Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 Traffic Code

Ordinance No. 6544 of the county, known as "The Traffic Ordinance," being an ordinance regulating traffic upon public highways and repealing Ordinance Nos. 2177, 3549, 3922, and 6383 of the county, as amended and in effect on September 7, 1973, is adopted as the traffic code of the city.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.010; Ord. No. 15, § 1(part), 1974)

All traffic markings, stop signs and traffic signs which are existing in the city on the date of incorporation thereof, which were erected and placed by the officers and officials of the county, are declared to be the official traffic signs and regulations of the city, and all matters pertaining thereto are ratified and confirmed.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.020; Ord. No. 15, § 1(part), 1974)

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10.04.010 (Adopted), the traffic code is amended by amending section 3304 to read:

Sec. 3304. Steep grades.

No person shall park an unattended vehicle on any highway upon any grade exceeding three percent within any business or residence district without blocking the wheels of the said vehicle by turning them against the curb or, where there is no curb, by turning the wheels toward the side of the road upon which the vehicle is parked.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.025; Ord. No. 154, § 1, 1982)

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10.04.010 (Adopted), the traffic ordinance is amended by repealing section 7021 thereof.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.030; Ord. No. 153, § 2(part), 1982)

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10.04.010 (Adopted), the traffic ordinance is amended by repealing section 3108 thereof.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.035; Ord. No. 363, § 1, 2001)

A person shall not operate any motor vehicle (including any motorcycle, trail bike, dune buggy, motor scooter, or jeep) or the motor thereof, on any place other than a highway so as to disturb the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or person by noise, dust, smoke or fumes caused by such motor vehicle. Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this section is guilty of an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in chapter 1.08 (General penalty).

(Code 1981, § 10.04.040; Ord. No. 153, § 2(part), 1982)

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10.04.010 (Adopted), article 5 is added to chapter III of the traffic ordinance to read:

ARTICLE 5. PARKING NEAR INTERSECTIONS

3501. The city council may, by resolution or minute order, establish a vision safety parking zone where the city council finds that the parking of large vehicles near the intersection of two or more streets, the intersection of a street and a driveway serving a residential complex containing 30 living units or more, or the intersection of a street and a driveway serving property developed with commercial uses would create a special hazard by impairing the visibility of drivers approaching such intersections due to physical characteristics of such intersections, the rate of speed at which vehicles frequently travel through said intersections, or due to the frequency that large vehicles are parked at said intersection. Said vision safety parking zones shall extend as far from the intersection as required by the city council.

3502. It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave standing a vehicle, except passenger vehicles less than six feet (6N) in height with windows on all sides that are transparent and unobstructed, in an area designated as a vision safety parking zone.

3503. This regulation shall not be effective at any intersection unless and until the city has caused signs to be erected to designate the limits and restrictions of the vision safety parking zone.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.050; Ord. No. 188, § 1, 1984)

Chapter 5.28 (Vending on Public Property) provides additional restrictions on parking of vehicles by peddlers.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.060; Ord. No. 324, § 1(part), 1997; Ord. No. 372, § 1, 2002; Ord. No. 434, § 4, 2006; Ord. No. 435U, § 3, 2006)

• Itinerant vendors/peddlers—Restrictions on parking in any city off-street parking facility.

No person shall park or stand any motorized vehicle for the purposes set forth in section 10.04.060 (Parking by itinerant vendors/peddlers) in any off-street parking facility that is owned or operated by the city without first obtaining a business license from the city and a written permit to do so from the city manager or their designee. The permit may designate one or more specific locations in the city where such vehicle is permitted to park or stand and, if such location is designated, no person shall park or stand the vehicle for which the permit is issued in any other location. A permit issued pursuant to this section shall be immediately revocable by the city manager or their designee in the event that the holder of the permit violates this section, section 10.04.060 (Parking by itinerant vendors/peddlers), or any of the terms and conditions of the permit.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.070; Ord. No. 324, § 1(part), 1997)

A. Whenever any off-street vehicle parking space is assigned for the exclusive use of the occupants or patrons of a particular building, business, facility or establishment (establishment), and at, in or near the restricted parking space, there is a legible sign stating either that the parking space is exclusively assigned, or that parking is prohibited, or both, a person, other than the person for whose use the parking space is restricted, shall not park any vehicle in that restricted parking space, except with the permission of the person, or a representative of the establishment, to whom the parking space is assigned.

B. A person shall not park a vehicle, whether attended or unattended, in any private driveway or upon any public or private property, except a highway or public street, without the permission of the owner or person in lawful possession of the driveway or property where the vehicle is parked. This subsection does not authorize or prevent any action that is expressly authorized or prohibited by the Vehicle Code of the state or any other federal, state or local law.

C. Any vehicle that is parked in violation of the provisions of this section may be removed, or caused to be removed, by the owner or person in lawful possession of the property, or portion thereof where the vehicle is parked, provided that a legible sign is posted in plain view. The required sign shall be at least 17 inches by 22 inches in size, with lettering at least one inch in height, containing the telephone number of the county sheriff's department, Lomita Station and stating that public parking is prohibited, or that the use of the parking area is restricted, and that any vehicles parked in violation of this section will be removed at the expense of the owner of the vehicle.

D. Prior and subsequent to causing the removal of a vehicle pursuant to subsection C of this section, the person causing the removal of the vehicle shall comply with the requirements of Vehicle Code § 22658, including, but not limited to, notifying the county sheriff's department, Lomita Station, within one hour prior to causing the vehicle to be removed from the property.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.080; Ord. No. 397, § 1, 2003)

• Parking vehicles that are being used as a dwelling unit for habitation; prohibited.

No person shall park any type of motorized or nonmotorized vehicle that is being occupied or used as a dwelling upon any highway, roadway, parkway, street, public right-of-way or parking lot within the city. This section shall not apply to vehicles parked on private property for which a temporary guest permit has been issued by the director of planning, building and code enforcement pursuant to section 8.24.060(A)(6)(e).

(Code 1981, § 10.04.090; Ord. No. 423, § 1, 2005)

A. The term "taxicab" means any motor-propelled vehicle which is designed to carry not more than eight persons, excluding the driver, and is either equipped with a taximeter or a top light or has the words "taxi," "cab" or "taxicab" displayed on the exterior of the vehicle, and is used for the transportation of passengers for hire within and without the boundaries of the city, for which a fee is charged and that does not operate over a defined route.

B. The term "taxicab zone" or "hack stand" means an area on private property (such as a hotel) designated by the property owner for parking taxicabs while waiting for passengers.

C. Taxicab parking. Taxicabs may only park in a taxicab zone or hack stand on private property while waiting for passengers. A taxicab may only be parked on city streets or alleys when actively loading or unloading passengers and their possessions and when the taxi driver is waiting to receive their fare. A taxi driver shall not park, stop, or stage a taxicab, or take breaks, on any street or alley in the city or on any property that is owned by the city.

D. False advertising prohibited. No taxicab shall display the city's logo or any other signage that could lead a reasonable person to believe that the taxicab is affiliated with or endorsed by the city.

(Code 1981, § 10.04.100; Ord. No. 564, § 1, 3-17-2015)