Moorpark Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

A. Vehicle Code Definitions. Whenever any words or phrases used in this chapter are not defined in this section 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 as used in this chapter as though set forth in this section in full.

B. For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined in this section:

"Alley"

means any highway, as defined in this section, having a width of 25 feet or less and not provided with sidewalks.

"Bicycle"

means a device upon which any person may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears, and having either two or three wheels in a tandem or tricycle arrangement.

"Bicycle dealer"

means any person, firm, partnership or corporation which is engaged wholly or partly in the business of selling bicycles, or buying or taking in trade bicycles for the purposes of resale, or selling or offering for sale or otherwise dealing with bicycles, whether or not such bicycles are owned by such person or entity. "Bicycle dealer" also includes the agents or employees of such person or entity.

"Bicycle lane"

means any lane within the roadway designated by signs and/or markings for the operation of bicycles.

"Bicycle path"

means any specifically designated area for bicycle travel physically separated from the roadway.

"Bicycle route"

means any route recommended for bicycle travel. A bicycle route may include a bicycle path, bicycle lane and/or a public street for accommodating bicycle riders.

"Commercial vehicle loading zone"

means that space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading and unloading of passengers and materials, marked and designated as provided in this chapter.

"Crosswalk"

means that portion of the roadway included within the prolongation of the curb and property lines of an intersecting street. "Crosswalk" includes any cross strip of highway, not to exceed 20 feet in width, which is not a crosswalk by reason of intersecting highways but which shall be designated as a crosswalk by ordinance.

"Cyclist"

means any bicycle operator.

"Highway"

means every way or place of whatever nature publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular or pedestrian travel. "Highway" includes a street.

"Intersection"

means the area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways which join one another at approximately right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in contact.

"Official traffic-control device"

means any sign, signal, marking or device, not inconsistent with the Vehicle Code of the state or this code, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.

"Operator"

means any person who is in actual physical control of a vehicle.

"Park"

means to stand a vehicle or allow a vehicle to stand for a period of time longer than actually or reasonably necessary for the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

"Parking control officer"

means a city employee or volunteer whose job classification or position is designated by resolution of the city council, or a Ventura County sheriff's department employee or volunteer whose job classification or position is designated by the city's police chief, as having the authority to enforce parking restrictions and issue parking citations for violation of the city's Traffic Code and the Vehicle Code, provided that all such employees and volunteers shall meet the minimum training standards set by the city's police chief prior to exercising the enforcement authority specified in this article.

"Passenger loading zone"

means that space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading and unloading of passengers, marked and designated as provided in this chapter.

"Pedestrian"

means any person afoot, or any cyclist having dismounted a bicycle and then proceeding to move the bicycle afoot, or any person who is using a means of conveyance propelled by human power other than a bicycle.

"Police officer"

means any 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.

"Roadway"

means that portion of a street between the regularly established curb lines, or, when no curbs exist, that portion improved, designated and ordinarily used for vehicular travel and parking.

"Safety zone"

means that portion of a roadway reserved for the exclusive use of pedestrians, marked and designated as provided in this chapter.

"Sidewalk"

means that portion of a street between the curb lines of traversable roadway and the adjacent property lines.

"Truck"

means any motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property or persons. "Truck" includes a semitrailer, trailer, truck tractor or commercial vehicle as defined by the Vehicle Code of the state. "Truck" does not include a pickup.

"Vehicle"

means every device or animal by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a street or highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon rails.

"Vehicle Code"

means the Vehicle Code of the state.

(Ord. 20 § 1, 1984; Ord. 434 § 1, 2015)

The provisions of the Vehicle Code and this code relating to traffic upon highways and official traffic-control devices upon highways shall be applicable to the following:

A. All highways;

B. Those driveways, paths, roads, parking facilities and grounds owned, operated or controlled by the city as determined and designated by the city engineer and when signs giving notice thereof have been erected; and

C. Those privately owned and maintained roads and parking facilities as determined and designated by the council by resolution according to the provisions of the Vehicle Code and city policy and when signs giving notice thereof have been erected.

(Ord. 20 § 1, 1984)

Any person who violates any provision of, or fails to comply with any requirement of, this chapter is subject to a civil penalty plus the administrative charges or penalties as authorized by the California Vehicle Code Section 40203.5, and that the various civil penalties for such violations are in the amounts as set forth in the city's schedule of fees and service charges adopted by city council resolution, as may be amended from time to time.

(Ord. 20 § 1, 1984; Ord. 49 § 1, 1985; Ord. 397 § 4, 2011; Ord. 525, 3/5/2025)

Violation of any provision of this chapter may be enforced by any means legally available to the city. Parking control officers are authorized and empowered to enforce all of the provisions of the city's Traffic Code, and are hereby granted the authority to issue parking citations and citations for violation of the city's Traffic Code and the parking restrictions contained in the Vehicle Code, and as both may be amended from time to time. This authority shall be in addition to the authority granted to police officers, traffic control officers and law enforcement personnel pursuant to this municipal code and state law.

(Ord. 434 § 2, 2015)