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Earlier editions: 2026-07

Title 10 — Vehicles and Traffic

Orange Municipal Code Ch. 10.08 Enforcement

Orange Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Orange

Cite as: Orange Municipal Code Chapter 10.08 · Text as of 2026-10-04

§ 10.08.010. Authority of Police and Fire Department.

A. It shall be the duty of the members of the Police Department and such persons as are assigned by the Chief of Police to enforce all traffic laws of the California Vehicle Code and of this City.

B. Members of the Police Department and 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, members of the Police Department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

C. Members of the Fire Department, and/or any City employee when at the scene of any emergency may direct or assist the police in directing traffic.

(Ord. 19-82)

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§ 10.08.020. Unauthorized Persons Shall Not Direct Traffic.

No person other than a member of the Police Department or a person assigned by the Chief of Police or person authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal.

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§ 10.08.030. Obedience to Police or Authorized Officers.

No person shall 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 Chief of Police or by law.

(Ord. 19-82)

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§ 10.08.040. Obstruction or Interference with Police or Authorized Officers.

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of this City 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 or other employee or officer of this 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.

(Ord. 19-82)

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§ 10.08.050. Public Employees to Obey Traffic Regulations.

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

(Ord. 19-82)

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§ 10.08.060. Exemption of Certain Vehicles.

A. The provisions of this chapter regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to vehicles operated by the Police or Fire Department, any public ambulance or any public utility vehicle or 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 by the California Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

B. The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, relieve the operator of any such vehicle from obligations to exercise due care for the safety of others or the consequences of the operator's willful 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 Postal Service while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

(Ord. 19-82)

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§ 10.08.070. Authority of Police in Crowds.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent police officers from prohibiting any person from parking any vehicle upon or using any street or sidewalk, or from prohibiting any pedestrian from using any street or sidewalk whenever such officer has reasonable cause to believe that large numbers of people or vehicles are to gather or have gathered, thus causing any unreasonable hazard to the safety of individuals or property or creating a traffic hazard. Said police officer shall have authority to direct the parking of vehicles in any reasonable manner, way or direction, and it is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person to fail to promptly obey the said police officer's order, signal, or command, regardless of any other provision of this chapter.

(Ord. 19-82)

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§ 10.08.080. Prohibition on Installation of Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems.

Automated traffic enforcement systems, as that term is used in California Vehicle Code Section 21455.5, shall not be installed on any City street or highway that is within the jurisdiction of the City.

(Ord. 14-11, 2011)

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