Title 8 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC›Chapter 8.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS, ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Los Altos Municipal Code Art. 2 Enforcement and Obedience to Traffic Regulations
Los Altos Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-03 · Los Altos
Cite as: Los Altos Municipal Code Article 2 · Text as of 2026-10-03
8.04.030 - Authority of police and fire department officials.¶
A.
It shall be the duty of the officers of the police department, or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police, to enforce all street traffic laws of the city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in the city.
B.
Officers of the police department, or enforcement officers, are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance with traffic laws, provided that in the event of a fire or other emergency, or to expedite traffic or safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.
C.
Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic threat or in the immediate vicinity.
D.
It shall be the duty of directed enforcement officers to enforce all parking laws of the city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to parking in the city.
(Prior code § 3-2.201)
(Ord. No. 2025-526, § 1(App. A), 4-8-2025)
8.04.040 - Required obedience to traffic regulations.¶
It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter.
(Prior code § 3-2.202)
8.04.050 - Obedience to police and fire department officials.¶
No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order of a police officer, enforcement officer, or fire department official when directing traffic.
(Prior code § 3-2.203)
(Ord. No. 2025-526, § 1(App. A), 4-8-2025)
8.04.060 - Persons other than officials shall not direct traffic.¶
No person, other than an officer of the police department, enforcement officer, or fire department official, 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 pushbutton signal erected by order of the council.
(Prior code § 3-2.204)
(Ord. No. 2025-526, § 1(App. A), 4-8-2025)
8.04.070 - Public employees to obey traffic regulations.¶
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States government, the state, any county, or any city. It shall be unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this chapter except as otherwise permitted in this chapter or by state statute.
(Prior code § 3-2.205)
8.04.080 - Exemptions to certain vehicles.¶
A.
The provisions of this chapter regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of the police or fire department, any public ambulance or any public utility vehicle or 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 in the Vehicle Code of the state in response to an emergency call.
B.
The provisions of this chapter 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 by the United States while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.
(Prior code § 3-2.206)
(Ord. No. 2025-526, § 1(App. A), 4-8-2025)
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