Hawthorne Municipal Code Ch. 10.08 Enforcement of Traffic Regulations

A. Authority to Enforce Traffic Laws. It shall be the duty of the officers of the police department, or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police, to enforce all street traffic laws of this city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in the city, to investigate traffic accidents and to make arrests for traffic violations.

B. Authority to Direct Traffic. Officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance with traffic laws; provided, that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

C. Authority to Direct Traffic at Fires. Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire or other emergency, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity.

(Prior code § 10-300)

No person other than an officer of the police department or a person deputized by the chief of police or 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 council.

(Prior code § 10-301)

The provisions of this title shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, or any county or city, and it is unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this title or state statute.

(Prior code § 10.302)

A. Authorized Emergency Vehicles. The provisions of this title 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 vehicle or private ambulance which has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle, when such vehicle is being operated in the manner specified in the Vehicle Code of the state in response to an emergency call; provided, however, that the foregoing exemptions shall not protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his wilful disregard of the safety of others.

B. City, Utility and Mail Vehicles While Parking. The provisions of this title regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to 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.

(Prior code § 10-303)

No provision of the Vehicle Code or of this title for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator unless appropriate signs are in place and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person, giving notice of such provision of the traffic laws.

(Prior code § 10-304)

A. Damage to Hydrants, Poles, Trees, Must be Reported. The driver of a vehicle or the person in charge of any animal involved in any accident resulting in damage to any property publicly owned or owned by a public utility, including but not limited to any fire hydrant, ornamental lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any ornamental shade tree, traffic control device or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, shall, within twenty-four hours after such accident, make a written report of such accident to the police department.

B. Contents of Report. Every report shall state the time when and the place where the accident took place, the name and address of the person owning and of the person driving or in charge of such vehicle or animal, the license number of every such vehicle, and shall briefly describe the property damaged in such accident.

C. Physical Incapacity to Make Report. A driver involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this section if and during the time such driver is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event said driver shall make a report as required in this section within twenty-four hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Prior code § 10-305)