San Fernando Municipal Code Art. I In General

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Generally. Whenever any words or phrases used in this chapter are not defined in this section, but are defined in the state Vehicle Code, such definitions are incorporated in this chapter and shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used in this chapter as though set forth in full in this section. Unless otherwise provided under this chapter, the various defined terms set forth under Vehicle Code sections 100 through 680 when used in this chapter shall have the same meaning as set forth under Vehicle Code sections 100 through 680 as the same may be amended from time to time by the legislature.

Central traffic district means all streets and portions of streets within the area described as follows:

Commencing at the intersection of the centerline of the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way with the northwesterly boundary of the city; thence proceeding southwesterly along the northwesterly boundary of the city to the southwesterly boundary thereof; thence southeasterly along the southwesterly boundary to the centerline of Meyer Street (also city boundary line); thence southwesterly along the centerline of Meyer Street to the southwesterly line of Celis Street; thence along the southwesterly line of Celis Street to the northwesterly line of Workman Street; thence southwesterly along the northwesterly line of Workman Street to the southwesterly line of Pico Street; thence southeasterly along the southwesterly line of Pico Street to the northwesterly line of Carlisle Street; thence southwesterly along the northwesterly line of Carlisle Street to the southwesterly line of Kewen Street; thence southeasterly along the southwesterly line of Kewen Street to the southeasterly line of Chatsworth Drive; thence northeasterly along the southeasterly line of Chatsworth Drive to the southwesterly line of Pico Street; thence southeasterly along the southwesterly line of Pico Street to the southeasterly line of Wolfskill Street; thence northeasterly along the southeasterly line of Wolfskill Street to the southwesterly line of Celis Street; thence southeasterly along the southwesterly line of Celis Street to the southeasterly boundary of the city; thence northeasterly along the southeasterly boundary to the centerline of the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way; thence northwesterly along the centerline to the southeasterly line of Brand Boulevard; thence along the southeasterly line of Brand Boulevard to the northeasterly line of Second Street and its southeasterly prolongation; thence northwesterly along the northeasterly line of Second Street and its prolongation to the northwesterly line of Macneil Street; thence northeasterly along the northwesterly line of Macneil Street to the northeasterly line of Third Street; thence northwesterly along the northeasterly line of Third Street to the southeasterly line of Hagar Street; thence southwesterly along the southeasterly line of Hagar Street and the prolongation thereof to the centerline of the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way; thence northwesterly along such centerline to the northwesterly city limits and the point of beginning.

Holidays means January 1, February 12, the third Monday in February, the last Monday in May, June 19, July 4, the first Monday in September, September 9, the second Monday in October, November 11, Thanksgiving Day and December 25. If January 1, February 12, July 4, September 9, November 11, Thanksgiving Day, or December 25 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 means, whenever certain hours are named in this chapter, the standard time or daylight-saving time as may be in current use in the city.

Park or parking shall have the same meaning as set forth under Vehicle Code § 463 as the same may be amended from time to time.

Oversized vehicle means, any vehicle which exceeds 20 feet in length, seven feet in width or eight feet in height.

Parking payment device includes any parking meter, pay station, web application, or other device, that when an approved method of payment is used to purchase time for parking, the parking time for one or more vehicles is indicated.

Parkway means that portion of a street other than a roadway or a sidewalk.

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 shall have the same meaning as set forth under Vehicle Code § 467 as the same may be amended from time to time by the legislature.

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

(Code 1957, § 13.1; Ord. No. 1738, § 1, 1-20-2026)

Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1537, § 12, adopted Oct. 21, 2002, repealed § 90-2 which pertained to obedience to chapter and derived from Code 1957, § 13.2.

(a) It is unlawful to willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order, signal, or direction of any peace officer, as defined in Penal Code § 830 et seq., when that peace officer is in uniform and is performing duties under any of the sections of this Code or to refuse to submit to any lawful inspection under this Code.

(b) It is unlawful to wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order, signal, or direction of any member of any fire department, paid, volunteer, or company operated, when wearing the badge or insignia of a firefighter and when in the course of his duties he is protecting the personnel and fire department equipment.

(Code 1957, § 13.3)

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Vehicle Code §§ 2800, 2801.

No person other than an officer of the police department or a person deputized by the chief of police or person authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal, except that persons may operate, when and as provided in this chapter, any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the city council or the city traffic engineer.

(Code 1957, § 13.4)

Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except those sections which by their nature can have no application.

(Code 1957, § 13.5)

Every person riding or driving an animal upon a highway has all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except those sections which by their very nature can have no application.

(Code 1957, § 13.5)

Cross reference— Animals, ch. 14.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Vehicle Code § 21050.

Any person riding upon any bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, roller skates or any toy vehicle shall not attach the bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, roller skates or toy vehicle or himself to any moving vehicle upon any roadway.

(Code 1957, § 13.6)

State Law reference— Unlawful riding on portions of vehicles not designed or intended for passengers, Vehicle Code § 21712.

No person shall ride, use or propel any skateboard, roller skates or similar device or scooter on any sidewalk in any commercial zone within the city or on any sidewalk within the Civic Center area which is bounded by Maclay Street, Southern Pacific Railroad tracks, Brand Boulevard including the sidewalk immediately adjacent to San Fernando Junior High School and Third Street.

