Article II — Enforcement and Obedience to Traffic Regulations

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 this city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in this city.

B.

Officers of the Police Department, or such officers as are assigned by the Chief of Police, are 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 to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

C.

Officers and members of the Fire Department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity.

D.

Civilian employees of the city, when designated by the Chief of Police, shall enforce those provisions of the Oakland Traffic Code and the State Vehicle Code relating to the standing or parking of vehicles that legally may be enforced by persons other than peace officers.

E.

Officers, inspectors and engineers of the Fire Department, as designated by the Director of Fire Services, may enforce Vehicle Code Sections 21708, Fire Hoses, and 22514, Fire Hydrants.

(Prior traffic code § 50)

No person shall wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order of a member of the Fire Department when directing traffic.

(Ord. 12607 § 2 (part), 2004: Prior traffic code § 52)

No person other than an officer of the Police Department, or a person authorized by the Chief of Police or person authorized by law, shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal (except that persons may operate any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the Traffic Engineer).

(Prior traffic code § 53)

The provisions of this title shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, any county or city, and it is unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted in this title or by state statute.

(Prior traffic code § 54)

A.

The provisions of this title regulating the operation, parking, and standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of the Police or Fire Departments, any 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 in response to an emergency call.

B.

The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his or her wilful disregard of the safety of others.

C.

The provisions of this title 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 traffic code § 55)

A.

The driver of a vehicle or the person in charge of any animal involved in any accident resulting in damage to any property publicly owned or owned by a public utility, including but not limited to any fire hydrant, ornamental lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any ornamental shade tree, traffic control device or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, shall within twenty-four (24) hours after such accident, make a written report of such accident to the Police Department of this city.

B.

Every such report shall state the time when and the place where the accident took place, the name and address of the person owning, and of the person driving or in charge of, such vehicle or animal, the license number of every such vehicle, and shall briefly describe the property damage in such accident.

C.

A driver involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this section if and during the time such driver is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event said driver shall make a report as required in subsection A of this section within twenty-four (24) hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Prior traffic code § 56)