Chapter 10.16

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS—ENFORCEMENT AND OBEDIENCE

Officers of the police department and such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are authorized to direct all 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, officers of the police department or members of the fire department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary contained in this chapter or the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 36 § 3, 1974)

No person other than an officer of the police department or members of the police department or members of the fire department or a person 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 as provided in this title, any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the city traffic engineer.

(Ord. 36 § 3.1, 1974)

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 chief of police or by law. (Ord. 36 § 3.2, 1974)

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon an highway has all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application. (Ord. 36 § 3.3, 1974)

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of the city in their enforcement of the provisions of this title. The removal, obliteration or concealment of any chalk mark 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 title shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provisions of this title, constitute such interference or obstruction. (Ord. 36 § 3.4, 1974)

The provisions of this title shall apply to the operator 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 operator to violate any of the provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted in this title or

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City of Palm Desert, CA

PALM DESERT CODE

§ 10.16.090

§ 10.16.060

by the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 36 § 3.5, 1974)

• A. The provisions of this title 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 Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

• B. The exemptions of subsection A shall not, however, relieve the operator of any such vehicle from 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 title regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of a city department of public utility while necessarily in use for construction or repair work or any vehicle owned or operated by the United States Post Office Department while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

• (Ord. 36 § 3.6, 1974)

• 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, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any tree, traffic-control device or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, shall within twenty-four hours after such accident make a written report of such accident to the police department of the 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 operating 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. The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this title if and during the time he or she is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event he shall make a report as required in subsection A within twentyfour hours after regaining ability to make such report.

• (Ord. 36 § 3.7, 1974)

Any regularly employed and salaried officer of the police department of the city, the city manager and/or designees may remove or cause to be removed or relocate:

• A. Any vehicle that has been parked or left standing upon a street or highway for seventy-two or more consecutive hours;

• B. Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street or highway between the hours of seven a.m. and seven p.m. when such parking or standing is prohibited by ordinance or

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City of Palm Desert, CA

VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

§ 10.16.090

§ 10.16.090

resolution of the city and signs are posted giving notice of such removal;

• C. Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street or highway where the use of such street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for the cleaning, repair or construction of the street or highway or for the installation of underground utilities or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is for an authorized special events or for a purpose other than the normal flow of traffic or where the use of the street or highway 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, that signs giving notice that such vehicle may be removed and erected or placed at least twenty-four hours prior to the removal.

• (Ord. 36 § 3.8, 1974; Ord. 1250 § 1, 2012)

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City of Palm Desert, CA

VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

§ 10.20.010

§ 10.20.030