Turlock Municipal Code § 4-14-101 Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise stated in this chapter, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:

(a)

"Cruising"

shall mean and include the repetitive driving of any motor vehicle past a traffic control point in traffic that is congested at or near the traffic control point on the public streets, alleys, or highways of the City of Turlock, as determined by the ranking peace officer on duty within the affected area, within a specified time period and after the vehicle operator has been given an adequate written notice that further driving past the control point will be a violation of this article.

(b)

"Congested traffic"

shall mean and include traffic on any public street, alley, or highway of the City of Turlock which is delayed to the point that:

(1)

Motor vehicles cannot move through a one-hundred (100) yard approach corridor to an intersection controlled by a traffic light within two (2) complete green light cycles where the delay in forward movement is due to the position of other motor vehicles; or

(2)

Motor vehicles cannot move through a one-hundred (100) yard approach corridor to an intersection controlled by a traffic light, stop sigh or yield sign within a five (5) minute period of time where the delay in forward movement is due to the position of other motor vehicles; or

(3)

Motor vehicles cannot readily move forward on portions of public streets, alleys, or highways between intersections because traffic speed is slowed to less than five (5) miles per hour, and the delay in movement is due to the position of other motor vehicles.

(c)

"Green light cycle"

shall mean and include that period of time commencing upon the switching of a traffic light from a red light to a green light through to the return from a green light to a red light.

(d)

"Traffic control point"

shall mean and include a location along a public street, alley, or highway utilized by a peace officer on duty within the affected area as an observation point in order to monitor traffic conditions for potential violations of this article.

(734-CS, Enacted, 07/11/1991)

No person shall engage in the activity known as "cruising" as defined in Turlock Municipal Code Section 4-14-101(a) on the public streets, alleys, or highways of the City of Turlock in any area which has been posted as a no-cruising zone.

(734-CS, Enacted, 07/11/1991)

(a) This article may be enforced only in those areas that have been sign posted as "no-cruising zones."

(b)

"No cruising"

signs shall be posted at the beginning and end of any public street, alley, or highway or portion thereof which has been determined by the ranking peace officer on duty within the affected area to be a no cruising zone.

(c) The City Manager, or his or her designee, is hereby authorized to designate no-cruising zones in which it is found that continued conditions of congested traffic exists.

(d) The signs shall state to the effect that the public street, alley, or highway is a "no cruising zone," shall reference California Vehicle Code Section 21100(k) and this article, and be in substantially the following form:

(1) Not less than seventeen inches (17") by twenty-two inches (22") with lettering not less than one inch (1") in height;

(2) Black lettering on a white background.

(734-CS, Enacted, 07/11/1991)

A peace officer may issue a written notice to any person operating or occupying any motor vehicle passing a traffic control point that any subsequent passage past the traffic control point within the next succeeding four (4) hours will be a violation of this article.

(734-CS, Enacted, 07/11/1991)

Any person who, after having received a written notice pursuant to Section 4-14-104 of this article, subsequently drives past or is a passenger in a vehicle passing the same traffic control point within the next succeeding four (4) hours shall be in violation of this article.

(734-CS, Enacted, 07/11/1991)

(a) Violation of this article is an infraction. The minimum penalty for a first conviction of cruising is a One Hundred and no/100ths ($100.00) Dollar fine; for a second conviction within one (1) year, the minimum penalty is a Two Hundred Dollar and no/100ths ($200.00) Dollar fine; for a third or subsequent conviction within one (1) year, the minimum penalty is a Two Hundred Fifty and no/100ths ($250.00) Dollar fine.

(b) Notwithstanding the penalty provisions of Section 4-14-106(a) of this article, if the City Attorney finds and declares that the defendant is a habitual offender of the provisions of this article, the City Attorney may elect to prosecute such violation as a misdemeanor. For the purposes of this article, a habitual offender shall mean and include a person who has three (3) or more convictions for violating this article within one (1) calendar year.

(734-CS, Enacted, 07/11/1991)