Hawthorne Municipal Code Ch. 10.20 Traffic and Parking Control Devices/Signs and Markings

Whenever in this chapter the following terms are used, they shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them in this section:

Alley.

A public way without sidewalks which does not exceed twenty-five feet in width between property lines.

Barrier.

Shall be deemed to include any lumber, boards, rope or other material placed or stretched across any portion of such street, avenue, alley, sidewalk or other highway, which shall be plainly visible at a distance of not less than one hundred feet in the daytime and which shall be illuminated at night with a red lighted lantern or other lighting or reflection device.

Bus.

Means any motor bus, motor coach, trackless trolley coach, or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers.

Device.

a sign, signal, marking, or other device used to regulate, warn, or guide traffic, placed on, over, or adjacent to a street, highway, private road open to public travel, pedestrian facility, or shared-use path by authority of the City.

Holidays.

Those days designated as holidays in Section 6700 of the Government Code.

Loading zone.

That place adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading and unloading of passengers or materials.

No parking.

Prohibited parking means no standing of a vehicle, except when occupied to load or unload passengers or materials, or necessary to avoid conflict with other vehicles, or to comply to directions of a police officer or traffic control device.

Official time standard.

Whenever certain hours are named herein, they mean the time as may be in current use in this city.

Parking.

To stop or allow to stand any vehicle whether occupied or not, otherwise than in obedience to official traffic control devices or by direction of a police officer.

Parking control officer.

Means a member of the police department authorized by the chief of police to make arrests and issue citations for violations of parking prohibitions and regulations and whose chief duties are to patrol designated areas of the city to discover violations of parking restrictions and regulations and to generally enforce parking regulations and do the related work required in accordance with the class specification of this position.

Parkway.

That remaining portion of a right-of-way set apart or dedicated for public travel other than a roadway or a sidewalk.

Passenger loading zone.

Space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

Police officer.

Every sworn member of the police department or any employee of the city authorized by the chief of police to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of the traffic regulations.

Sign.

any traffic control device that is intended to communicate specific information to road users through a word, symbol, and/or arrow legend. Signs do not include highway traffic signals, pavement markings, delineators, or channelization devices. (California MUTCD 2014 Edition Page 81)

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.

Vehicle code definitions.

In addition to the definitions set forth above, all definitions of words and phrases set forth in the Vehicle Code as amended, of the state of California are incorporated in this title as though set forth in full herein.

(Ord. 2175 § 2, 2019)

A. Power and Duty of City Engineer. The city engineer shall have the exclusive power and duty to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained official traffic control devices and/or signs when and as required under the traffic ordinances or resolutions of the city to make effective the provisions of said ordinances or resolutions.

B. Authority to Install Devices and/or Parking Signs Required by Vehicle Code. Whenever the Vehicle Code of this state requires for the effectiveness of any provision thereof that traffic and or parking control devices be installed to give notice to the public of the application of such law, the city engineer is authorized to install the necessary devices and/or signs subject to any limitations or restrictions set forth in the law applicable thereto.

(Prior code § 10-400; Ord. 2175 § 2, 2019)

A. Procedure for Determining Installation of Traffic Signals/Parking Signs. The chief of police shall ascertain and determine and shall recommend to the council, those locations where official traffic signals and/or parking signs are required by resort to field observation, traffic counts and other traffic/parking information as may be pertinent and his or her determinations therefrom shall be made in accordance with those traffic engineering and safety standards and instructions set forth in the California Maintenance Manual issued by the Division of Highways of the State Department of Public Works.

B. City Engineer to Install. Whenever funds have been appropriated or provided for such purpose, the city engineer is directed to install and maintain official traffic signals/parking signs at those intersections and other places where authorized by the council; provided, however, that the city engineer shall determine where and in what manner such signals/signs shall be located or relocated at such intersections and places.

C. Street Signs to be Erected Where None Exist. Whenever the city engineer installs and maintains an official traffic signal/parking signs at any intersection and/or place, he shall likewise erect and maintain at such intersection, street name signs visible to the principal flow of traffic unless such street name signs have previously been placed and are maintained at such intersection.

(Prior code § 10-401; Ord. 2175 § 2, 2019)

The chief of police shall determine the hours and days during which any traffic control device shall be in operation or be in effect, except in those cases where such hours or days are specified by ordinance or resolution.

(Prior code § 10-402; Ord. 2175 § 2, 2019)

The driver of any vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device/posted parking sign applicable thereto and placed in accordance with the traffic ordinances of the city, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to emergency calls.

A. No vehicle shall park on any street or alleyway where a "No Parking" or "Parking Prohibited" sign is posted during the hours set forth on such signs.

B. No vehicle shall park on any street or alleyway where a "No Parking" sign is posted.

C. No vehicle shall park for a period exceeding one hour where a parking sign is posted limiting parking for a one-hour limit."

D. No vehicle shall park for a period exceeding two hours where a parking sign is posted limiting parking to a two-hour limit.

E. No vehicle shall park on any street or alleyway for longer than the time limit indicated on a posted parking sign.

It shall be an infraction subject to citation for any person to do any act prohibited or fail to perform any act required by this chapter.

(Prior code § 10-403; Ord. 2175 § 2, 2019)

The city engineer is authorized to mark centerlines and lane lines upon the surface of the roadway to indicate the course to be traveled by vehicles and may, along with the chief of police, place signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the centerline of the highway. When authorized signs have been placed designating off-center traffic lanes, no person shall disobey the instructions given by such signs.

(Prior code § 10-404; Ord. 2175 § 2, 2019)

No person shall ride or drive any animal or any vehicle over or across any newly made pavement or freshly painted marking in any street when an authorized barrier or sign is in place warning persons not to drive over or across such pavement or marking, or when an authorized sign is in place stating that the street or any portion thereof is closed.

(Prior code § 10-803; Ord. 2175 § 2, 2019)