Rolling Hills Estates Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 General Provisions and Definitions

The following words and phrases, when used in this title shall, for the purposes of this title, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them herein. Whenever any words or phrases used herein are not defined, but are defined in the Vehicle Code of the state and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply.

"Central traffic district" means all streets and portions of streets within the area as may be prescribed by resolution if the city council.

"City traffic engineer" means the city manager or his appointed traffic engineer.

"Coach" means any motorbus, motorcoach, trackless trolley, or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers.

"Council" means the city council of the city.

"Curb" means the lateral boundary of the roadway where such curb be marked by curbing, construction, or not so marked. The word "curb" as herein used shall not include the line dividing the roadway of a street from parking strips in the center of a street, nor from tracks or rights-of-way of pubic utility companies.

"Divisional island" means a raised island located in the roadway and separating opposing or conflicting streams of traffic.

"Holidays" are the first day of January, the twelfth day of February, the twenty-second day of February, the thirtieth day of May, the fourth day of July, the first Monday in September, the ninth day of September, the twelfth day of October, the eleventh day of November, the twenty-fifth day of December, and Thanksgiving Day. If the first day of January, twelfth day of February, twenty-second day of February, the thirtieth day of May, the fourth day of July, the ninth day of September, the twelfth day of October, the eleventh day of November, or the twenty-fifth day of December falls upon a Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday.

"Loading zone" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

Official Time Standard. Whenever certain hours are named herein, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in this city.

"Parking meter" means a mechanical device installed within or upon the curb or sidewalk area, immediately adjacent to a parking space, for the purpose of controlling the period of time occupancy of such parking meter space by any vehicle.

"Parkway" means that portion of a street other than a traveled roadway.

"Passenger loading zone" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

"Pedestrian" means any person afoot.

"Police officer" means every officer of the police department of this city or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.

"Stop," when required, means complete cessation of movement.

"Vehicle code" means the vehicle code of the state of California as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.

(Prior code § 360)

The office of city traffic engineer is established. The city traffic engineer shall be appointed by the city manager and he shall exercise the powers and duties as provided herein. Whenever the city traffic engineer is required or authorized to place or maintain official traffic control devices or signals, he may cause such devices or signals to be placed or maintained.

(Prior code § 361)

It shall be the general duty of the city traffic engineer to determine the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic control devices and signals to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering and traffic investigations of traffic conditions and to cooperate with other city officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by this code.

(Prior code § 362)

There is established an advisory traffic committee to serve without compensation, which shall consist of persons appointed by the city council, who shall serve at the pleasure of a majority of the council.

(Prior code § 363)

It shall be the duty of the traffic committee:

A. To suggest the most practicable means for coordinating the activities of all officers and agencies of this city having authority with respect to the administration or enforcement of traffic regulations;

B. To stimulate and assist in the preparation and publication of traffic reports;

C. To receive complaints having to do with traffic matters; and

D. To recommend to the council and other city officials ways and means for improving traffic conditions and the administration and enforcement of traffic regulations.

(Prior code § 364)

Officers of the police department and such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, audible or other signal in conformance with traffic laws, except that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department or members of the fire department may direct traffic as conditions may require.

(Prior code § 370)

No persons other than an officer of the police department or members of the fire department or a person authorized by the chief of police or a person authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal.

(Prior code § 371)

No person shall fail or refuse to comply with nor refuse to perform any act forbidden by any lawful order, signal or direction of a person authorized by the law to issue such order, signal or direction.

(Prior code § 372)

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon a highway has all the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title.

(Prior code § 373)

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 shall be unlawful for any operator to violate any of the provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted by law.

(Prior code § 375)

A. The provisions of this title regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to vehicles operated by the police or fire department, any public ambulance or any public utility vehicle or any private ambulance, which public utility vehicle or private ambulance has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle, when any vehicle mentioned in this section is operated in the manner specified 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 willful 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 Office Department while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

(Prior code § 376)

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of this city in their enforcement of the provisions of this title. The removal, obliteration or concealment of the chalk mark or other distinguishing mark used by any police officer or other employee or officer 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 title, constitute such interference or obstruction.

(Prior code § 374)

A. 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 fire hydrant, parking meter, lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any tree, traffic 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.

B. 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 briefly describe the property damage in such accident.

C. The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this section if during the time he is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event he shall make a report as required in subsection A of this section within twenty-four hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Prior code § 377)