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Earlier editions: 2026-09

Chapter 17 — MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC›Article IV — TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

Porterville Municipal Code § 17-4 Authority to Install Traffic Control Devices

Porterville Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-03 · Porterville

Cite as: Porterville Municipal Code § 17-4 · Text as of 2026-10-03

A. The city traffic engineer shall have the power and duty to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained official traffic control devices when and as required to make effective the provisions of this chapter.

B. Whenever the state Vehicle Code requires for the effectiveness of any provision thereof that traffic control devices be installed to give notice to the public of the application of such law, the city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to install or cause to be installed the necessary devices subject to any limitations or restrictions set forth in the law applicable thereto.

C. The city traffic engineer may also place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, such additional traffic control devices as he may deem necessary or proper to regulate traffic or to guide or warn traffic; but he shall make such determination only upon the basis of traffic engineering principles and traffic 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. 1162 § 1, 12-5-1978)

17-4.1: TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS REQUIRED FOR ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES:

No provision of the state Vehicle Code or of this chapter for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator unless appropriate legible signs are in place giving notice of such provisions or the traffic laws. (Ord. 1162 § 1, 12-5-1978)

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17-4.2: OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES:

The operator of any vehicle or train shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device placed in accordance with this article unless otherwise directed by a police officer or other authorized person subject to the exceptions granted the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to emergency calls. (Ord. 1162 § 1, 12-5-1978)

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17-4.3: INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS:

A. The city traffic engineer is hereby directed to install and maintain official traffic signals at those intersections and other places where traffic conditions are such as to require that the flow of traffic be alternately interrupted and released in order to prevent or relieve traffic congestion or to protect life or property from exceptional hazard.

B. The city traffic engineer shall ascertain and determine the locations where such signals are required by field investigation, traffic counts and other traffic information as may be pertinent; and his determinations therefrom shall be made in accordance with those traffic engineering and safety standards and instructions set forth by the state of California, department of transportation.

C. Whenever the city traffic engineer installs and maintains an official traffic signal at any intersection, he shall likewise erect and maintain at such intersection street name signs clearly visible to traffic approaching from all directions unless such street name signs have previously been placed and are maintained at any said intersection. (Ord. 1162 § 1, 12-5-1978)

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17-4.4: LANE MARKING:

The city traffic 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 traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the centerline of the highway. (Ord. 1162 § 1, 12-5-1978)

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17-4.5: DISTINCTIVE ROADWAY MARKINGS:

The city traffic 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 traffic 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. (Ord. 1162 § 1, 12-5-1978)

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17-4.6: AUTHORITY TO REMOVE, RELOCATE AND DISCONTINUE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES:

The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to remove, relocate or discontinue the operation of any traffic control device not specifically required by the state 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 remain. (Ord. 1162 § 1, 12-5-1978)

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17-4.7: TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES; HOURS OF OPERATION:

The city traffic engineer shall determine the hours and days during which any traffic control device shall be in operation or be in effect, except in those cases where such hours or days are specified in this chapter. (Ord. 1162 § 1, 12-5-1978)

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17-4.8: UNAUTHORIZED PAINTING OF CURBS:

No person, unless authorized by this city, shall paint any street or curb surface; however, 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. 1162 § 1, 12-5-1978)

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