Chapter 11.12 — ENFORCEMENT—OBEDIENCE TO REGULATIONS1

1 Editor’s Note: For statutory provisions authorizing municipalities to regulate traTc by using traTc oTcers, see

Veh. Code §21100.

OTcers of the police department and such oTcers as are assigned by the chief of police are authorized to direct

all traTc by voice, hand, audible or other signal in conformance with traTc laws, except that in the event of a Rre

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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or other emergency or to expedite traTc or to safeguard pedestrians, oTcers of the police department, members

of the Rre department or members of the department of public works may direct traTc as conditions may require,

notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary contained in this title or the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior

code §15.3.)

No person other than an oTcer of the police department or members of the Rre department or a person

authorized by the chief of police or a person authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traTc by voice,

hand or other signal, except that persons may operate, when and as herein provided, any mechanical pushbutton

signal erected by order of the city traTc engineer. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.3.1.)

No person shall fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order, signal or direction of a traTc or police oTcer or a

member of the Rre department or a person authorized by the chief of police or by law. (Ord. 858 NCS § 1; prior

code §15.3.2.)

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon a street or highway has all of the rights and shall

be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except those provisions which by

their very nature have no application. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.3.3.)

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police oTcer or other oTcer 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 oTcer or other employee or oTcer of this 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

chapter, constitute such interference or obstruction. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.3.4.)

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 such operator to violate any of the

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted in this chapter or by the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 858 NCS § 1;

prior code § 15.3.5.)

A. The provisions of this title regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to

vehicles operated by the police or Rre departments, any public ambulance or any public utility vehicle or any

private ambulance, which public utility vehicle or private ambulance has qualiRed as an authorized emergency

vehicle, when any vehicle mentioned in this section is operated in the manner speciRed by the Vehicle Code in

response to an emergency call.

B. The foregoing exemptions 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 or public utility while necessarily in use for construction or repair work or any vehicle owned or

operated by the United States Post OTce Department while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of

United States mail.

(Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.3.6.)

required.

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 Rre hydrant, parking meter,

lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any tree, traTc-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 this city. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code

§ 15.3.7(a).)

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 brieSy describe the property damage in such accident. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code

§ 15.3.7(b).)

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of

Sections 11.12.080 through 11.12.100 if and during the time he is physically incapable of making a report, but in

such event he shall make a report as required in Section 11.12.080 within twenty-four hours after regaining ability

to make such report. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.3.7(c).)

Any regularly employed and salaried oTcer of the police department of this city may remove or cause to be

removed:

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, resolution or regulation of this 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 authorized

for a purpose other than the normal Sow of traTc 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 are erected or placed at least twenty-four hours prior to the removal.

(Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.3.8.)

Pursuant to Section 21107.5 of the California Vehicle Code, or any city or county may, by ordinance, Rnd and

declare that there are privately owned and maintained roads as described in such ordinance within which are

generally open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel and upon enactment by a city of such an ordinance,

the provisions of the Vehicle Code shall apply to such privately owned and maintained roads. (Ord. 2053 NCS §1,

1997.)

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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Pursuant to Section 21107.6 of the California Vehicle Code, or any city or county may, by ordinance, Rnd and

declare that there are privately owned and maintained roads as described in such ordinance within which are

generally open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel and upon enactment by a city of such an ordinance,

the provisions of the Vehicle Code shall apply to such privately owned and maintained roads serving commercial

establishments. (Ord. 2053 NCS §2, 1997.)

Pursuant to Section 21107.8 of the California Vehicle Code, or any city or county may, by ordinance, Rnd and

declare that there are privately owned and maintained roads as described in such ordinance within the city which

are generally open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel and upon enactment by a city of such an

ordinance, the provisions of the Vehicle Code shall apply to such privately owned and maintained roads and

parking areas.

The city council Rnds and declares that there are privately owned and maintained roads and parking facilities,

within the city which are generally held open to the public. (Ord. 2053 NCS §3, 1997.)

All provisions of the California Vehicle Code are hereby applicable to all private roads and parking areas listed.

A. Hagstrom’s Shopping Center on Douglas Street

B. The Plaza North Shopping Center on North McDowell Boulevard

C. Petaluma Plaza Shopping Center on North McDowell Boulevard

D. The Golden Eagle Shopping Center on East Washington

E. The Payless lot on East Washington at Lakeville

F. Washington Square Shopping Center on South McDowell Boulevard

G. Petaluma Cinemas on North McDowell Boulevard

H. Barstone Town & Country Shopping Center, Payran and Petaluma Boulevard North

I. Kenilworth J. High School (Kenilworth Drive)

J. Sonoma-Marin Park & Ride Facility on East Washington and Fairgrounds Drive

K. McNear Landing Subdivision

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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L. Magnolia Hills Subdivision

M. Adobe Creek Subdivision

(Ord. 2132 NCS, 2002; Ord. 2130 NCS, 2002; Ord. 2111 NCS, 2001; Ord. 2053 NCS §4, 1997.)