than as prescribed by law or ordinance.

B. Restricted Turn Signs: The City Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to determine those intersections at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right, left, or U-turn and shall place proper signs at these intersections. The making of the 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 or they may be removed when the turns are permitted.

C. Right Turn On Red Signal:

1. No driver of a vehicle shall make a right turn against a red or stop signal at any intersection which is sign posted giving notice of the restriction as hereinafter provided in this subsection.

2. The City Traffic Engineer shall post appropriate signs giving effect to this subsection where he determines that the making of right turns against traffic signal "stop" indication would seriously interfere with the safe and orderly flow of traffic. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

Whenever any ordinance or resolution of the City designates any one-way street or alley, the City Traffic Engineer shall place and maintain signs giving notice thereof, and no such regulations shall be effective unless the 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. 659, 3-13-1967)

A. It is hereby determined upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey pursuant to Vehicle Code section 22357 that a speed greater than 25 miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe upon the streets set forth in this section, and it is further determined that the speeds designated herein are appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic in a reasonable and safe manner.

B. Signal Regulation of Speed: The City Traffic Engineer 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. (Ord. 1222, 6-7-1994; amd. Ord. 1611, 1-21-2020; Ord. 1674, 7-1-2025)

Whenever the Traffic Engineer feels that any hedge, shrubbery or tree growing in a parkway obstructs the view of any intersection, or any traffic upon the streets approaching the intersection, he shall cause the hedge, shrubbery or tree to be immediately removed or reduced in height. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

A. Driver In Attendance: A vehicle transporting a hazardous material or substance as identified in title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations must be attended at all times by its driver or a qualified representative of the motor carrier that operates it, and shall not be parked on any highway, shoulder, street, alley, public way or public place, or within five feet (5') of the traveled portion thereof, within a residential district except for brief periods when mechanical or equipment failure or disablement or malfunction of the vehicle, or the necessities of operations require the vehicle to be parked and make it impractical to park the vehicle in any other place.

B. Certain Vehicles Exempt: Repair, maintenance, refuse, utility, termite and pesticide vehicles, fuel delivery vehicles, and vehicles delivering life support and health commodities, while servicing residential areas or schools, are exempt from the provisions of subsection A of this Section. Additionally, such exempt vehicles need not be attended while the drivers are performing duties that are evident and necessary as the operator of the vehicle or the provider of the service.

C. Explanation Of Terms: For purposes of this Section:

1. A motor vehicle is attended when the person in charge of the vehicle is on the vehicle, awake, and not in a sleeper berth, or is within one hundred feet (100') of the vehicle and has it within his unobstructed field of view.

2. A qualified representative of a motor carrier is a person who:

a. Has been designated by the carrier to attend the vehicle;

b. Is aware of the nature of the hazardous material or substance contained in the vehicle he attends;

c. Has been instructed on the procedures he must follow in emergencies concerning hazardous materials or substances;

d. Is authorized to move the vehicle and has the means and ability to do so.

D. Further Obligations: The rules of this Section do not relieve a driver from any obligation imposed by Federal, State, or local laws relating to the transportation of hazardous materials or explosives, motor carrier safety regulations or the placement of warning signs or devices when a motor vehicle is stopped on a public street or highway. (Ord. 1003, 4-7-1981)

A. Designation:

1. Whenever any resolution of the City designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a street the use of which is permitted by any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of three (3) tons, the City Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to designate the street or streets by appropriate signs as "Truck Routes" for the movement of vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of three (3) tons.

2. Those streets and parts of streets established by resolution of the Council are hereby declared to be truck routes for the movement of vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of three (3) tons.

B. Pickups And Deliveries: When the truck route or routes are established and designated by appropriate signs, the operator of any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of three (3) tons shall drive on the route or routes and none other, except that nothing in this Section shall prohibit the operator of any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight of three (3) tons coming from a truck route having ingress and egress by direct route to and from restricted streets when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on the 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 the restricted streets for which a building permit has previously been obtained therefor.

