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Title 11 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

Chapter 11.04 — DEFINITIONS

San Jose Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-29 · San Jose

State Law reference— For statutory provisions defining terms used in the Vehicle Code, see Vehicle Code § 100 et seq.

11.04.010 - Definitions.

The definitions set forth in this chapter shall govern the application and interpretation of Title 11.

(Prior code §§ 3301.1, 3301.2; Ord. 25419.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.020 - Alley.

"Alley" means any unnamed public way having less than twenty-two feet roadway width which has not been designated as a street.

(Prior code § 3301.3.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.021 - Bicycle.

"Bicycle" means a device upon which any person may ride, propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears, having one or more wheels.

(Prior code § 3400; Ord. 29515.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.030 - Central traffic district.

The "central traffic district" is defined and its limits declared to be that portion of the City of San José bounded and described as follows:

Beginning at the intersection of the east line of Almaden Avenue and the north line of Santa Clara Street and extending eastward to the west line of Market Street; thence north to the north line of St. John Street; thence east to the east line of First Street; thence south to the north line of Santa Clara Street; thence east to the west line of Fourth Street; thence south to the south line of San Fernando Street; thence west to the east line of Third Street; thence south to the south line of San Antonio Street; thence west to the east line of Second Street; thence south to the south line of San Carlos Street; thence west to the east line of First Street; thence south to the north line of San Salvador Street; thence west to the west line of First Street; thence north to the south line of San Carlos Street; thence west to the east line of Market Street; thence north to the north line of San Fernando Street; thence west to the west line of Market Street; thence north to the south line of Santa Clara Street; thence west to the east line of Almaden Avenue; thence north to the north line of Santa Clara Street.

(Prior code § 3301.4.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.031 - Designated area.

"Designated area" means any area listed in this section and includes the outermost sidewalks along the boundary of the area:

A.

San Fernando Street between Cahill Street and Eleventh Street.

B.

First Street between St. John Street and San Carlos Street.

C.

Second Street between St. John Street and San Carlos Street.

D.

Third Street between St. John Street and San Carlos Street.

E.

Fourth Street between St. John Street and San Carlos Street.

(Ord. 29515.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.040 - Holidays.

A.

"Holidays" means New Year's Day, January 1st; Washington's Birthday, the third Monday in February; Memorial Day, the last Monday in May; Independence Day, July 4th; Labor Day, the first Monday in September; Indigenous Peoples' Day, the second Monday in October; Veterans Day, November 11th; Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November; and Christmas Day, December 25th; and such other days as shall be designated by the chief of police with the concurrence of the city manager.

B.

If the first day of January, the fourth day of July, the eleventh day of November, or the twenty-fifth day of December falls on Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday. If the eleventh day of November falls on Saturday, the preceding Friday is a holiday.

(Prior code § 3301.5; Ords. 19034, 30679.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.050 - Laned roadway.

"Laned roadway" means a roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.

(Prior code § 3301.6.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.060 - Limited-access highway.

"Limited-access highway" means every highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting property or lands and all other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same, except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway.

(Prior code § 3301.7.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.070 - Loading zone.

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

(Prior code § 3301.8.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.080 - Official time standard.

"Official time standard." Whenever certain hours are named in this title, "official time standard" means standard time or daylight saving time, as may be in current use in this city.

(Prior code § 3301.9.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.090 - Park or parking.

"Park" or "parking," when prohibited, means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, upon a roadway, otherwise than temporarily, for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading, or in obedience of traffic regulations or traffic signs or signals.

(Prior code § 3301.11.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.100 - Parking meter zones.

"Parking meter zones" means portions of streets described and established by the city council as zones within which the parking of vehicles shall be controlled, regulated and inspected with the aid of timing devices or meters, referred to in this title as "parking meters or meters."

(Prior code § 3301.12.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.110 - Furnishing Zone/Parkstrip.

"Furnishing Zone/Parkstrip" means that portion of the street between the curb and the sidewalk.

(Prior code § 3301.13; Ord. 30100.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.120 - Passenger loading zone.

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

(Prior code § 3301.14.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.130 - Pedestrian.

"Pedestrian" means any person afoot.

(Prior code § 3301.15.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.140 - Police officer.

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

(Prior code § 3301.16.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.150 - Railroad.

"Railroad" means a carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails.

(Prior code § 3301.17.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.160 - Railroad train.

"Railroad train" means a steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails, except streetcars.

(Prior code § 3301.18.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.165 - Residential district.

"Residential district" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 20.200.1020 of this Code.

(Ord. 25419.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.170 - Reserved.

Editor's note— Ord. 30100, § 4, adopted May 15, 2018, repealed § 11.04.170, which pertained to roadway crossing and derived from prior code § 3301.19.

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.180 - Stop.

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

(Prior code § 3301.20.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.190 - Stop intersection.

"Stop intersection" means an intersection at one or more entrances of which traffic is required by law to stop before entering, when stop signs are erected as provided in this title.

(Prior code § 3301.22.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.200 - Stopping or standing.

"Stopping" or "standing," when prohibited, means any stopping or standing of a vehicle whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.

(Prior code § 3301.21.)

Exceptions & meaning →

11.04.210 - Traffic division.

"Traffic division" means the traffic division of the police department of this city.

(Prior code § 3301.24.)

Exceptions & meaning →

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