Larkspur Municipal Code Ch. 10.12 Enforcement and OBEDIENCE1

Sections: 10.12.010 Authority of Police and Fire Department Officials. 10.12.020 Nonofficials Directing Traffic. 10.12.030 Obedience to Barriers and Signs. 10.12.040 Obedience to Police or Authorized Officer. 10.12.050 Persons Riding Bicycles or Animals – Applicability. 10.12.060 Obstruction or Interference with Police or Authorized Officers. 10.12.070 Public Employees to Obey Traffic Regulations. 10.12.080 Authorized Emergency Vehicles. 10.12.090 Removal of Vehicles from Streets.

Prior ordinance history: Ords. 331 §§ 50 – 56, 58, 103, 214, 360 § 1, 364 § 1.

Officers of the Police Department and such officers as are assigned by the Police Chief are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, audible or other signal in conformance with traffic laws, except that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department or members of the Fire Department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary contained in this title or the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

No person other than an officer of the Police Department or member of the Fire Department or a person authorized by the Police Chief or a 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 push-button signal erected by order of the City Traffic Engineer. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

No person, public utility or department in the City shall erect or place any barrier or sign on any street unless of a type approved by the City Traffic Engineer or disobey the instructions, remove, tamper with or destroy any barrier or sign lawfully placed on any street by any person, public utility or by any department of the City. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

No person shall fail or refuse to comply with or to perform any act forbidden by any lawful order, signal or direction of a traffic or Police Officer, or a member of the Fire Department, or a person authorized by the Police Chief or by law. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon the street or highway has all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any Police Officer or other officer or employee of this City in their enforcement of the provisions of this title. The removal, obliteration or concealment of any chalk mark or other distinguishing mark used by any Police Officer or other employee or officer of this City in connection with the enforcement of the parking regulations of this title shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provision of this title, constitute such interference or obstruction. (Ord. 1062 § 14, 2022; Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

The provisions of this title shall apply to the operator of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, any county or city, and it is unlawful for any vehicle operator to violate any of the provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted in this title or by the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

The provisions of this title regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles do not apply to vehicles operated by the Police or Fire Departments, any public ambulance or any public utility vehicle or any private ambulance, which public utility vehicle or private ambulance has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle, when any vehicle mentioned in this section is operated in the manner specified by the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

Any regular employed and salaried officer of the Police Department of this City may remove or cause to be removed:

A. Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street or highway between the hours of seven a.m. and seven p.m. when such parking or standing is prohibited by ordinance or resolution of this City and signs are posted giving notice of such removal.

B. Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street or highway where the use of such street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for the cleaning, repair or construction of the street or highway or for the installation of underground utilities or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is authorized for a purpose other than the normal flow of traffic or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is necessary for the movement of equipment, articles or structures of unusual size and the parking of such vehicle would prohibit or interfere with such use or movement; provided that signs giving notice that such vehicles may be removed are erected or placed at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the removal. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 720 § 2 (part), 1985; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

Whenever this title delegates authority to a City officer, or authorizes action by the City Council to regulate traffic upon a state highway in any way which by state law requires the prior approval of the Public Works Department, no such officer shall exercise such authority nor shall such action by the City Council be effective with respect to any state highway without the prior approval in writing of the Public Works Department in and to the extent required by Vehicle Code Divisions 9 and 11. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

The applicable provisions of this title and the Vehicle Code shall apply to the following private roads which the City Council finds and declares are generally held open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel to serve commercial establishments:

A. All roads in Bon Air Shopping Center.

B. All roads in Escalle Village. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 565 § 2, 1977; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)