Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 15.32 Speed Limits

Whenever the Board finds on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation 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 safe upon any highway otherwise subject to a prima facie limit of 25 miles per hour under the Vehicle Code, the commissioner shall post appropriate signs upon such highways specifying such speed limits.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 1, 2023; Ord. 7843 § 2 (part), 1960; Ord. 6881 § 1 (part), 1956; Ord. 6544 Ch. 2 Art. 1 § 2101, 1954.)

Whenever the Board finds and determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the speed limit of 65 miles per hour is greater than is reasonable or safe upon any portion of the highway where such speed limit of 65 miles per hour is applicable under the Vehicle Code, and further determines that a speed of 60, 55, 50, 45, 35, 30, 25, 20, or 15 miles per hour is more appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic and is reasonable and safe, the commissioner shall post the appropriate signs upon such highways specifying such speed limits of 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, or 15 miles per hour as the case may be.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 2, 2023; Ord. 7843 § 2 (part), 1960; Ord. 6881 § 1 (part), 1956; Ord. 6544 Ch. 2 Art. 1 § 2102, 1954.)

Whenever the Board or commissioner finds and determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the speed limit is still greater than is reasonable or safe, the current speed limit may be retained or the immediately prior speed limit may be restored if that speed limit was established with an engineering and traffic survey and if a registered engineer has evaluated the section of highway and determined that no additional general-purpose lanes have been added to the roadway since completion of the engineering and traffic survey that established the prior speed limit. Speed limits may not be reduced by more than five miles per hour from the current speed limit nor below the immediately prior speed limit. Warning citations shall be issued for violations of exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or less for the first 30 days that a lower speed limit is in effect as authorized by this Section.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 3, 2023.)

Whenever the Board or commissioner finds and determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the speed limit is still greater than is reasonable or safe, the speed limit may be reduced by an additional five miles per hour for the portion of highway that has been designated as a safety corridor, as defined by the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or for the portion of highway adjacent to any land or facility that generates high concentrations of bicyclists or pedestrians as determined by the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Warning citations shall be issued for violations of exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or less for the first 30 days that a lower speed limit is in effect as authorized by this Section.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 4, 2023.)

Whenever the Board finds upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour established by paragraph (2) subdivision (b) of section 22352 of the Vehicle Code is greater than is reasonable or safe, and declares a prima facie speed limit of 20 or 15 miles per hour, whichever is justified as the appropriate speed limit, as provided in section 22358.4 of the Vehicle Code, the commissioner shall erect and maintain appropriate signs specifying the speed limit so determined.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 5, 2023; Ord. 11407 § 3, 1976; Ord. 6544 Ch. 2 Art. 1 § 2107, 1954.)

Whenever the Board finds upon the basis of an engineering investigation that the maximum speed, not less than five miles per hour, that can be maintained with safety on any bridge or elevated structure, and a public hearing is held, as provided in section 24404 of the Vehicle Code, the commissioner shall erect and maintain suitable signs specifying the maximum speed so determined.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 6, 2023; Ord. 7843 § 2 (part), 1960; Ord. 6881 § 2 (part), 1956; Ord. 6544 Ch. 2 Art. 1 § 2104, 1954.)

Whenever the Board finds on the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour in a business or residence district or in a public park on any street having a roadway not exceeding 25 feet in width, other than a state highway, is greater than is reasonable or safe, and declares a prima facie speed limit of 20 or 15 miles per hour, whichever is found most appropriate and is reasonable and safe, as provided in section 22358.3 of the Vehicle Code, the commissioner shall erect and maintain appropriate signs specifying the prima facie speed limit so determined.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 7, 2023; Ord. 11407 § 1, 1976; Ord. 6544 Ch. 2 Art. 1 § 2105, 1954.)

Whenever the Board finds upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour is greater than is reasonable and safe on any portion of a street having a grade in excess of 10 percent, and declares a maximum limit of 20 or 15 miles per hour, whichever is found most appropriate and is reasonable and safe, as provided in section 22413 of the Vehicle Code, the commissioner shall erect and maintain appropriate signs specifying the maximum speed so determined.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 8, 2023; Ord. 11407 § 2, 1976; Ord. 6544 Ch. 2 Art. 1 § 2106, 1954.)

Whenever the Board finds that, by reason of snow or ice conditions, a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour is greater than is reasonable and safe upon any portion of a highway, the commissioner shall post appropriate signs on such portion of the highway indicating a speed limit of 25 miles per hour, as provided in section 22363 of the Vehicle Code. Such signs may be placed and removed as snow or ice conditions vary. When such signs are in place, the prima facie speed limit on the portion of the highway so posted shall be 25 miles per hour.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 9, 2023; Ord. 7843 § 2 (part), 1960; Ord. 6881 § 2 (part), 1956; Ord. 6544 Ch. 2 Art. 1 § 2103, 1954.)

Whenever the Board or commissioner finds upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the prima facie speed limit of 25 or 20 miles per hour on a highway contiguous to a business activity district is reasonable, as provided in section 22358.9 of the Vehicle Code, the commissioner shall erect and maintain appropriate signs specifying the prima facie speed limit so determined.

(Ord. 2023-0005 § 10, 2023.)