Murrieta Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 Traffic Administration and Enforcement

There is established in the police department of Murrieta a traffic services responsibility to be under the control of the operations division of the department.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.02.001)

Traffic services responsibilities shall include: enforcement of the street traffic regulations of Murrieta and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in Murrieta, to make arrests for traffic violations; investigation of traffic accidents; cooperation with the traffic engineer and other officers of Murrieta in the administration of the traffic laws and in developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out those duties specially imposed upon the division by this chapter.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.02.002)

The position of city traffic engineer is established. The director of public works shall exercise the powers and duties of the city traffic engineer as provided in this chapter. He or she shall be responsible for all traffic engineering division functions in the public works department. (Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.02.003)

A. It shall be the general duty of the city traffic engineer to determine the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control devices and signals, to conduct engineering analysis of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering and traffic survey of traffic conditions and to cooperate with other city officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by ordinances of Murrieta.

B. Whenever the city traffic engineer is required or authorized to place or maintain official traffic- control devices or signals, he or she may cause such devices or signals to be placed and maintained.

C. Whenever, by the provisions of this chapter, a power is granted to the city traffic engineer or a duty imposed upon him or her, the power may be exercised or the duty performed by a person authorized in writing by him or her.

D. When appropriate, the city traffic engineer shall seek the participation of the traffic services function of the operations division of the police department when significant traffic control changes are proposed by the city traffic engineer.

E. Any decision of the city traffic engineer as authorized by Section 12.04.001, 12.04.003, 12.04.004, 12.04.007, 12.06.001, 12.07.003, 12.09.001, 12.11.001, 12.11.005, 12.11.006, 12.11.007, 12.12.001, 12.13.001 and 12.15.002 shall be made in accordance with standards set forth in the state of California, Department of Transportation Traffic Manual and the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.02.004)

Whenever the accidents at any particular location become numerous, the operations division of the police department shall cooperate with the city traffic engineer in conducting studies of such accidents and determining remedial measures.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.02.005)

The operations division of the police department shall maintain a suitable system of filing traffic accident reports. Such reports shall be available for the use and information of the supervising officer of traffic services and the city traffic engineer.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.02.006)

The police department shall prepare a traffic report which shall be filed with the city council. Such a report shall contain information on traffic matters in Murrieta as follows:

A. The number of traffic accidents, the number of persons killed, the number of persons injured, and other pertinent traffic accident data;

B. The number of traffic accidents investigated and other pertinent data on the safety activities of the police;

C. The plans and recommendations of the police department for future traffic safety activities.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.02.007)

A. The chief of police by and with the approval of the city traffic engineer is empowered to make regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of the traffic ordinances of Murrieta.

B. The city traffic engineer may test traffic-control devices under actual conditions of traffic with the approval of California Traffic Control Devices Committee.

C. The chief of police may authorize the temporary placing of official traffic-control devices when required by an emergency. The chief of police shall notify the city traffic engineer of his or her action as soon thereafter as is practical. (Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.02.008)

Officers of the police department, members of the fire protection district, and such civilians as are directed by a member of the police department are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, audible or other signal in conformance with traffic laws to the extent authorized by state law, notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary contained in this chapter or the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.03.001)

It is unlawful for any person to violate the traffic regulations as specified or promulgated by this chapter. A violation of any such traffic regulations shall constitute an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.03.002)

No person other than an officer of the police department or members of the fire protection district or a civilian authorized by the chief of police or a person authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal, except that persons may operate, when and herein provided any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the city traffic engineer.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.03.003)

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of Murrieta in their enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. The removal, obliteration or concealment of any chalk mark or other distinguishing mark used by any police officer or other employee or officer of Murrieta in connection with the enforcement of the parking regulations of this chapter shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provisions of this chapter, constitute such interference or obstruction.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.03.004)