Lompoc Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 In General

For the purposes of this Title the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this Section:

A. General. Whenever any words or phrases used in this Title are not defined herein, but are defined in the Vehicle Code of the State, such definitions are incorporated in this Section and shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used in this Title as though set forth in full.

B. Definitions.

"Alley"

means any highway having a roadway width not exceeding 25 feet which is primarily used for access to the rear or side entrances of abutting property.

"Bicycle"

means a light vehicle without a motor, having two wheels, handle bars and a seat or seats, and propelled by the operator.

"Coach"

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

"Curb"

means the lateral boundary of the roadway. whether such curb is marked by curbing construction. or not so marked. Such term 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.

"Divisional island"

means a raised island located in the roadway and separating opposing or conflicting streams of traffic.

"Holiday"

means the first day of January, the twenty-second day of February, the thirtieth day of May, the fourth day of July, the first Monday In September, the eleventh day of November, Thanksgiving day and the twenty-fifth day of December. If the first day of January, twenty-second day of February, the thirtieth day of May, the fourth day of July, the eleventh day of November or the twenty-fifth day of December falls upon a Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday.

"Loading zone"

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

"Official traffic-control device"

means all signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with this Chapter placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.

"Official traffic signal"

means any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and proceed and which is erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction.

"Park"

means to stand or leave standing any vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

"Parkway"

means that portion of a street other than a roadway or a sidewalk.

"Passenger loading zone"

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

"Pedestrian"

means any person afoot.

"Police officer"

means every officer of the Police Department of the City or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.

"Stop"

means when required, the complete cessation of movement.

"Stop" or "stand"

means when prohibited, 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.

"Traffic"

means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances, either singly or together while using any street for purposes of travel.

(Prior code § 2001)

A. The City Council may, by ordinance, establish increased speed zones when on the basis of an engineering and traffic survey determines that a speed of 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, or 65 miles per hour facilitates the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe upon a street or highway otherwise subject to a prima facie limit of 25 miles per hour applicable under the California Vehicle Code.

B. The City Council may, by ordinance, establish decreased speed zones when on the basis of an engineering and traffic survey it determines that the maximum speed limit allowed by the California Vehicle Code is more than is reasonable or safe and further determines that a speed of 60, 55, 50, 45, 40. 35, 30 or 25 miles per hour is more appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic.

C. When the City Council, by ordinance, has designated a prima facie speed limit other than applicable under the California Vehicle Code, the City Engineer is authorized and directed to erect, post and maintain appropriate signs on those streets or portions thereof designating the speed limit pursuant to the provisions of this Code. All signs shall be as specified in, erected and placed pursuant to the California Vehicle Code.

D. There is hereby established an official City list of "List of Speed Zones" established pursuant to this Chapter. The City Engineer shall cause the special speed zones to be placed on said list. The City Engineer shall keep a record of all ordinances hereafter, adopted designating special speed zones and shall cause notation of such zones on such streets or portions thereof to be placed on said list in his or her office. Whenever any special speed zone is hereinafter amended, deleted or changed. the City Engineer shall cause such fact to be recorded upon the pertinent list in the appropriate place. Said list and the notation and the contents therein as they may from time to time be kept and amended pursuant to this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and legality of the special speed zone on streets or portions thereof and the legality of the placing of the appropriate signing is hereinabove provided. Said list as amended shall be deemed to be incorporated herein.

(Prior code § 2002)

No operator of any vehicle shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he or she is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic-control signal indication to proceed.

(Prior code § 2003)

The driver of a vehicle shall not drive within any sidewalk area or any parkway except at a permanent or temporary driveway.

(Prior code § 2004)

No person shall drive a vehicle onto or from any limited access roadway except at such entrances and exits as are lawfully established.

(Prior code § 2005)

The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or into the sidewalk area extending across any alley way or driveway.

(Prior code § 2006)

No person shall operate or drive a commercial vehicle in, on or across any private driveway approach or sidewalk area or the driveway itself without the consent of the owner or occupant of the property if a sign or markings are in place indicating that the use of such driveway is prohibited.

