West Covina Municipal Code § 22-1 Definitions

(a) Whenever any words or phrases used in this chapter are not defined in this chapter but are now defined in the Vehicle Code of this state, such definitions are incorporated in this chapter and shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used in this chapter.

(b) Whenever in this chapter the following words and phrases set forth in this section are used, they shall for the purpose of this chapter have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:

Commercial vehicle.

(1) A vehicle of a type required to be registered under the Vehicle Code used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

(2) Passenger vehicles which are not used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit and house cars are not commercial vehicles. The subdivision shall not apply to Chapter 4 (commencing at Section 6700) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 260.

Curb. The lateral boundary of the roadway whether such curb is 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.

Loading zone. That space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

Motor truck. A motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 410.

Motor vehicle. A vehicle which is self-propelled.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 415.

Official sign. Any sign erected and installed or authorized by the traffic authority.

Park/parking. The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 463.

Parkway. That portion of a street other than a roadway or a sidewalk.

Police officer. Every officer of the police department of this city or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.

School crossing guard. Every person appointed by the chief of police of this city authorized to direct or regulate traffic at a school crossing.

Semitrailer. A vehicle designed for carrying persons or property, used in conjunction with a motor vehicle, and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon, or is carried by, another vehicle.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 550.

Stop. When required, means complete cessation of movement.

Stored/storage. The parking of any vehicle upon a street or highway for seventy-two (72) or more consecutive hours.

Street weight limitations. The maximum amount of gross vehicle weight permitted upon any street as established by the engineering department.

Traffic committee. Traffic committee of the city or its authorized and acting representative.

Trailer. A vehicle designed for carrying persons or property on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon any other vehicle.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 630.

Trailer coach. A vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, designed for human habitation, or human occupancy for industrial, professional or commercial purposes, for carrying property on its own structure, and for being drawn by a motor vehicle.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 635.

Truck tractor. A motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 655.

Unladen weight. The weight of a vehicle equipped and ready for operation on the road, including the body, fenders, oil in motor, radiator full of water, with five (5) gallons of gasoline or equivalent weight of other motor fuel; also equipment required by law and, unless exempted under Section 661 of the Vehicle Code, any special cabinets, boxes or body parts permanently attached to the vehicle, and any machinery, equipment or attachment which is attendant to the efficient operation of the body or vehicle. Unladen weight shall not include any load or any machinery or mechanical apparatus, such as, but not limited to, wood saws, well-drilling machines, spray apparatus, tow car cranes, and grinding equipment.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 660.

Vehicle. 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.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 670.

Vehicle code. The words "Vehicle Code" shall mean and refer to the Vehicle Code of the state as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.

(Code 1960, § 3100; Ord. No. 1275, § 1, 8-25-75)

Cross reference— Definitions for Code generally, §§ 1-8—1-26.

No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order, direction or signal of a police officer, or of a person authorized by the chief of police or by law to give such order, direction or signal.

(Code 1960, § 3111)

No person other than an officer of the police department, or a person designated by the chief of police, or an employee of the city who is at the time engaged in the necessary performance of his duties for the city, shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal, except as permitted or required in the Vehicle Code, and except that persons may operate, when and as herein provided, any mechanical signal erected by order of the city council.

(Code 1960, § 3112; Ord. No. 2531, § 3, 7-15-25)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, any county, city or municipal corporation, or other public agency, and it shall be unlawful for any such driver to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter.

(Code 1960, § 3113)

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 21052.

(a) The provisions of this chapter regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of the police or fire department, any public ambulance, or any public utility vehicle, or private ambulance, which has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle when such vehicle is operated in the manner specified in the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

(b) The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, relieve the driver of any such vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway nor protect him from the consequences of an arbitrary exercise of such exemptions.

(c) The provisions of this chapter regulating the placing, parking or standing of vehicles or equipment shall not apply to any vehicle or other equipment of a city department, or public utility, or special permit holder of a permit issued by the city, while necessarily in use for construction or repair work or any vehicle owned or operated by the United States Postal Service while in use for the collection, transportation, or delivery of United States mail.

(Code 1960, § 3114)

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, §§ 21055, 21056.

(a) The operator of a vehicle or the person in charge of any animal involved in any accident resulting in damage to any property publicly or privately owned or owned by a public utility, including, but not limited to, any fire hydrant, parking meter, lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, or resulting in damage to any tree, traffic control device or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, shall, within twenty-four (24) hours after such accident, make a written report of such accident to the police department.

(b) Every such report shall state the time when and the place where the accident took place, the name and address of the person owning and of the person operating or in charge of such vehicle or animal, the license number of every such vehicle, and shall briefly describe the property damage in such accident.

(c) The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this section if and during the time he is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event he shall make a report as required in subdivision (a) within twenty-four (24) hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Code 1960, § 3115)

Any person riding or driving an animal upon a highway is subject to the provisions of this chapter which are applicable to the driver of a vehicle except those provisions which by their very nature, can have no application.

(Code 1960, § 3117; Ord. No. 1318, § 1, 10-25-76)

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Veh. Code, § 21050.

No person owning, controlling or responsible for the maintenance of any fence, wall, mound, hedge, shrubbery, or any other obstruction which so restricts the view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic as to cause a hazard or danger thereto, located within the parkway portion of any public street, shall allow or permit or cause the same to:

(a) Exceed a height of twenty-four (24) inches above the top of curb grade level at the place where the same is situated if it is located within a distance of thirty (30) feet from the point where the projected curblines of any two (2) or more intersecting or intercepting streets intersect, or

(b) Exceed a height of thirty-six (36) inches above the top of curb grade level at the place where the same is situated if it is located within a distance of fifteen (15) feet from either side of a private driveway at the point where it crosses such parkway; provided, however, that, shrubs shall not be prohibited by this subparagraph (b) if and while all foliage thereof is kept trimmed and pruned up to a height of at least forty-eight (48) inches above such top of curb grade level with clear visibility beneath such height of forty-eight (48) inches and does not violate any other provisions of this Code.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the traffic committee may recommend issuance of an encroachment permit for the construction of a fence or wall in the public right-of-way if it can be satisfactorily demonstrated that said fence or wall will not interfere with adequate sight distance for vehicle operators.

(Code 1960, § 3153; Ord. No. 1833, § 1, 1-22-90)

No person shall drive any vehicle or stop, park or leave standing any vehicle upon the driveways or grounds of any public building or facility of the city except with the permission of and subject to such conditions and regulations as may be imposed by the city council upon the recommendation of the traffic committee pursuant to the provisions of section 21113 of the Vehicle Code.

(Code 1960, § 3158)