Lemoore Municipal Code Ch. 1 General Traffic Provisions

Whenever any words or phrases used herein are not defined but are defined in the Vehicle Code of the State of California and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply. (1975 Code §9-1.02)

The following words and phrases when used in this Title shall, for the purpose of this Title, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this Section:

BICYCLE: A light vehicle without a motor, having two (2) wheels, handlebars and a seat or seats, and propelled by the operator. (1975 Code §9-1.03)

CENTRAL TRAFFIC DISTRICT: All streets and portions of streets within the area described as follows: All that area bounded by C Street to E Street and Hill Street to Armstrong Street. (1975 Code §9-1.04)

COACH: Any motor bus, motor coach, trackless trolley or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers. (1975 Code §9-1.05)

COUNCIL: The Council of the City of Lemoore. (1975 Code §9-1.06)

CURB: The lateral boundary of the roadway whether such curb be marked by curbing construction or not so marked; the word "curb" as herein used shall not include the line dividing the roadway of a street from parking strips in the center of a street nor from tracks or rights of way of public utility companies. (1975 Code §9-1.07)

DIVISIONAL ISLAND: A raised island located in the roadway and separating opposing or conflicting streams of traffic. (1975 Code §9-1.08)

HOLIDAYS: Within the meaning of this Title, holidays are those days designated in the City personnel rules and regulations adopted in Section 1-6-1 of this Code. (1975 Code §9-1.09)

LOADING ZONE: The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials. (1975 Code §9-1.10)

OFFICIAL TIME STANDARD: Whenever certain hours are named herein, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in this City. (1975 Code §9-1.11)

PARK: To stand or leave standing any vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in the loading or unloading of passengers or materials. (1975 Code §9-1.12)

PARKWAY: That portion of a street other than a roadway or sidewalk. (1975 Code §9-1.13)

PASSENGER LOADING ZONE: The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers. (1975 Code §9-1.14)

PEDESTRIAN: Any person afoot. (1975 Code §9-1.15)

POLICE OFFICER: Every officer of the Police Department of this City or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations. (1975 Code §9-1.16)

STOP: When required, means complete cessation of movement. (1975 Code §9-1.17)

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. (1975 Code §9-1.18)

VEHICLE CODE: The Vehicle Code of the State of California. (1975 Code §9-1.19)

A. Officers of the Police Department and such officers as are assigned by the Chief of Police are hereby 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 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. (1975 Code §9-2.01)

B. No person other than an officer of the Police Department or members of the Fire Department or a person authorized by the Chief of Police 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 Chief of Police. (1975 Code §9-2.02)

C. 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 Chief of Police or by law. (1975 Code §9-2.03)

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 provisions hereof, constitute such interference or obstruction. (1975 Code §9-2.06)

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon a highway shall be granted 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. (1975 Code §9-2.05)

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 shall be unlawful for any said operator to violate any of the provisions of this Title except as otherwise permitted herein or by the Vehicle Code. (1975 Code §9-2.07)

A. Authorized Emergency Vehicles:

1. The provisions of this Title regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to vehicles operated by the Police or Fire Departments, any public ambulance or any public utility vehicle or any private ambulance 1 , which public utility vehicle or any 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.

2. The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, relieve the operator of any such vehicle from obligation to exercise due care for the safety of others or the consequences of his wilful disregard of the safety of others.

B. Public Works and Postal Vehicles: 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 or operated by the United States Post Office Department while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail. (1975 Code §9-2.08)

A. The operator 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, parking meter, lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any tree, traffic-control device or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, shall within twenty four (24) hours after such accident make a written report of such accident to the Police Department of this City. Every such 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 operating or in charge of such vehicle or animal, the license number of every such vehicle, and shall briefly describe the property damage in such accident.

B. The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this Section if and during the time he is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event he shall make a report as required herein within twenty four (24) hours after regaining ability to make such report. (1975 Code §9-2.09)

It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this Title, except for Chapter 4. Any violation of any section of Chapter 4 shall be subject to a civil penalty as established by resolution duly adopted by the City Council. (Ord. 9401, 2-1-94)