Moraga Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 General Provisions, Administration and Enforcement

The purpose of this chapter is to establish a procedure for the adoption of traffic regulations applying to particular streets, highways, intersections or areas within this town.

(Prior code § 13-201)

Whenever words or phrases used in this chapter are not defined, but are defined in the Vehicle Code, the Vehicle Code definitions apply.

(Prior code § 13-202)

This chapter applies to the operator of a vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United State Government, this state, a county or city.

(Prior code § 13-211)

A. The provisions of this chapter relating to the operation, parking and standing of vehicles do not apply to a vehicle operated by the police, fire district, public ambulance, public utility vehicle or private ambulance if the public utility vehicle or private ambulance qualifies as an authorized emergency vehicle and is operated in the manner specified by the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

B. The exemptions in subsection A of this section do not relieve the operator from obligation to exercise due care for the safety of others or the consequences of his or her wilful disregard of the safety of others.

C. The provisions of this chapter regulating the parking or standing of vehicles do not apply to a vehicle of a city department or public utility while necessarily in use for construction or repair work, or a vehicle owned or operated by the United States Post Office Department while in use for the collection, transportation, or delivery of United States mail.

(Prior code § 13-212)

The town manager may make traffic orders establishing any of the following regulations:

A. Regulating traffic by means of semaphores or other official traffic control devices;

B. Designating particular highways as one-way highways and requiring that all vehicles thereon be moved in one specified direction;

C. Closing any highway or a portion of it, when in his or her opinion the highway is no longer needed or cannot safely be used for vehicular traffic;

D. Designating any highway as a through highway and requiring that all vehicles stop before entering or crossing the highway;

E. Designating any intersection as a stop intersection and requiring all vehicles to stop at one or more entrances to the intersection;

F. Closing particular streets during regular school hours for the purpose of conducting automobile driver training programs;

G. Establishing crosswalks between intersections;

H. Directing that pedestrians shall not cross in a crosswalk indicated at an intersection;

I. Prohibiting the making of any turning movement by any vehicle at any intersection or between any designated intersections;

J. Prohibiting the parking or standing of vehicles on certain streets or highways, or portions thereof, during all or certain hours of the day;

K. Declaring a prima facie speed limit of 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or 55 miles per hour on any street other than a state highway otherwise subject to a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour;

L. Declaring a prima facie speed limit of 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, or 25 miles per hour on any portion of any street other than a state highway where the street is subject to a speed limit of 55 miles per hour;

M. Regulating the installation and operation of mechanical devices for the control of vehicular and pedestrian traffic; and

N. Providing for the delineation of parking spaces.

(Prior code § 13-203)

No traffic order is effective until:

A. It is adopted by resolution of the town council; and

B. Appropriate signs or markings, meeting the requirements of the Vehicle Code of the state of California, are placed to give notice of the regulation to the traveling public, unless the regulation itself constitutes notice.

(Prior code § 13-204)

A. Resolutions adopting traffic orders shall be numbered consecutively, in a numerical series separate from that applied to other resolutions of the town council;

B. A copy of each resolution adopting a traffic order shall be filed with the town manager.

(Prior code § 13-205)

A police officer is authorized to direct traffic by voice, hand, audible or other signal in conformance with traffic laws, except that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, an officer of the police department or member of the fire district may direct traffic as conditions require, notwithstanding provisions to the contrary in this chapter.

(Prior code § 13-213)

At a place where large numbers of people and vehicles may gather or have gathered, a police officer may prohibit a person from parking a vehicle upon or using a street or sidewalk, and may prohibit a pedestrian from using a street or sidewalk. The police officer may direct the parking of vehicles in any reasonable manner, way or direction. It is unlawful for a person to fail to promptly obey the police officer's order, signal or command, regardless of any other provision of this chapter.

(Prior code § 13-214)

Only persons authorized by law may direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal, except that a person may operate when provided any mechanical push button signal erected by order of the town traffic engineer.

(Prior code § 13-215)

Violations of traffic orders adopted under this chapter shall be punished as provided in California Vehicle Code Sections 40000.1 and 42001.

(Prior code § 13-206)