San Mateo Municipal Code Ch. 11.04 General Provisions

For statutory provisions regarding the regulation of traffic by local authorities, see Cal. Veh. C.A. § 21100 et seq. For the general State laws regarding the use an operation of motor vehicles upon the highways of the state see the California Vehicle Code.

(a) It shall be the duty of the officers of the Police Department to enforce the provisions of this title.

(b) Officers of the Police Department are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal, in conformance with traffic laws; provided that, in the event of fire or other emergency, police officers may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

Prior code § 73.04

No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order, direction or signal of a police officer.

Prior code § 73.05

No person, other than an officer of the Police Department, or a person deputized by the Chief of Police 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 push button signal erected by order of the Council.

Prior code § 73.06

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, any county, city and county or municipal corporation, or other public agency, and no such driver shall violate any of the provisions of this title.

Prior code § 73.07

(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 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 in the vehicle code in response to an emergency call.

(b) The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his or her 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 by the United States while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

Prior code § 73.08

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 any public utility, including but not limited to, any fire hydrant, ornamental lighting post, official traffic control device, official traffic signal, telephone pole, electric or power pole, ornamental shade tree, or other property of a like nature, located in, over, or along any street, shall, within twenty-four hours after such accident, make a written report of such accident to the Police Department of the City.

Prior code § 73.09

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.

Prior code § 73.10