(Prior code § 2007)

No person shall drive any vehicle through. around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.

(Prior code § 2008)

No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of a Fire Department when laid down on any street or private driveway to be used at any fire or alarm of fire without the consent of the Fire Department official in command.

(Prior code § 2010)

No operator of any vehicle shall drive between the vehicles comprising a funeral procession or a parade; provided, that such vehicles are conspicuously so designated. The directing of all vehicles and traffic on any street over which such funeral procession or parade wishes to pass shall be subject to the orders of the Police Department.

(Prior code § 2011)

A. No person shall attach him or herself with his or her hands, or catch on, or hold onto with his or her hands or by other means to any moving vehicle or train for the purpose of receiving motive power therefrom.

B. No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled or toy vehicle shall attach the same or him or herself to any streetcar or vehicle on the roadway.

(Prior code § 2012)

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

(Prior code § 2013)

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.

(Prior code § 2014)

A. Any provisions of this Title which regulate traffic or delegates the regulation of traffic upon State highways in any way for which the approval of the department of public works is required by State law, shall cease to be operative six months after receipt by the City Council of written notice of withdrawal of approval of the Community Development Department.

B. Whenever this Chapter 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 Community Development 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 Community Development Department when and to the extent required by the Vehicle Code.

(Prior code § 2015)

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 24 hours after such accident make a written report of such accident to the Police Department.

B. 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.

C. 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 required filing time he or she is physically incapable of making a report; but in such event he or she shall make a report as required in Subsection A of this Section within 24 hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Prior code § 2016)

It shall be unlawful to run any traction engine, motor or other vehicle having on any of the tires or on any of the wheels thereof any block, stud. cleat, ridge, toad or any other protuberance of metal which projects more than one-fourth of an inch beyond the tread or traction service of such tire or wheel over, upon or across any oiled or graveled road or pavement or pavements in the City or to run over, upon or across any such oiled graveled road, pavement or pavements any engine or vehicle having the tires so made or constructed that the same will cut, damage or injure or destroy such oiled road, graveled road. pavement or pavements or any part thereof or to drag, haul or run over, across or along any such oiled road, pavement or pavements any implements, tools, iron bars, timber or any substance or material or materials in such manner that the same will or may cut, tear, damage or injure such oiled road, pavement or pavements or any part thereof or the shoulder or shoulders, adjacent to such oiled road, graveled road, pavement or pavements.

(Prior code § 2016.1)

It shall be unlawful to run over, upon or across any unpaved portion of any paved road or highway in the City with a traction engine, motor vehicle or other vehicle in such manner as to break down, destroy, damage or injure any gutter or gutters or any culvert or culverts or any bridge or bridges in or upon any paved road, highway or street in the City or in such manner as to break down, destroy, damage or injure any approach or approaches to any gutter or gutters or any bridge or bridges in or upon any such paved road or street.

(Prior code § 2016.2)

No person shall ride or operate any automobile, truck, motorcycle or motor driven cycle on the banks, sides or bottom of the channel containing Miguelito Creek at any point within the City. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle or other self-powered vehicle on any portion of said channel except on a level portion thereof provided for vehicles. This Section shall not apply to an agent or employee of the City of Lompoc or the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.

(Prior code § 2016.3)

A. Whenever the City Manager shall determine that the orderly, efficient conduct of the City's business requires that parking, standing, or driving of vehicles on City property other than a City street, be prohibited, limited or restricted, the Chief Administrative Officer shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted indicating that such use of vehicles is thus prohibited, limited or restricted.

B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this Section are in place, giving notice thereof, no person shall park, stand, or drive any vehicle contrary to the directions or provisions of such signs.

C. The City is authorized to remove vehicles parked in violation of such signs.

(Prior code § 2016.4; Ord 1673(20) § 42)

No person shall ride or operate any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle on any private property or public property within one-quarter mile of any school, hospital, convalescent home, or residence except on a regularly established public street or parking lot appurtenant to a structure on the property, or on a private road or driveway. This Section shall not apply to the use of property pursuant to a permit issued for such use by a governmental agency or use of property established as a recreation area for such operation or riding.

(Prior code § 2016.5)