San Bernardino Municipal Code Ch. 10.12 Traffic-Control Devices

Section

Statutory reference:

For provisions on local authority to place traffic-control devices, see Cal. Vehicle Code, §§ 21351 et seq. and 21450 et seq.

(A) The City Council shall, by resolution, authorize:

(1) The installation and maintenance of official traffic signals at such intersections and other places as it may deem necessary for the regulation of traffic;

(2) The establishment of safety zones at such places as it may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians; and

(3) The establishment of turning markers, U-turns and right and left turns at such places as it may deem necessary for the regulation of traffic; provided, however, the City Engineer or Director of Public Services are authorized to designate safety zones, no parking zones, turning markers, U-turns and right and left turns in all cases of emergency or as a temporary measure for a period of not exceeding 15 days at such place or places as such officer may deem necessary. The City Engineer shall erect official traffic signals at such appropriate place or places, and the Director of Public Services shall erect such official traffic signs at such place or places.

(B) The City Engineer shall install and maintain, or cause to be installed and maintained, such official traffic signals as are authorized by the City Council; the Director of Public Services shall install and maintain, or cause to be installed and maintained, such official safety zones, turning markers, U-turns and right and left turns as are authorized by the City Council.

(C) The City Engineer is authorized to cause the placing and maintenance of warning and control devices for public works projects being done under contract with the city. Any person or firm performing work in a city street pursuant to such a contract shall provide warning and control devices as may be required in accordance with the latest edition of the “Work Area Traffic Control Handbook” (“WATCH”), as promulgated by the American Public Works Association, or as may be approved by the City Engineer. Such devices shall be removed after completion of the work or improvement project when their use is no longer required.

(D) The Director of Public Services is authorized to cause the placing and maintenance of warning and control devices for street cutting and street improvement projects not performed under public works contract with the city. Designation of the types and number and placement of signs shall be the duty of the City Engineer, or his or her designee, who shall file a copy of any such designation with the Director of Public Services. Any person or firm performing work in a city street, other than as a contractor on a public works project for the city, shall provide warning and control devices as may be required in accordance with the latest edition of the “Work Area Traffic Control Handbook” (“WATCH”), as promulgated by the American Public Works Association, or as may be approved by the Director of Public Services. The Director of Public Services shall have authority to enforce the placement and maintenance of all such traffic-control devices as are designated by the City Engineer or as are otherwise required by the Director of Public Services. Such devices shall be removed after completion of the work or improvement project when their use is no longer required.

(Ord. 1652, passed 3-18-1941; Ord. 3658, passed 7-18-1977; Ord. MC-344, passed 2-22-1984)

Whenever the City Council, by resolution, designates any one-way street or alley, the Director of Public Services shall install and maintain signs giving notice thereof and indicating the course to be traveled. When such signs are so erected, no person shall drive any vehicle in a direction contrary thereto.

(Ord. 1652, passed 3-18-1941; Ord. 1706, passed 12-21-1943; Ord. MC-344, passed 2-22-1984)

Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or U-turn is permitted, no driver of any vehicle, except a bus, shall disobey the directions of any such sign; and when authorized marks, buttons or other indications are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning thereat, no driver of any vehicle, except a bus, shall disobey the directions of such indications; provided that such exception shall be observed as are permitted by law.

(Ord. 1652, passed 3-18-1941; Ord. 2856, passed 10-3-1967)

It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to make a right turn in violation of or against a red or stop signal at any intersection in the city when a sign is erected at such intersection prohibiting any such right turn against a red or stop signal. The Mayor and City Council shall, by resolution, designate such intersections, and the Director of Public Services shall cause signs to be placed and maintained prohibiting any such right turn as herein provided.

(Ord. 1652, passed 3-18-1941; Ord. 1949, passed 7-22-1952; Ord. MC-344, passed 2-22-1984; Ord. MC-460, passed 5-15-1985)

No provision of this article for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at the time and place of the alleged violation, an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person.

(Ord. 1652, passed 3-18-1941)