St. Helena Municipal Code Ch. 10.20 Miscellaneous Traffic Rules

Sections:

• 10.20.010 Excessive acceleration.

• 10.20.020 Private roads open for public use.

• 10.20.030 Special load/size limits on Pope Street Bridge.

• 10.20.040 Special load limits on Pratt Avenue Bridge.

No person shall operate a vehicle on a street or alley of the city in such a manner as to facilitate its speed by means of leaving rear wheel frictional tire rubber marks, caused by rapid acceleration. (Prior code § 10.3)

A. The city council finds and declares that the privately owned and maintained roads within the city which are described in subsection C of this section are generally held open for use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic and so connect with public streets and highways that the public cannot determine that such roads are not public streets or highways, or that the roads are generally held open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel to serve commercial establishments.

B. All provisions of the California Vehicle Code and this code relating to motor vehicles and traffic shall apply to the roads described in subsection C of this section.

C. The privately owned and maintained roads which are the subject of subsections A and B of this section are as follows:

1. Streets in St. Helena Park:

   • a. Hasty Court,

   • b. St. James Drive,

   • c. Wallis Court,

   • d. Nemo Court,

   • e. Voorhees Circle,

   • f. Reed Court,

   • g. St. James Court;

2. Vallejo Street (portion);

3. Bella Vista Court;

4. Charter Oak (portion);

5. Alexander Court;

6. Peppertree Circle;

7. Hollis Lane. (Prior code § 10.54.1)

• A. No person shall operate or be permitted to operate on the Pope Street Bridge:

  1. Any vehicle over 7.5 feet wide; or

  2. Any vehicle over twenty-four (24) feet long.

• B. The city council finds and determines that:

1. The Pope Street Bridge is a two-lane bridge that connects the Silverado Trail to Pope Street in the city of St. Helena. It was built in 1894 and was not designed to accommodate oversized vehicular traffic.

2. The Pope Street Bridge is 18.4 feet wide and one hundred seventy-seven (177) feet long and has no sidewalks or shoulders.

3. The Pope Street Bridge has an S turn heading westbound and an abrupt left-hand turn from the eastbound direction. The design of the roadway makes it impossible for vehicles over 7.5 feet wide or twentyfour (24) feet long to drive on the bridge without driving over the center line in the roadway, creating a traffic hazard for oncoming traffic.

C. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to prevent oversized vehicles from crossing the Pope Street Bridge. The bridge was constructed in 1894 and was not designed to accommodate oversized vehicular traffic. There are several alternative routes into the city of St. Helena and restricting oversized vehicular traffic will not impact access or egress into the city limits.

D. Penalties. In addition to any other penalty or remedy available or imposed by any other law or equity, any person violating any provision or failing to comply with any of the requirements of this section shall be deemed guilty of an infraction as set forth in Chapter 1.20 and be fined the maximum penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

E. Private Right of Action. Any person or organization aggrieved by a violation of any provision of this section shall have the right to file an action for injunctive relief and/or damages. Treble damages shall be awarded for willful failure to comply with the payment obligation established by this section. (Ord. 12-8)

A. No commercial vehicle over five tons may be operated on or pass over the Pratt Avenue Bridge. However, this restriction shall not apply to a vehicle operated by, or on behalf of, a public utility in connection with the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of its facilities or pursuant to an exception set forth in California Vehicle Code Section 35701.

• B. The city council finds and determines that:

  1. The Pratt Avenue Bridge is a two-lane bridge that connects the Silverado Trail to Pratt Avenue in the city of St. Helena. It was built in 1921 and was not designed to accommodate oversized vehicular traffic.

  2. The Pratt Avenue Bridge is nineteen (19) feet wide and one hundred twenty (120) feet long and has no sidewalks or shoulders.

  3. The design of the roadway makes it impossible for oversized vehicles to drive on the bridge without driving over the centerline in the roadway, creating a traffic hazard for oncoming traffic.

C. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to prevent oversized vehicles from crossing the Pratt Avenue Bridge. The bridge was constructed in 1921 and was not designed to accommodate oversized vehicular traffic. There are several alternative routes into the city of St. Helena, and restricting oversized vehicular traffic will not impact access or egress into the city limits.

D. Private Right of Action. Any person or organization aggrieved by a violation of any provision of this section shall have the right to file an action for injunctive relief and/or damages. (Ord. 20-2 § 3 (Exh. A))