Seal Beach Municipal Code Ch. 8.10 Traffic Administration

A. The traffic division shall be under the control of a police officer appointed by and directly responsible to the chief of police.

B. In addition to any other powers and duties specified in this title, the traffic division shall do the following:

1. Enforce traffic laws.

2. Investigate traffic accidents.

3. Cooperate with the traffic engineer and other city officers in the administration of traffic laws and the development of traffic condition improvements.

4. Maintain a suitable system of filing traffic accident reports.

5. Annually prepare a traffic safety report for the city council. Such report shall contain the following information regarding incidents in the city:

a. The number of traffic accidents, the number of persons killed or injured, and other pertinent traffic accident data.

b. The number of traffic accidents investigated and other pertinent data on the safety activities of the police.

(Ord. 1515)

A. The director of public works shall serve as the traffic engineer or shall designate a city employee to do so. Alternatively, the city council may contract with a consultant to serve as traffic engineer.

B. In addition to any other powers and duties specified in this title, the traffic engineer shall do the following:

1. Determine the installation, proper timing and maintenance of traffic control devices and traffic signals.

2. Conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and devise remedial measures.

3. Regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner at speeds slightly at variance from the speeds otherwise applicable in the district or at intersections.

(Ord. 1515)

Signs indicating the direction of lawful traffic movement shall be placed at every intersection where movement of traffic in the opposite direction is prohibited by city council resolution.

(Ord. 1515)

A. Police officers may direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal in conformance with traffic laws. In the event of a fire or other emergency, police officers or members of the fire department may direct traffic as conditions require.

B. At places where large numbers of people and vehicles have gathered, a police officer may prohibit any person from parking a vehicle or using a street or sidewalk. A police officer also may direct the parking of vehicles in any reasonable manner.

(Ord. 1515)

No person, other than a police officer or member of the fire department, shall direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal. This prohibition does not preclude any person from operating a mechanical push button signal erected by order of the traffic engineer. This prohibition also does not preclude traffic direction by means of a traffic control plan approved by the traffic engineer.

(Ord. 1515)

Any police officer may remove a vehicle under the following circumstances:

A. The vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street or other city property for 72 or more consecutive hours in violation of this title.

B. The vehicle has been abandoned, as determined pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22523.

C. The vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. when such parking is prohibited by city law and signs are posted giving notice of the removal.

D. The vehicle is parked on a street in violation of this code and the use of the street, or a portion thereof, is necessary for cleaning, repair, or construction, or for the installation of underground utilities. This provision shall apply only if signs giving notice that the vehicle may be removed are erected or placed upon such vehicle at least 24 hours prior to its removal.

(Ord. 1515)

No unauthorized person shall paint any street or curb surface. This prohibition does not apply to the painting of numbers on a curb surface in accordance with city law.

(Ord. 1515)

The traffic engineer may post signs permitting bicycle riding on sidewalks at locations where riding in the street would be hazardous. Any person may ride a bicycle on a sidewalk where such a sign has been posted.

(Ord. 1515)

A. No person shall drive a vehicle over newly made pavement in a street when a barrier sign, cone marker or other warning device is in place giving notice of such restriction.

B. No person shall drive a vehicle over a freshly painted marker in a street when a barrier sign, cone marker or other warning device is in place giving notice of such restriction.

(Ord. 1515)

A. For purposes of this section, the term "limited curb parking space" shall mean an area that is open for lawful parking along side of, and adjacent to, a curb; and is not of sufficient length to accommodate parking of 2 vehicles.

B. Any person seeking to park a vehicle in a limited curb parking space, whose vehicle arrives at the space prior to any other vehicle, and who proceeds beyond the space less than 10 feet for the purpose of backing into the space, shall have the right-of-way over another person seeking to drive a vehicle directly into the space.

(Ord. 1515)

A. The traffic engineer shall place and maintain official traffic control devices as required to accomplish the provisions of this title and the Vehicle Code.

B. The traffic engineer may place and maintain such additional official traffic control devices as deemed appropriate for traffic regulation.

(Ord. 1515)

The traffic engineer shall determine the days and hours during which each traffic control device shall be in effect except in those instances where such period is specified by law.

(Ord. 1515)

A. The traffic engineer shall place and maintain official traffic signals at those intersections and other places where traffic conditions are such as to require that the traffic flow be alternately interrupted and released in order to relieve congestion or to protect life or property from hazard.

B. Street name signs shall be visible to the principal flow of traffic wherever the traffic engineer places and maintains an official traffic signal at an intersection.

(Ord. 1515)

The traffic engineer shall mark center lines and lane lines upon the surface of the roadway to indicate the course to be traveled by vehicles. The traffic engineer may place signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the center line of the highway.

(Ord. 1515)

The traffic engineer shall place and maintain distinctive roadway markings as described in the Vehicle Code on those streets or parts of streets where the traffic volume or other curvature of the roadway renders it hazardous to drive on the left side of such markings. Such markings shall have the same effect as similar markings by the California Department of Public Works.

(Ord. 1515)

The traffic engineer may remove, relocate or discontinue the operation of any traffic control device not required by the Vehicle Code or this chapter. Such removal, relocation or discontinuation shall be based on a determination that the conditions that warranted the device are no longer applicable.

