Shafter Municipal Code Ch. 10.08 Traffic Administration and Enforcement

The office of the traffic engineer is established. The chief of police shall serve as traffic engineer in addition to his other functions, and shall exercise the powers and duties with respect to traffic as provided in this title.

(Prior code § 10-2-1)

It shall be the general duty of the traffic engineer to determine the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control devices and signals, to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering and traffic investigations of traffic conditions and to cooperate with other city officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by the provisions of this code.

(Prior code § 10-2-2)

Officers of the police department and such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, audible or other signal in conformance with traffic laws, except that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department or members of the fire department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary contained in this title or the Vehicle Code.

(Prior code § 10-3-1)

No person other than an officer of the police department or members of the fire department or a person authorized by the chief of police or a 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 herein provided, any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the traffic engineer.

(Prior code § 10-3-2)

No person shall fail or refuse to comply with nor shall any person perform any act forbidden by any lawful order, signal or direction of a traffic or police officer, or a member of the fire department, or a person authorized by the chief of police or by law.

(Prior code § 10-3-3)

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of this city in their enforcement of the provisions of this title. The removal, obliteration or concealment of any chalk mark or other distinguishing mark used by any police officer or other employee or officer of this city in connection with the enforcement of the parking regulations of this title shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provisions of this title constitute such interference or obstruction.

(Prior code § 10-3-6)

It is a misdemeanor for any person driving any vehicle or other conveyance upon any street or any pedestrian, to do any act forbidden, or fail to perform any act required as applicable to any such person under this title.

(Prior code § 10-3-4)

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal 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 title, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.

(Prior code § 10-3-5)

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

(Prior code § 10-3-7)

A. The provisions of this title regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to vehicles operated by 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 by the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

B. The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, relieve the operator of any such vehicle from obligation to exercise due care for the safety of others or the consequences of his wilful 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 or operated by the United States Post Office Department while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

(Prior code § 10-3-8)

Any regularly employed and salaried officer of the police department may remove or cause to be removed:

A. Any vehicle that has been parked or left standing upon a street or highway for seventy-two or more consecutive hours as set forth in Vehicle Code Section 22651(k).

B. Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street or highway between the hours of seven a.m. and seven p.m. when such parking or standing is prohibited by chapter or resolution of the city and signs are posted giving notice of such removal.

C. Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street or highway where the use of such street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for the cleaning, repair or construction of the street or highway or for the installation of underground utilities or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is authorized for a purpose other than the normal flow of traffic or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is necessary for the movement of equipment, articles or structures of unusual size, and the parking of such vehicle would prohibit or interfere with such use or movement; provided, that signs giving notice that such vehicle may be removed are erected or placed at least twenty-four hours prior to the removal.

(Ord. 396 § 1, 1988; prior code § 10-3-10)

No person operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway shall cause his/her vehicle to exit that roadway onto private or public property, re-enter a public roadway, for the purpose of avoiding a traffic control devise, or the intersection of two roadways. Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of an "Infraction."

(Ord. 581 § 1, 2006: Ord. 570 § 1, 2005)