Ontario Municipal Code Art. 3 Enforcement and Obedience to Traffic Regulations

Officers of the Police Department and such officers as are assigned by the Police Chief are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, or audible or other signal in conformance with traffic laws; provided, however, that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department or members of the Fire Department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary in this chapter or the Vehicle Code.

(§ 3, Ord. 1651, eff. July 20, 1967)

No person other than an officer of the Police Department, a member of the Fire Department, a person authorized by the Police Chief, or a person authorized by law, shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand, or other signal; provided, however, that persons may operate, as provided in this chapter, any mechanical push-button signal erected by order of the City Traffic Engineer.

(§ 3.1, Ord. 1651, eff. July 20, 1967)

No person shall fail or refuse to comply with, or to perform any act forbidden by, any lawful order, signal, or direction of a traffic or police officer, or a member of the Fire Department, or a person authorized by the Police Chief or by law.

(§ 3.2, Ord. 1651, eff. July 20, 1967)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the operator of any vehicle owned by, or used in, the service of the United States Government, the State, or any county or city, and it shall be unlawful for any such operator to violate any of the provisions of this chapter except as otherwise permitted in this chapter or by the Vehicle Code.

(§ 3.5, Ord. 1651, eff. July 20, 1967)

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon a highway shall have all the rights and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle pursuant to the provisions of this chapter except such provisions which, by their very nature, can have no application.

(§ 3.3, Ord. 1651, eff. July 20, 1967)

(a) No person shall interfere with, or obstruct in any way, any police officer or other officer or employee of the City in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.

(b) The removal, obliteration, or concealment of any chalk or other distinguishing mark used by any police officer or other employee or officer of the City 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.

(c) A mere change in the position of any automobile or other vehicle within the prescribed area and within the same block during times of limited parking, or a mere change in the stall, space, or position of any automobile or other vehicle within the same City-owned parking lot or parking facility during a period of seventy-two (72) or more consecutive hours, shall not constitute a defense, excuse, or justification for any prosecution pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(§ 3.4, Ord. 1651, eff. July 20, 1967, § 1, Ord. 3000, eff. October 16, 2014)

(a) The provisions of this chapter regulating the operation, parking, and standing of vehicles shall not apply to vehicles operated by the Police Department or Fire Department, any public ambulance, any public utility vehicle, or any private ambulance, which public utility vehicle or private ambulance has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle, or traffic signal maintenance truck, when any vehicle set forth in this subsection is operated in the manner specified in the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not, however, relieve the operator of any such vehicle from the obligation to exercise due care for the safety of others or the consequences of his wilful disregard of the safety of others.

(c) The provisions of this chapter 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 or operated by the United States Post Office while in use for the collection, transportation, or delivery of United States mail.

(§ 3.6, Ord. 1651, eff. July 20, 1967)

(a) The operator 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, parking meter, lighting post, telephone pole, or electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any tree, traffic control device, or other property of a similar 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.

(b) Every such report shall contain the following information:

(1) The time when and the place where the accident occurred;

(2) The name and address of the person owning, and of the person operating or in charge of, such vehicle or animal;

(3) The license number of every such vehicle; and

(4) A brief description of the property damaged in such accident.

(c) No operator of any vehicle involved in an accident shall be subject to the requirements or penalties of this section if, and during the time, he is physically incapable of making a report; provided, however, that in such event he shall make a report as required in subsection (a) of this section within twenty four (24) hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(§ 3.7, Ord. 1651, eff. July 20, 1967)

Any regularly employed and salaried officer of the Police Department, or any other authorized person undertaking the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, may remove or cause to be removed the following vehicles:

(a) Any vehicle which has been parked or left standing upon a street, alley, or City-owned parking lot or parking facility for seventy two (72) or more consecutive hours; or

(b) Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street, alley, or City-owned parking lot or parking facility between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. when such parking or standing is prohibited by law and signs are posted giving notice of such removal; provided, however, that signs giving notice that such vehicle may be removed shall be erected or placed at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the removal; or

(c) Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street, alley, or City-owned parking lot or parking facility where the use of such street, alley, or City-owned parking lot or parking facility, or any portion thereof, is necessary for the cleaning, repair, or construction of the street, alley, or City-owned parking lot or parking facility or for the installation of underground utilities, or where the use of the street, alley, or City-owned parking lot or parking facility, or any portion thereof, is authorized for a purpose other than the normal flow of traffic, or where the use of the street, alley, or City-owned parking lot or parking facility, or any portion thereof, is necessary for the movement of equipment, articles, or structures of unusual size and the parking of such vehicle would prohibit or interfere with such use or movement; provided, however, that signs giving notice that such vehicle may be removed shall be erected or placed at least twenty four (24) hours prior to the removal.

(§ 3.8, Ord. 1651, eff. July 20, 1967, § 2, Ord. 3000, eff. October 16, 2014)