(Code 1957, § 13.6.1)

No person shall operate or drive any vehicle used for advertising purposes or any advertising vehicle equipped with a sound-amplifying or loud-speaking device upon any street or alley at any time within the central traffic district.

(Code 1957, § 13.7)

Cross reference— Advertising, ch. 6.

No person shall drive any animal-drawn vehicle into or within the central traffic district between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day, except during parades or upon a permit issued therefor by the city council.

(Code 1957, § 13.8)

Cross reference— Animals, ch. 14.

No person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.

(Code 1957, § 13.9)

(a) Designation by ordinance and signs. Whenever any city ordinance designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a street, the use of which is permitted by any vehicle exceeding a gross weight limit of 9,000 pounds, but not exceeding a maximum gross weight of 60,000 pounds, the city traffic engineer is authorized to designate such street by appropriate signs as a "truck traffic route" for the movement of vehicles exceeding a gross weight limit of 9,000 pounds, but not exceeding a maximum gross weight of 60,000 pounds.

(b) Limitations on use of streets other than truck routes. When any such truck traffic routes are established and designated by appropriate signs, the operator of any vehicle exceeding a gross weight limit of 9,000 pounds, but not exceeding a maximum gross weight of 60,000 pounds, shall drive on such routes and none other, except that nothing in this section shall prohibit the operator of any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight of 9,000 pounds, but not exceeding a maximum gross weight of 60,000 pounds, coming from a truck traffic route having ingress and egress by direct route to and from restricted streets when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on such restricted streets or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure upon such restricted streets for which a building permit has previously been obtained.

(c) Exemptions. This section shall not apply to the following:

(1) Passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission; or

(2) Any vehicle owned by a public utility while necessarily in use in the construction, installation or repair of any public utility.

(d) Schedule. Those streets and parts of streets described in section 90-952 of this chapter are declared to be truck traffic routes for the movement of vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 9,000 pounds, but not exceeding a maximum gross weight of 60,000 pounds.

(Code 1957, § 13.11)

(a) Designation of restricted streets by ordinance; signs. Whenever any city ordinance designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a street, the use of which is prohibited by any commercial vehicle, the city traffic engineer shall erect and maintain appropriate signs on those streets affected by such ordinance.

(b) Schedule. Those streets and parts of streets described in section 90-953 of this chapter are declared to be streets, the use of which is prohibited by any commercial vehicle.

(c) Exemptions. This section shall not apply to the following:

(1) Passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the city or the public utilities commission; or

(2) Any vehicle owned by a public utility while necessarily in use in the construction, installation or repair of any public utility.

(d) Use of restricted streets for pickups and deliveries. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the operator of any commercial vehicle from having ingress and egress to and from restricted streets when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on such restricted streets or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction of any building or structure upon such restricted streets for which a building permit has previously been obtained.

(e) Permit for use of restricted streets by unloaded trucks. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the operator of any unloaded truck having a gross weight of less than 9,000 pounds from having ingress and egress to and from restricted streets when necessary for the purpose of getting to or from any property for which a permit is issued located on such restricted street, when the registered owner or operator of such truck has a valid permit therefor covering the truck and property issued by the city and prominently displayed on the truck, and such property is regularly used to store a truck by the registered owner or operator. All permits issued under this subsection shall expire December 31 of each year. Requirements under which such permit shall be granted by the city council, the fee to be charged therefor, the conditions thereof, and other regulations pertaining thereto shall be prescribed by resolution of the city council. Any permit so issued may be revoked by the city council for any misstatement in the application therefor or for violation of any of the terms, conditions and provisions thereof or of this Code or the city's resolution relating to the permit, after hearing, upon ten days' prior written notice by United States mail to the permittee to his address as it appears on the permit.

(Code 1957, § 13.12)

(a) Whenever the city traffic engineer finds and determines that it would be in the interest of automobile driver training programs in secondary schools and that traffic would not be unduly impeded, he may place or cause to be placed appropriate signs or barricades or both, specifying that particular streets are closed to through traffic during legal school hours, pursuant to the provisions of Vehicle Code § 459(i), for the purpose of conducting such driver training programs.

(b) A person shall not operate any vehicle on any portion of the highway so closed to through traffic, except for the purpose of going to or from a point within the specified closed area.

(Code 1957, § 13.13)

The city traffic engineer is authorized to regulate the timing of traffic signals to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner at speeds slightly at variance from the speeds otherwise applicable within the district or at intersections and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.

(Code 1957, § 13.16)

(a) Any section of this chapter which regulates traffic or delegates the regulation of traffic upon state highways in any way for which the approval of the state department of motor vehicles is required by state law shall cease to be operative six months after receipt by the city council of written notice of withdrawal of approval of the department of motor vehicles.

(b) Whenever this chapter delegates authority to a city officer or authorizes action by the city council to regulate traffic upon a state highway in any way which by state law requires the prior approval of the state department of motor vehicles, no such officer shall exercise such authority nor shall such action by the city council be effective with respect to any state highway without the prior approval in writing of the state department of motor vehicles in and to the extent required by Vehicle Code §§ 17000—17714 and 21000—23336.

(Code 1957, § 13.17)