Chapter MH-3 — ENFORCEMENT

Sections:

MH-10-1300 - POLICE OFFICERS—AUTHORITY.

It shall be the authority of the officers of the police department, and such officers as are assigned by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer, to enforce all traffic laws of this District and all of the State vehicle laws applicable to traffic in this District.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1301 - AUTHORITY TO ISSUE PARKING CITATIONS.

Parking citations or notices of violations, related to charging violations of local or Vehicle Code regulations governing the parking or standing of vehicles, may be issued by any peace officer, by any other employee or agent of the police department or of the District who is duly authorized by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer so to do, by any other person specifically so authorized by some other provision of law, and by any other person specially authorized by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in writing so to do. Whenever the Chief Law Enforcement Officer delegates such authority to persons other than peace officers, the Chief shall endeavor to see that each such person is adequately instructed regarding the provisions of the parking regulations to be enforced, and the evidentiary prerequisites to proper prosecution for violations thereof. The Chief shall further provide such persons with the same forms of citations or notices of violations as are utilized for the purpose by officers of the police department. Any such persons shall be appropriately instructed to deposit executed citations or notices with the police department for filing with the court, after review for legal sufficiency.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1302 - POLICE OFFICERS—TRAFFIC DIRECTION.

Officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or other signal in conformance with traffic laws, provided that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1303 - AUTHORITY OF FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS OR MAINTENANCE OR SURVEY CREWS.

Officers of the fire department when at the scene of a fire or emergency response or when, in the course of their duties, they are protecting personnel or equipment of the fire department, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic. Members of the District's maintenance or survey crews, when acting in the course of their duties, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1304 - OBEDIENCE TO POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS.

No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order of a police officer or fire department official directing traffic.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1305 - LOITERING—OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC.

It is unlawful for any person to stand upon any street, sidewalk or other public way open for pedestrian travel, or otherwise occupy any portion thereof in such a manner as to annoy or molest any pedestrian thereon, or so as to obstruct or unreasonably interfere with the free passage of pedestrians, motor vehicles or other modes of travel. No person shall sit, lie or sleep upon any street, sidewalk or roadway. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons sitting on the curb portion of any sidewalk or street while attending or viewing any parade permitted under the provisions of this code; nor shall the provisions of this

section apply to persons sitting upon benches or other seating facilities provided for such purposes by the District.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1306 - OBJECTS IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.

It is unlawful for any person to place or cause to remain any structure or object of any kind or character without a permit provided for in Division 3 of this title either in, under or over any District street, sidewalk, roadway or right-of-way.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1307 - PERSONS RIDING BICYCLES OR ANIMALS.

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon a highway shall be granted all of the rights of, and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to, the driver of a vehicle by this title, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1308 - PERSONS OTHER THAN OFFICIALS SHALL NOT DIRECT TRAFFIC.

No person other than an officer of the police department or a person deputized by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer or person authorized by a police officer or other personnel expressly authorized by this chapter, shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal except that persons may operate when and as herein provided any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the District Traffic Engineer for pedestrian use.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1309 - PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TO OBEY TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

The provisions of this title shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this State, or any county, city, or district, and it is unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted in this chapter or by the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1310 - EXEMPTIONS TO CERTAIN VEHICLES.

(a)

The provisions of this title regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of the police or fire departments, or other government vehicles, properly equipped to qualify as emergency vehicles, 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 in the Vehicle Code in response to any emergency call.

(b)

The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from 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 District department or public utility vehicle necessarily in use for construction or repair work, or any vehicle owned by the United States while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1311 - ACCIDENT REPORT—REQUIRED.

The driver 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, ornamental lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any ornamental shade tree, traffic-control device or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, shall within twenty-four (24) hours after such accident make a written report of such accident to the police department.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1312 - ACCIDENT REPORT—CONTENTS.

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 driving or in charge of such vehicle or animal, the license number of every such vehicle, and shall briefly describe the property damaged in such accident.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)

MH-10-1313 - ACCIDENT REPORT—TIME LIMIT.

A driver involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of Sections MH-10-l310 and MH-10-1311 if, and during the time, such driver is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event the driver shall make a report as required in Section MH-10-1310 within twenty-four (24) hours after regaining ability to make such a report.

(Ord. 4250 § 1 (part), 2005)