Ventura County Municipal Code Art. 7 Public Safety

It is unlawful for persons using County Parks to conduct themselves or to allow any person or animal for which they are responsible to behave in a manner that is detrimental to public safety and good order.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)

No person shall drive any vehicle within the limits of a County Park in a manner other than that which is reasonable and safe, considering the traffic conditions and surface width of the roads. In no event shall a person drive any vehicle within the limits of a County Park at a speed greater than the posted speed limit; provided that these speed limits do not apply to state highways, county roads, and city roads.

(a) Legal Registration Required. No person shall drive, move, or leave standing within the County Park system any vehicle unless it is registered and the appropriate fees have been paid as required by law and the registration tab is properly displayed.

(b) License. No person shall operate a motorized vehicle in a County Park without a valid driver's license in his possession.

(c) Designated Roads. No person shall ride or drive a bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or any other vehicle other than on a designated road or on a trail designated for said vehicle.

(d) Obstruction. No person shall obstruct the free travel of pedestrians on any road, walkway, or avenue, or of any vehicle on automobile roads or trails designated for that purpose, except for park personnel servicing the area.

(e) Non-operational Vehicles. No person shall leave or park any motor vehicle that is not operational in a County Park.

(f) Parking. No person shall leave or park any vehicle on any driveway or at any other place in a County Park except at such a place or places as are designated as places for vehicular parking or camping. No vehicle shall remain parked within a posted County Park beyond the posted hours. No person shall park a vehicle in an illegal manner or in such a manner as to create a hazardous or unsafe condition.

(g) Vehicles parked in violation of these regulations are subject to removal.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)

No person shall ride a horse within the limits of a County Park except on riding trails designated by the Director. The horse shall be ridden in a manner that is reasonable and safe. No person shall hitch any horse on any driveway or at any other place except at such place or places as are designated as places for hitching horses.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)

No person shall ignite or kindle a fire in any location in a County Park except in areas designated by the County for fires.

(a) No person shall allow any lighted tobacco product, or any burning or combustible material that could set fire to grass, shrub, trees, building or any other combustible substance to be deposited any place except areas designated for disposal of burning or combustible materials.

(b) No person shall ignite or kindle a fire for cooking, including, but not limited to fires for barbecue grills, stoves, fire pits, and fire rings, except in areas designated for such use by the County.

(c) No person using a barbecue grill or stove shall permit such grill or stove to remain in an untidy or unsanitary condition, nor shall any such person fail to clear away all cooking and eating utensils and waste matter after use thereof. Any person who uses a barbecue grill or stove shall, when such use is completed, extinguish or cover the embers in such a manner to prevent them from being a hazard.

(d) The Director or his designee may prohibit fires in areas otherwise designated for fires if, in his sole discretion, public safety, weather conditions or other concerns necessitate such a temporary prohibition.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)

(a) No person shall possess, use, carry, fire, or discharge any firearms, air gun, slingshot, or archery device of any kind across, in, or into a County Park unless specifically authorized by the Director.

(b) No person shall use, carry, fire or discharge any firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes, or other fireworks or explosives of any kind in a County Park.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)

No adult person having the care or custody of any child under the age of five (5) years shall permit that child to play unattended.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)

No person shall conduct a picnic at County Parks, except in those locations designated by the Director or an authorized representative.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)

No person shall use roller skates or skateboards in County Parks, except in those areas designated by the Director.

(a) All users of a county skateboard park shall wear a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads.

(b) Persons using a skateboard park do so at their own risk, and the County is not liable for injuries to skateboard park users.

(c) A skateboard park or portion thereof may be closed or operating hours modified when it has been determined by the Director or his designee that continued use of the park or portion thereof could create hazardous conditions detrimental to the health or safety of the public or cause an adverse physical impact on the County Park environment.

(d) Sections of a skateboard park may be closed during times of repair or cleaning of the facility.

(e) No person shall enter an area which has been closed to the public as indicated by the posting of signs or the erection of fences, gates, and other barriers without permission from the Director or an authorized representative.

(f) The skateboard park may be closed during inclement weather, wet grounds and similar conditions.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)

(a) No person shall operate an unauthorized motor vehicle on any County, hiking or horseback riding trail or bicycle path.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "unauthorized motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, or electric bicycle other than the following: emergency vehicles operated by law enforcement, medical, or rescue personnel; County-approved maintenance and repair vehicles; class 1 and class 2 motorized bicycles on a bicycle path only; and any power-driven mobility device used by individuals with mobility disabilities.

(c) Inquiry into use of power-driven mobility device: A public officer may not ask an individual in a power-driven mobility device about the nature and extent of the individual's disability, but may ask an individual using a power-driven mobility device to provide a credible assurance that the mobility device is required because of the individual's disability. A "credible assurance" can be provided by a valid, State-issued disability placard or card; by other State-issued proof of disability; by a verbal representation, not contradicted by observable fact, that the device is being used for a mobility disability; or by any other method authorized under 28 C.F.R. § 35.137 (2011) or any other regulation issued by the federal government regarding power-driven mobility devices for a disabled person.

(d) A maximum of two (2) dogs per person are allowed on County trails, unless notice is posted prohibiting dogs on a particular trail. All dogs on trails must be kept tethered on a leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length.

(e) A County Parks trail or portion thereof may be closed when it has been determined by the Director or his designee that continued use of the trail or portion thereof could create hazardous conditions detrimental to the health or safety of the public or cause an adverse physical impact on the trail environment.

(f) Sections of a trail may be closed during times of maintenance.

(g) No person shall enter an area which has been closed to the public as indicated by the posting of signs or the erection of fences, gates, and other barriers without permission from the Director or an authorized representative.

(h) The unlighted section of the Piru Trail will be closed from dusk to dawn.

(i) No person shall operate a bicycle, motorized bicycle, electric bicycle, or power-driven mobility device on a County trail or path unless the bicycle, motorized bicycle, or power-driven mobility device is equipped with a functional brake or functional brakes.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)

No person shall operate any model aircraft or drone, in any County Park except those County Parks operated by a lessee. The Director may authorize a special use permit at his discretion to allow operation in a specific park within the parameters of Section 6305-4, Activities. No person shall operate any remote-controlled car in any County Park in any manner that violates Section 6305-4, Activities.

(Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)