Petaluma Municipal Code Ch. 11.16 Traffic-Control Devices

The city traTc engineer shall have the power and duty to place and maintain or cause to be placed and

maintained oTcial traTc-control devices when and as required to make eUective the provisions of this title. (Ord.

858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.4(a).)

Whenever the Vehicle Code requires for the eUectiveness of any provision thereof that traTc-control devices be

installed to give notice to the public of the application of such law, the city traTc engineer is authorized to install

or cause to be installed the necessary devices subject to any limitations or restrictions set forth in the law

applicable thereto. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.4(b).)

The city traTc engineer may also place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained such additional traTc-

control devices as he may deem necessary or proper to regulate traTc or to guide or warn traTc, but he shall

make such determination only upon the basis of traTc engineering principles and traTc investigations and in

accordance with such standards, limitations and rules as may be set forth in this chapter or as may be determined

by ordinance or resolution of the council. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.4(c).)

No provisions of the Vehicle Code or of this title for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged

violator unless appropriate legible signs are in place giving notice of such provisions of the traTc laws. (Ord. 858

NCS §1; prior code §15.4.l.)

The operator of any vehicle or train shall obey the instructions of any oTcial traTc-control device placed in

accordance with this chapter unless otherwise directed by a police oTcer or other authorized person subject to

the exceptions granted the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to emergency calls.

(Ord. 858 NCS § 1; prior code § 15.4.2.)

The city traTc engineer is directed to install and maintain oTcial traTc signals at those intersections and other

places where traTc conditions are such as to require that the Sow of traTc be alternately interrupted and

released in order to prevent or relieve traTc congestion or to protect life or property from exceptional hazard.

(Ord. 858 NCS § 1; prior code §15.4.3(a).)

The city traTc engineer shall ascertain and determine the locations where such signals are required by Reld

investigation, traTc counts and other traTc information as may be pertinent and his determination therefrom

shall be made in accordance with those traTc engineering and safety standards and instructions set forth in the

California Maintenance Manual issued by the division of highways of the state department of public works. (Ord.

858 NCS §1; prior code §15.4.3(b).)

Whenever the city traTc engineer installs and maintains an oTcial traTc signal at any intersection, he shall

likewise erect and maintain at such intersection street name signs clearly visible to traTc approaching from all

directions unless such street name signs have previously been placed and are maintained at any such intersection.

(Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.4.3(c).)

The city traTc engineer is authorized to mark centerlines and lane lines upon the surface of the roadway to

indicate the course to be traveled by vehicles and may place signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by

traTc moving in a particular direction, regardless of the centerline of the highway. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code

§ 15.4.4.)

The city traTc engineer is authorized to place and maintain distinctive roadway markings as described in the

Vehicle Code on those streets or parts of streets where the volume of traTc or the vertical or other curvature of

the roadway renders it hazardous to drive on the left side of such marking or signs and markings. Such marking or

signs and marking shall have the same eUect as similar markings placed by the state department of public works

pursuant to provisions of the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 858 NCS § 1; prior code § 15.4.5.)

The city traTc engineer is authorized to remove, relocate or discontinue the operation of any traTc-control device

not speciRcally required by the Vehicle Code or this chapter whenever he shall determine in any particular case

that the conditions which warranted or required the installation no longer exist or obtain. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior

code § 15.4.6.)

The city traTc engineer shall determine the hours and days during which any traTc-control device shall be in

operation or be in eUect, except in those cases where such hours or days are speciRed in this chapter. (Ord. 858

NCS §1; prior code § 15.4.7.)

No person, unless authorized by this city shall paint any street or curb surface; provided, however, that this

section shall not apply to the painting of numbers on a curb surface by any person who has complied with the

provisions of any resolution or ordinance of this city pertaining thereto. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.4.8.)