Larkspur Municipal Code Ch. 10.24 Traffic Control Devices

Sections: 10.24.010 Authority to Install Traffic Control Devices. 10.24.020 Traffic Control Devices Required for Enforcement Purposes. 10.24.030 Obedience to Traffic Control Devices. 10.24.040 Installation of Traffic Signals. 10.24.050 Lane Marking. 10.24.060 Distinctive Roadway Markings. 10.24.070 Authority to Remove, Relocate and Discontinue Traffic Control. 10.24.080 Traffic Control Devices – Hours of Operation.

Prior ordinance history: Ord. 331 §§ 6 – 67.

A. The City Traffic Engineer has the power and duty to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained official traffic control devices when and as required to make effective the provisions of this title.

B. Whenever the Vehicle Code requires for the effectiveness of any provision thereof that traffic control devices be installed to give notice to the public of the application of such law, the City Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to install or cause to be installed the necessary devices subject to any limitations or restrictions set forth in the law applicable thereto.

C. The City Traffic Engineer may also place and maintain or cause to place and maintain such additional traffic control devices as they may deem necessary or proper to regulate traffic or to guide or warn traffic, but they shall make such determination only upon the basis of traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations and in accordance with such standards, limitations and rules as may be set forth in this title or as may be determined by ordinance or resolution of the Council. (Ord. 1062 § 14, 2022; Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

No provisions of the Vehicle Code or of this title for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator unless appropriate legible signs are in place giving notice of such provisions of the traffic laws. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

The operator of any vehicle, train, or bike, or the person in control of any animal or animal-drawn conveyance, shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device placed in accordance with this ordinance unless otherwise directed by a Police Officer or other authorized person subject to the exceptions granted the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to emergency calls. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

A. The City Traffic Engineer is hereby directed to install and maintain 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 such as to require that the flow of traffic be alternately interrupted and released in order to protect life or property from exceptional hazard.

B. The City Traffic Engineer shall ascertain and determine the locations where such signals are required by field investigation, traffic counts and other traffic information as may be pertinent and their determinations therefrom shall be made in accordance with those traffic engineering and safety standards and instructions set forth in the latest issue of the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices issued by the State of California Department of Transportation.

C. Whenever the City Traffic Engineer installs and maintains an official traffic signal at any intersection, they shall likewise erect and maintain at such intersection street name signs clearly visible to traffic approaching from all directions unless such street name signs have previously been placed and are maintained at any said intersection. (Ord. 1069 § 14, 2023; Ord. 1062 § 14, 2022; Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

The City Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to mark centerlines and lane lines upon the surface of the roadway to indicate the course to be travelled by vehicles and may place signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the centerline of the street or highway. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

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 markings or signs and markings. Such marking or signs and markings shall have the same effect as similar markings placed by the State Department of Public Works pursuant to provisions of the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

The City Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to remove, relocate or discontinue the operation of any traffic control device not specifically required by the Vehicle Code or this title whenever they shall determine in any particular case that the conditions which warranted or required the installation no longer exist. (Ord. 1062 § 14, 2022; Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

The City Traffic Engineer 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 in this title. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)

No person, unless authorized by this City, shall paint any street or curb surface; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the painting of numbers on a curb surface by any person, who has received authorization in writing from the City Traffic Engineer. (Ord. 1030 § 2(8), 2018; Ord. 526 § 1 (part), 1975)