C. Exceptions: The provisions of this Section shall not apply to: 1) passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission; or to 2) any vehicle owned by a public utility while necessarily in use in the construction, installation or repair of any public utility. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

A. Permit Required: No persons shall move or operate upon any of the City streets any vehicle with a load or loads in excess of those permitted by the Vehicle Code without a written permit from the City Traffic Engineer. (Ord. 1154, 7-3-1990)

B. Guarantee Repair Of Streets: The City Traffic Engineer may, by written permit, authorize a load or loads in excess of those allowed for in the Vehicle Code, if in his judgment, the streets upon which the vehicle used is to be operated can safely withstand the additional weight or if the applicant will guarantee to the City that all cost of repair to the streets or to the public property of the City damaged by the movement of such load or loads will be paid in full. The permit shall be granted upon such conditions and upon satisfactory proof of financial responsibility determined under the Vehicle Code as the City Traffic Engineer in his discretion may require. Extra insurance or other financial security may be imposed at the discretion of the City Traffic Engineer as a condition for a permit for unusually large or heavy loads which pose a substantial risk to public facilities. (Ord. 1154, 7-3-1990; amd. Ord. 1163, 5-7-1991)

C. Application For Permit: Application for the permit authorized by this Section shall be on the standard application form developed by the State Department of Transportation pursuant to Vehicle Code section 35781.

D. Permit Fee: For any permit so issued, there shall be a charge which shall be equal to the largest fee allowed by the fee schedule developed by the State Department of Transportation pursuant to Vehicle Code section 35795 for single or multiple trips. (Ord. 1154, 7-3-1990; amd. 2000 Code)

E. Police Escort: Whenever the City Traffic Engineer shall deem a police escort necessary or advisable in connection with operation under the permit, the permittee shall pay the current charge for the escorts required. (Ord. 1154, 7-3-1990)

No person shall operate over the City streets any vehicle, piece of equipment or machinery which has lugs, cleats, flanges or other projections on the wheels or tracks. If the tread of the track has projections or corrugations, a filler block may be placed on each section so that a flat bearing surface will be in contact with the pavement at all times. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

No operator of any vehicle shall drive between the vehicles comprising a funeral procession or a parade; provided, that such vehicles are conspicuously so designated. The directing of all vehicles and traffic on any street over which the funeral procession or parade wishes to pass shall be subject to the orders of the Police Department. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

No person shall attach himself with his hands, or catch on or hold on to with his hands or by other means, to any moving vehicle or train for the purpose of receiving motive power therefrom. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

A. Definition: For the purpose of this Section, a "commercial vehicle" means a vehicle having a rated capacity in excess of one-half (1/2) ton.

B. Consent Required: No person shall operate or drive a commercial vehicle in, on or across any private driveway approach or sidewalk area or the driveway itself without the consent of the owner or occupant of the property if a sign or markings are in place indicating that the use of the driveway is prohibited. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

No person shall ride, drive, propel or cause to be propelled any vehicle or animal across or upon any sidewalk excepting over permanently constructed driveways and excepting when it is necessary for any temporary purpose to drive a loaded vehicle across a sidewalk; provided further, that the sidewalk area be substantially protected by wooden planks two inches (2") thick, and written permission be previously obtained from the City Traffic Engineer. The wooden planks shall not be permitted to remain upon the sidewalk area during the hours from six o'clock (6:00) P.M. to six o'clock (6:00) A.M. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

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 sign, cone marker or other warning device is in place warning persons not to drive over or across the pavement or marking or when the device is in place indicating that the street or any portion thereof is closed. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

No person, public utility or department of the City shall erect or place any barrier or sign on any street unless of a type approved by the City Traffic 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 the City. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

No operator of any vehicle shall enter any intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic-control signal indication to proceed. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

No person shall drive a vehicle onto or from any limited access roadway except at such entrances and exits as are lawfully established. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

No person shall drive or operate any bicycle, motor-driven cycle or any vehicle which is not drawn by a motor vehicle upon any street established as a "freeway", as defined by State law, nor shall any pedestrian walk across or along any such street so designated and described except in space set aside for the use of pedestrians; provided, official signs are in place giving notice of the restrictions. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

No person shall operate a vehicle contrary to the directions or provisions of any barrier or sign erected: a) pursuant to the provisions of any ordinance of the city, or b) by any public utility, or c) by any department of the city, or d) by any other person pursuant to law or contract with the city, nor shall any unauthorized person move or alter the position of the barrier or sign. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

No persons shall ride, drive or propel, or cause to be ridden, driven or propelled into or upon any roadway, path or way in any public park or recreation ground within the city any vehicle, device or other equipment, including a bicycle. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

A. Prohibition: A person shall not operate any motor vehicle (including any motorcycle, trail bike, dune buggy, motor scooter, or jeep) or the motor thereof on any vacant lot, parking lot, vacant property or acreage so as to disturb the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or person by noise, dust, smoke, or fumes caused by such motor vehicle.

