Guadalupe Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 Definitions

Whenever in Sections 10.24.010 through 10.24.070 and Chapters 10.04, 10.08, 10.20, 10.40, 10.48, and 10.56 of this code the following terms are used, they shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this chapter.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Alley"

means every way set apart for public travel, except streets, bridle paths and foot-paths.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Authorized emergency vehicle"

means a vehicle of any of the following types:

A.

A vehicle publicly owned and operated by a Police or Fire Department or traffic law-enforcement officer in responding to emergency calls or in traffic patrol duty; also, vehicles publicly owned and operated by members of the Sheriff's or District Attorney's office and subject to emergency call;

B.

A motorcycle, either publicly or privately owned, operated by a police or traffic law-enforcement officer in enforcing the provisions of this chapter;

C.

A motor vehicle, either publicly or privately owned, operated by a State or County forest ranger, or a fire warden on salary, and directly in charge of fire protection work upon behalf of the State or in any county, or the chief or assistant chief of an organized fire department, in responding to emergency fire call;

D.

Any fire-fighting equipment designed and operated exclusively as such by an oil company and used in responding to emergency fire calls and in containing fires;

E.

When used in responding to emergency calls, by any privately owned ambulance authorized by permit issued by the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and any publicly owned ambulance;

F.

An emergency repair vehicle of a utility or public utility, whether privately owned or municipally or publicly owned, used in responding to emergency calls when authorized by the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles;

G.

Any fire-fighting equipment, emergency wrecking equipment or emergency repair equipment owned and operated by a bridge and highway district for the purpose of extinguishing fires, removing wrecked motor vehicles, caring for injured persons, or repairing damaged lighting or electrical equipment of such bridge and highway district, when such vehicles are responding to emergency call.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

A. "Business district" means that portion of a highway, and the property adjacent thereto:

1. Upon one side of which highway, for a distance of 600 feet, 50% or more of the contiguous property fronting thereon is occupied by buildings in use for business; or

2. Upon sides of which highway, collectively for a distance of 300 feet, 50% or more of the contiguous property fronting thereon is so occupied.

B. A business district may be longer than the distance specified in this section if the above ratio of buildings in use for business to the length of the highway exists.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Chauffeur"

means a person who is employed by another for the principal purpose of driving a motor vehicle on the highways, and who receives compensation therefor.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Crosswalk"

means either:

A.

That portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of the boundary lines of sidewalks at intersections, where the intersecting roadways meet at approximately right angles, except the prolongation of any such lines form an alley across a street;

B.

Any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Intersection"

means the area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral curblines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of 2 highways which join one another at approximately right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling on different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Loading zone"

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

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Motorcycle"

means a motor vehicle, other than a tractor, designed to travel on not more than 3 wheels in contact with the ground.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Motor vehicle"

means a vehicle which is self-propelled.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Official warning and directional signs and signals"

means all warning and directional signs and signals not inconsistent with the sections and chapters cited in Section 10.04.010 heretofore or hereafter placed or erected under such sections or chapters, or by the authority of the Board or Councilmembers.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Operator"

means a person, other than a chauffeur, who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle on a highway.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Pedestrian"

means any person afoot.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Private way or driveway"

means a way or place in private ownership, and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having access or implied permission from the owner, but not by other members of the public.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

A. "Residence district" means that portion of a highway and the property contiguous thereto, other than a business district:

1. Upon one side of which highway, within a distance of a quarter of a mile, the contiguous property fronting thereon is occupied by 13 or more separate dwelling houses or business structures; or

2. Upon both sides of which highway, collectively, within a distance of a quarter of a mile, the contiguous property fronting thereon is occupied by 16 or more separate dwelling houses or business structures.

B. A residence district may be longer than one-quarter of a mile if the above ratio of separate dwelling houses or business structures to the length of the highway exists.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Right-of-way"

means the privilege of the immediate use of the street or highway.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Roadway"

means that portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Safety zone"

means the area or space lawfully set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians, and which is protected, or which is marked or indicated by vertical signs, raised markers or raised buttons, in order to make such area or space plainly visible at all times while the same is set apart as a safety zone.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Sidewalk"

means that portion of a highway, other than the roadway, set apart for pedestrian travel.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Street" or "highway"

means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained, and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Traffic"

means pedestrians and vehicles, either singly or together, while using any street or highway for purposes of travel.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)

"Commercial trailer"

means a commercial trailer exceeding 20 feet in length.

(Ord. 2000-349 §1)

"Truck"

means a commercial vehicle exceeding 28 feet in length, or commercial vehicle with a gross variable weight in excess of 19,501 pounds.

(Ord. 2000-349 §2; Ord. 2008-394 §2)

"Vehicle"

means a device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be propelled, moved or drawn on a highway, excepting a device moved by tracks. For the purpose of the sections and chapters cited in Section 10.04.010, a "bicycle" shall be deemed to be a vehicle.

(Ord. 10 §1, 1946)