La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 12.16 Traffic-Control Devices

The city traffic engineer shall have the power and duty to place or cause to be placed and maintained official traffic-control devices when and as required under the traffic ordinances and resolutions of this city to make effective the provisions of said ordinances and resolutions.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

Whenever the Vehicle Code requires that for the effectiveness of any provisions thereof that traffic-control devices be installed to give notice to the public of the application of such law, the city traffic engineer is authorized to install or cause to be installed the necessary devices subject to any limitations or restrictions set forth in the law applicable thereto.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

The city traffic engineer may also cause to be placed and maintained such additional traffic-control devices as he or she may deem necessary to regulate traffic or to guide or warn traffic, but he or she shall make such determination only upon such principles and traffic investigations and in accordance with such standards, limitations and rules as may be set forth in the traffic ordinances of this city or as may be determined by ordinance or resolution of the legislative body of this city or as may be proper under standards officially in effect for the state.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

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

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

The driver of a vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the traffic ordinances of this city unless otherwise directed by a police officer or other city personnel authorized by the provisions of this chapter, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to emergency calls.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

The city traffic engineer shall recommend the locations where traffic signals are needed by obtaining and reviewing, traffic counts, traffic collision data and other traffic information that may be pertinent, and his/her determinations therefrom shall be made in accordance with generally accepted traffic engineering and safety standards.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

The city traffic engineer shall, upon direction of the city council cause to be installed and maintained official traffic signals at those intersections and other places where traffic conditions are such as to require that the flow of traffic be alternately interrupted and released in order to prevent or relieve traffic congestion or to protect life or property from exceptional hazard. The city traffic engineer shall, upon direction of the city council cause to be installed and maintained official traffic round-abouts at those intersections and other places where traffic conditions are such as to require that the flow of traffic be slowed and guided around a round-about in order to prevent or relieve traffic congestion or to protect life or property from exceptional hazard.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

Whenever the city traffic engineer causes to be installed and maintained traffic signals or roundabouts at any intersection, he or she shall likewise cause to be installed and maintained at such intersections street name signs visible to the principal flow of traffic unless such street name signs have previously been placed and are maintained at any such intersection.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

The city traffic engineer is authorized to place and maintain distinctive roadway markings as described in the Vehicle Code on those streets or parts of streets where the volume of traffic or the vertical or other curvature of the roadway renders it hazardous to drive on the left side of such marking or sign and markings. Such marking or signs and marking shall have the same effect as similar markings placed by the state Department of Transportation pursuant to the provisions of the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

The city traffic engineer is authorized to establish safety zones at such places as the city traffic engineer may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians.

(Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)

The city traffic engineer is authorized to remove, relocate or discontinue the operation of any traffic control not specifically required by state law or this title whenever he or she determines in any particular case that the conditions which warranted or required the installation no longer exist.

(Ord. 559 § 1, 2017; Ord. 10 § 1, 1982)