(Ord. 1515)

The traffic engineer shall remove or reduce in height any hedge, shrubbery or tree growing in a parkway and obstructing the view of an intersection or street traffic approaching an intersection.

(Ord. 1515)

The traffic engineer may place markers, buttons or signs within or adjacent to intersections to indicate the course to be traveled by turning vehicles. The traffic engineer may indicate multiple lanes of traffic from which vehicles may make right or left hand turns.

(Ord. 1515)

A. The traffic engineer may determine intersections at which vehicles shall not make a right, left or U-turn. The making of such turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours.

B. The traffic engineer may determine intersections at which vehicles shall not make a right turn against a red light or stop signal.

(Ord. 1515)

A. The traffic engineer shall establish and maintain crosswalks at all intersections within the central traffic district and at such other intersections as deemed appropriate. Other than crosswalks at intersections, no crosswalks shall be established in any block that is less than 400 feet in length.

B. No pedestrian in the central traffic district or in any business district shall cross a roadway other than by a crosswalk.

(Ord. 1515)

No person shall drive or leave any vehicle in, over or upon private property without the permission of the owner or legal occupant of such property.

(Ord. 1515; Ord. No. 1577)

A. Definition. For purposes of this section, the term "advertising vehicle" shall mean a motor vehicle designed or used for the primary purpose of displaying advertisements.

B. Prohibition. No person shall operate an advertising vehicle within the central traffic district.

C. Exemptions. Subsection B of this section does not apply to the following:

1. Vehicles displaying an advertisement or business notice of its owner so long as such vehicle is engaged in the usual business or regular work of the owner and not used merely, mainly or primarily to display advertisements.

2. Buses.

3. Taxicabs.

(Ord. 1515)

No person shall drive an animal drawn vehicle in the city except as authorized by a parade permit or a special event permit.

(Ord. 1515)

A. Designation. The city council may by resolution designate streets and parts of streets as truck routes for movement of vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of 3 tons.

B. Prohibition. No person shall operate a vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight of 3 tons on any street that is not part of a truck route designated by city resolution and indicated by appropriate signs.

C. Exemptions. This section shall not apply to the following:

1. A vehicle that is subject to Public Utilities Code Sections 1031 to 1045, inclusive.

2. A commercial vehicle coming from an unrestricted street having ingress and egress by direct route to and from a restricted street when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on the restricted street 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 the restricted street for which a building permit has previously been obtained.

3. A vehicle owned by a public utility or a licensed contractor while necessarily used in the construction, installation or repair of any public utility.

(Ord. 1515)

The traffic engineer shall erect and maintain appropriate signs to indicate those streets on which commercial vehicles have been prohibited by city council resolution.

(Ord. 1515)

A. The city council has determined, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the speed permitted by state law outside of business and residence districts is more than is reasonable or safe. Except as otherwise provided in subsection B, the prima facie speed limit for all streets and portions of streets is declared to be 25 miles per hour.

B. Subsection A of this section shall not apply to the following:

1. Any state or federal highway posted with a speed limit by authority of that jurisdiction.

2. Any of the following streets or portion of the following streets, upon the basis that pursuant to engineering and traffic surveys, for safe operation of vehicles on the following streets, the prima facie speed limit shall be set forth on the following designated streets or portion thereof, when signs are erected giving notice thereof, in accordance with Vehicle Code Section 22358:

3. Any other street or portion of any other street posted with signs designating a greater speed as determined by the city council based upon an engineering and traffic survey, in which case the posted speed shall be the prima facie speed limit.

4. Streets, portions of streets, alleys or other areas for which a lesser speed is dictated by law.

(Ord. 1515; Ord. 1654; Ord. 1687)

A. No person shall operate in a street a vehicle, combination of vehicles, mobile equipment or load that weighs or measures in excess of the weight, width, height or length permitted by the Vehicle Code unless an oversize vehicle permit has been obtained from the director of public works.

B. Oversize vehicle permit applications shall be filed on a city-provided form and shall include the following information:

1. Name and address of the applicant.

2. Description of the vehicle and load to be operated or moved.

3. Highways over which the permit is requested.

4. Date, hour, duration and number of trips to be made.

5. Number and location of stops to be made.

C. The fee for oversize vehicle permits shall be established by city council resolution.

D. The director of public works may issue an oversize vehicle permit upon making a finding that the subject streets and appurtenant property can withstand such use. The permit shall specify the period of time for which it is valid; the routes to be traveled; the date, hour and number of trips allowed; the stops permitted; and such other terms and conditions as are imposed to promote the public safety and convenience. Permits shall be carried during the operation of the oversize vehicle and shall be available for inspection by city representatives.

E. Each person issued an oversize vehicle permit shall execute a city-provided indemnification agreement.

F. Decisions of the director of public works involving an oversize vehicle permit shall be subject to the administrative review procedure of Chapter 1.20 of this code. The city manager shall be hearing officer for the purpose of such procedure.

(Ord. 1515)

A. No person shall cause or permit any railway train, railway car or similar vehicle on rails to stop or stand or to be operated in such a manner as to prevent the use of any street for the purpose of travel for a period of time longer than 10 minutes.

B. Subsection A of this section does not apply to railway trains, railway cars or similar vehicles on rails while blocking or obstructing a crossing because of an accident that requires the operator of the train, car or similar vehicle on rails to stop at or near the scene of the accident.

(Ord. 1515)