Tustin Municipal Code Part 1 Administration

The Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 1964 Edition, adopted by the League of California Cities, is hereby adopted as herein amended and set forth. (Ord. No. 370, Sec. 1)

The following words and phrases when used in this Chapter shall for the purpose of this Chapter have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this Chapter. Whenever any words or phrases used herein are not defined, but are defined in the Vehicle Code of the State of California and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply.

"Central Traffic District" shall mean all streets and portions of streets within the area described as follows: All that area bounded by Tustin City Limits.

"Coach" shall mean any motor bus or motor coach used as a common carrier of passengers.

"Council" shall mean the Council of the City of Tustin.

"Curb" shall mean the lateral boundary of the roadway whether such curb be marked by curbing construction, or not so marked; the word "curb" as herein used shall not include the line dividing the roadway of a street from parking strips in the center of a street, nor from tracks or rights of way of public utility companies.

"Divisional Island" shall mean an island located in the roadway, delineated by curbs, lines or other markings on the roadway not less than two (2) feet in width, and separating opposing or conflicting streams of traffic.

"Holidays" shall mean all legal State Holidays as defined in the Code of the State of California.

"Loading Zone" shall mean the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials, and designated by painted curbs or signs.

"Official Time Standard" shall mean, whenever certain hours are named herein, the standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in this City.

"Parkway" shall mean that portion of right-of-way between the property line and the curb line excluding the paved sidewalk.

"Parking Meter" shall mean a mechanical device installed within or upon the curb or sidewalk area, immediately adjacent to a parking space, for the purpose of controlling the period of time occupancy of such parking meter space by any vehicle.

"Passenger Loading Zone" shall mean the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers and designated by painted curbs or signs.

"Peace Officer" shall be defined as outlined in Chapter 4.5 of the California Penal Code.

"Recreation Vehicle" shall mean all recreation vehicles, as defined by Health and Safety Code Section 18010.

"Vehicle" shall mean a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

"Vehicle Code" shall mean the Vehicle Code of the State of California. (Ord. No. 370, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 786, Sec. 1, 2-5-79; Ord. No. 889, Sec. 1, 8-1-83; Ord. No. 968, Sec. 3, 5-19-86)

a Traffic Section

There is hereby established in the Police Department of this City a traffic section to be under the control of an officer of police appointed by and directly responsible to the Chief of Police.

b Duty of Traffic Section

It shall be the duty of the traffic section, with such aid as may be rendered by other members of the Police Department, to enforce the street traffic regulations of this City and all of the State vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in this City, to make arrests for traffic violations, to investigate traffic accidents and to cooperate with the City Traffic Engineer and other officers of the City in the administration of the traffic laws and in developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out those duties specially imposed upon said section by this Chapter and the traffic ordinances of this City.

c Traffic Accident Studies

Whenever the traffic accidents or traffic violations at any particular location become numerous, the traffic section shall cooperate with the City Traffic Engineer in conducting studies of such accidents and determining remedial measures.

d Traffic Section to Submit Annual Traffic Safety Report

The traffic section shall annually prepare a traffic report which shall be filed with the City Council. Such a report shall contain information on the traffic matters in this City as follows:

(1) The number of traffic accidents, the number of persons killed, the number of persons injured, and other pertinent traffic accident data;

(2) The number of traffic accidents investigated and other pertinent data on the safety activities of the police;

(3) The plans and recommendations of the section for future traffic safety activities. (Ord. No. 370, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 786, Sec. 2, 2-5-79)

a City Traffic Engineer

The office of City Traffic Engineer is hereby established. The City Traffic Engineer shall be appointed by the City Administrator and he shall exercise the powers and duties as provided in this Chapter and in the traffic ordinances of this City. Whenever the City Traffic Engineer is required or authorized to place or maintain official traffic control devices or signals, he may cause such devices or signals to be placed or maintained.

b Duties of City Traffic Engineer

It shall be the general duty of the City 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 ordinances of this City. Whenever, by the provisions of this Chapter a power is granted to the City Traffic Engineer or a duty imposed upon him, the power may be exercised or the duty performed by his deputy or by a person authorized in writing by him. (Ord. No. 370, Sec. 1)

a Traffic Committee

There is hereby established an advisory traffic committee, consisting of the City Traffic Engineer, the Chief of Police or his designee, a member of the City Council and a representative each from the City Engineer's Office and such number of other City officers and representatives of unofficial bodies as may be determined and appointed by the Mayor. The chairman of the committee shall be appointed by the Mayor and may be removed by him.

b Duties of Traffic Committee

It shall be the duty of the traffic committee to suggest the most practicable means for coordinating the activities of all officers and agencies of this City having authority with respect to the administration or enforcement of traffic regulations; to stimulate and assist in the preparation and publication of traffic reports; to receive complaints having to do with traffic matters; and to recommend to the legislative body of this City and to the City Traffic Engineer, the Chief of Police and other City officials ways and means for improving traffic conditions and administration and enforcement of traffic regulations. (Ord. No. 370, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 786, Sec. 3, 2-5-79)

a Authority of Police and Fire Department Officials

Officers of the Police Department and such officers or persons as are assigned by the Chief of Police are hereby 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 Chapter or the Vehicle Code.

b Persons Other Than Officials Shall Not Direct Traffic

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 City Traffic Engineer.

c Obstruction or Interference with Police or Authorized Officers

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 Chapter. 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 Chapter shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provisions of this Chapter, constitute such interference or obstruction.

d Exemption of Certain Vehicles

(1) The provisions of this Chapter 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.

(2) The provisions of this Chapter regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle owned or operated by the United States postal service while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

e When Vehicles May Be Removed From Streets

Any regularly employed and salaried officer or other employee or officer of the Police Department of this City designated by separate ordinance may remove or cause to be removed:

(1) Any vehicle that has been parked or left standing upon a street or highway for seventy-two (72) or more consecutive hours, when properly tagged and marked.

(2) Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street or highway between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. when such parking or standing is prohibited by ordinance or resolution of this City and signs are posted giving notice of such removal.

(3) 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 (24) hours prior to the removal.

(4) Dismantled vehicles [parked or left standing] in excess of twelve (12) hours. (Ord. No. 370, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 786, Sec. 4, 2-5-79)