Fresno Municipal Code Art. 1 Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this article.

(Rep. and Added Ord. 6130, 1962).

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

(Rep. and Added 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-101).

(a);

"Adjacent" shall mean near, close, or abutting; for example, an Industrial District across the street or highway from a Residential District shall be considered as "Adjacent."

"Alley" is any street less than twenty-five feet in width between property lines.

(b) "Bank service zone" is the space adjacent to a curb reserved during certain hours and days for the exclusive use of vehicles whose operators or passengers are transacting or waiting in line to transact business at a special device installed at the curb to handle banking transactions.

"Bicycle" means a device upon which any person may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears, and having either two or three wheels in a tandem or tricycle arrangement.

"Bicycle Lane" or "Bike Lane" means any lane within the roadway designated by signs and markings for the operation of bicycles.

"Bicycle Path" or "Bike Path" means any area physically separated from the roadway and designated for the operation of bicycles.

"Bicycle Route" or "Bike Route" means any route recommended for bicycle travel which may include public streets, bicycle lanes, or bicycle paths.

"Bicycle Taxi" means a bicycle designed to carry passengers for fare.

"Bicycle Way" or "Bike Way" means the same as "Bicycle Route" or "Bike Route".

(c) "Central business district" includes all of that portion of this city bounded by and including the following streets:

(1) Southern Pacific tracks, from Calaveras to Mono;

(2) Calaveras Street, from Southern Pacific tracks to "L" ;

(3) "L" Street, from Calaveras to Merced;

(4) Merced Street, from "L" to "Q" ;

(5) "Q" Street, from Merced to Kern;

(6) Kern Street, from "Q" to "L" ;

(7) "L" Street, from Kern to Mono;

(8) Mono Street, from "L" to Southern Pacific tracks.;

"Congested traffic" means a condition where little or no vehicular flow is occurring and a significant number of vehicles are not promptly and swiftly moving forward because of the heavy traffic load on a particular street or highway.

"Core Area" means any of the following areas in the City:

(1) Ventura Avenue (State Highway 180) from Broadway to Cedar Avenue.

(2) Kings Canyon Road (State Highway 180) from Cedar Avenue to Willow Avenue.

(3) Blackstone Avenue from Hedges Avenue to Nees Avenue.

(4) Belmont Avenue from Weber Avenue to Abby Avenue.

(5) Broadway from Divisadero Street to Santa Clara Street.

"Cruising" means the repetitive driving of a motor vehicle past a traffic control point in traffic which is congested at or near such traffic control point, as determined by the highest ranking Fresno Police Department officer on duty within the affected core areas, three of more times within a three-hour period, after having driven past said control point two times within the same period and having been given an adequate written notice by a peace officer after the second passing, that further driving past the traffic control point shall constitute a violation of this section.

"Curb" means the 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 tracks or rights-of-way of public utility companies.

"Curb postal mailing zone" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the depositing of mail in special mail curb postal boxes.

(d) "Divisional island" means a raised located in the roadway and separating opposing or conflicting streams of traffic.;

(e) (Reserved).

(f) (Reserved).

(g) (Reserved).

(h) "Holidays" means January 1st, February 12th, the third Monday in February, the last Monday in May, July 4th, the first Monday in September, September 9th, the second Monday in October, November 11th, Thanksgiving Day, December 25th, and any day or part of a day declared by the Council, by ordinance or resolution, to be a holiday. If January 1st, February 12th, July 4th, September 9th, or December 25th falls on a Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday.

(i) (Reserved).

(j) (Reserved).

(k) (Reserved).

(l) "Limited-access roadway" means any highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting property or lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from same, except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway.

"Loading zone" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

(m) (Reserved).

(n) (Reserved).

(o) "Official car zone" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles belonging to governmental agencies which are equipped with State of California exempt license plates or containing a permit in the windshield issued by an official agency authorized to issue such permits.

"Official Time Standard," whenever certain hours are named herein, shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in this city.

(p) "Park" means to stand or leave standing any vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

"Parking meter" means any mechanical device installed adjacent to a parking meter space for the purpose of recording the period of time for occupancy of such parking meter space by any vehicle.

"Parking meter space" includes the area or space adjacent to a parking meter upon any street or upon any city-owned off-street parking lot designated by lines or other markings and of sufficient size to permit the parking of only one vehicle, or up to four motorcycles.

"Parking meter zone" is an area described and established by ordinance as a zone within which the parking of vehicles shall be controlled, regulated and inspected with the aid of parking meters.

"Parkway" means that portion of a street other than a roadway or a sidewalk.

"Passenger loading zone" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

"Pedestrian" means any person afoot or using a wheelchair. Individuals using other power-driven mobility devices because of a mobility disability may be classified as pedestrians if the devices can be safely operated pursuant to City policy and consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Police officer" means every officer of the Police Department of this city or any other officer authorized to regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.

(q) (Reserved).

(r) (reserved).

(s) "Stop," when required, means complete cessation of movement.

"Stop or stand" when prohibited, means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device.

(t) "Taxicab stand" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the legal parking of taxicabs while awaiting employment.

"Traffic" includes pedestrian, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, and other conveyances either singly or together while using any street for purposes of travel.

"Traffic control point" means a location along a public street or highway utilized by a Fresno Police Department officer on duty in the affected areas as an observation point in order to monitor traffic conditions.

(u) (Reserved).

(v) "Vehicle Code" means the Vehicle Code of the State of California.

(w) "West Fresno Business district" includes all that portion of this city bounded by and including the following streets:

(i) 99 Freeway right-of-way, from Fresno Street to Inyo Street;

(ii) Inyo Street, from 99 Freeway right-of-way to "G" Street;

(iii) "G" Street, from Inyo to Fresno Street;

(iv) Fresno Street, from "G" Street to the 99 Freeway right-of-way.

(x) (Reserved).

(y) (Reserved).

(z) (Reserved).

(Rep. and Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-102; Am. Ord. 6511, 1964; Am. Ord. 76-24, § 1, eff. 4-18-76; Am. Ord. 76-126, § 2, eff. 1-23-77; Am. Ord. 83-134, § 1, eff. 10-28-83; Am. Ord. 89-136, §§ 1, 2, eff. 12-8-89; Am. Ord. 93-4, § 1, eff. 2-12-93; Am. Ord. 2003-74, § 1, eff. 10-5-03; Am. Ord. 2006-74, § 1, eff. 7-22-06; Am. Ord. 2011-6, § 7, eff. 4-10-11).