B. Exceptions: This section does not apply to any act prohibited by section 372 of the California Penal Code, or prohibited or expressly permitted by any state statute. (Ord. 746, 10-12-1970)

A. Locked Ignition, Key Removal Required: No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended in any public place or on any used or new car lot without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the ignition key from the vehicle and effectively setting the brake thereon.

B. Key Removal By Officer: Whenever any police officer shall find a motor vehicle standing unattended with the ignition key in the vehicle, in violation of this section, the police officer is authorized to remove the key from the vehicle and to deliver the key to the police officer in charge of the police station. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

A. Driving Through Crossings Restricted: No person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing while the gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.

B. Blocking Crossings: No person shall cause or permit any railway train or railway cars or similar vehicle on rails to stop or stand or to be operated in such a manner as to prevent the use of any street for the purposes of travel for a period of time longer than ten (10) minutes, except that this provision shall not apply to railway trains, cars or similar vehicles on rails while blocking or obstructing a crossing because of an accident which requires the operator of the train, car or similar vehicle on rails to stop at or near the scene of the accident. (Ord. 659, 3-13-1967)

A. Appointment Of Bicycle Registrar: The chief of police shall be designated and appointed as the registrar of bicycles of the city.

B. Bicycle License Required: It is unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle propelled wholly or in part by human power upon any of the public streets, alleys or public highways within the city without first obtaining a license required by division 16.7, commencing with section 39000, of the state Vehicle Code.

C. Secondhand Bicycle Report: All persons engaged in the business of buying secondhand bicycles within the city are hereby required to make a daily report to the registrar of bicycles on report forms approved by the registrar, giving the name and address of the person from whom the bicycle was purchased, the description of the bicycle, the frame number thereof and the number and symbols of the license indicia found thereon, if any. (Ord. 968, 2-6-1979)

A. Use Restricted: No person shall ride, operate, coast or propel themself down, along, upon or over any sidewalk in or on any skateboard, rollerblades, in-line skates, wagon, cart, hand wagon, coaster, bicycle off-highway motorcycle, electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, pocket bike, motorized scooter, or any other electric or motorized conveyance, or other vehicle in any business district, public park or recreation area.

B. Exception: Skateboarding 1 and freestyle bicycling shall only be permitted in areas designated by the city.

C. This section is not intended to apply to or otherwise restrict electric or motorized wheelchairs or 4-wheel mobility scooters being operated in a safe manner by an individual with a disability, as that term is defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.) and Appendix II Federal Regulations. (Ord. 1112, 5-17-1988; amd. 2000 Code; Ord. 1679, 12-3-2025)

A. It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate any bicycle, off-highway motorcycle, electric bicycle, motor-driven cycle, pocket bike, motorized scooter, or any other electric or motorized conveyance upon any street, highway, path, lane or any area of the City in an unsafe manner. “Unsafe manner” means operating in such a way as to constitute a danger to the operator, a passenger, other motorists, other riders, or pedestrians in the area.

B. It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate any bicycle, off-highway motorcycle, electric bicycle, motor-driven cycle, pocket bike, motorized scooter, or any other electric or motorized conveyance upon any street, path, lane or any area of the City while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug or under the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any drug.

C. No person riding or operating a bicycle, off-highway motorcycle, electric bicycle, motor-driven cycle, pocket bike, motorized scooter, or any other electric or motorized conveyance shall transport another person upon such vehicle or conveyance unless such passenger is seated upon a separate seat attached to the bike or conveyance.

D. If a juvenile is cited for violating this section, the City officer issuing the citation may impound the bike or conveyance. The officer shall provide written notice to the juvenile of the place to which the bike or conveyance has been removed. Such impounded bike or conveyance may only be released to an adult responsible for the juvenile upon payment of the impound fee established by the City Council. (Ord. 1679, 12-3-2025)