Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 10.53 Regulation of Cruising

No person shall engage in the activity known as "cruising" as defined in this chapter, on the public streets, alleys or highways in the City in any area which has been posted as a no-cruising zone.

(Ord. 5917 § 1, 1991)

Unless otherwise specifically provided or required by the context, certain terms or expressions used herein have meanings as set forth below:

Congested traffic, for purposes of this chapter, "congested traffic" means traffic on any public street, alley or highway which is delayed to the point that:

1. Motor vehicles cannot move through a 100-yard approach corridor to an intersection controlled by a traffic light within two complete green light cycles where the delay in forward movement is due to the position of other motor vehicles; or

2. Motor vehicles cannot move through a 100-yard approach corridor to an intersection controlled by a traffic light, stop sign or yield sign within a five-minute period of time where the delay in forward movement is due to the position of other motor vehicles; or

3. Motor vehicles cannot readily move forward on portions of public streets, alleys or highways between intersections because traffic speed is slowed to less than five miles per hour, and the delay in movement is due to the position of other motor vehicles.

The determination that a street, alley or highway is congested shall be made by the ranking peace officer on duty within the affected area.

Cruising, for the purposes of this chapter, "cruising" shall be defined as the repetitive driving of any motor vehicle past a traffic control point in traffic which is congested at or near the traffic control point.

Green light cycle, for purposes of this chapter, a "green light cycle" shall mean the period commencing upon the switching of a traffic light from a red light to a green light through to the return of a red light.

Traffic control point, for purposes of this chapter, "traffic control point" shall mean a location along a public street, alley or highway utilized by a peace officer on duty within the affected area as an observation point in order to monitor traffic conditions for potential violations of this article.

(Ord. 5917 § 1, 1991)

A peace officer may issue a written notice to any person operating or occupying any motor vehicle passing a traffic control point stating that any subsequent passage past that traffic control point within the next succeeding four hours will be a violation of this chapter.

(Ord. 5917 § 1, 1991)

Any person who, after having received a written notice as described in Section 10.53.030, subsequently drives past or is a passenger in a vehicle passing the same traffic control point within the next succeeding four hours shall be in violation of this chapter.

(Ord. 5917 § 1, 1991)

This chapter may be enforced in any area which has been posted as a "no-cruising zone." No-cruising signs shall be posted at the beginning and end of any public street, alley or highway or portion thereof which is a no-cruising zone. The signs shall reference California Vehicle Code Section 21100(k) and this chapter. The City Manager is hereby authorized to designate no-cruising zones in which it is found that conditions of congested traffic exist.

(Ord. 5917 § 1, 1991)

Violation of this chapter is an infraction. The minimum penalty for a first conviction of cruising is a $100.00 fine; for a second conviction within one year, the minimum penalty is a $200.00 fine; for a third or subsequent conviction within one year, the minimum penalty is a $250.00 fine.

(Ord. 5917 § 1, 1991)

If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or applications of the provisions of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application and, to this end, the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.

(Ord. 5917 § 1, 1991)