Williams Municipal Code Ch. 10.04 General Provisions

A. No provisions of this chapter shall apply with respect to state highways within the city, except when it is expressly so stated or except when and to the extent a street which is a state highway is expressly designated and described in such provision.

B. Any provision of this chapter which applies to or affects traffic upon state highways within the city in any way, for which approval of the department of public works is required by law, shall cease to be operative six months after receipt by the city council of written notice of withdrawal of approval by the department of public works.

C. Any provision of this chapter or any amendment thereto which delegates to a municipal officer or employee authority to install signs, signals or other traffic-control devices, or to regulate traffic upon state highways through the city in any way which by law requires the approval of the Department of Public Works, or whenever a subsequent resolution or ordinance of the legislative body of the city regulates traffic in any way requiring the approval of the Department of Public Works, such authority shall not be exercised by said municipal officer or employee nor shall such resolution or ordinance be effective with respect to state highways within the city without the prior approval, in writing, of the Department of Public Works, when and to the extent required by Division 9 and Division 11 of the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 111 Art. 13 § 200, 1959).

A. It shall be the duty of the officers of the police department, or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police, to enforce all street traffic laws of this city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in this city.

B. Officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance with traffic laws, provided that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

C. Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic at the scene or in the immediate vicinity.

(Ord. 111 Art. 2 § 50, 1959).

No person shall wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order of a police officer or fire department official when directing traffic.

(Ord. 111 Art. 2, § 52, 1959).

No person other than an officer of the police department, or a person deputized by the chief of police, or 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 provided in this title any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the city council.

(Ord. 111 Art. 2 § 53, 1959).

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, any county or city, and it is unlawful for any driver to violate any of the provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted in this title or by state statute.

(Ord. 111 Art. 2 § 54, 1959).

A. The provision of this title 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 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 in the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

B. The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his wilful disregard of the safety of others.

C. The provisions of this title regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of a city department or public utility while necessarily in use for construction or repair work, or any vehicle owned by the United States while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail.

(Ord. 111 Art. 2 § 55, 1959).

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

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 driving or in charge of such vehicle or animal, the license number of every such vehicle, and shall briefly describe the property damaged in such accident.

C. A driver involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this section if and during the time such driver is physically incapable of making a report, but in such event the driver shall make a report as required in subsection A within twenty-four hours after regaining ability to make such report.

(Ord. 111 Art. 2 § 56, 1959).

A. Whenever a vehicle is removed, stored or impounded by the city pursuant to the California Vehicle Code or Williams Municipal Code Chapter 8.20, as amended, there shall be an administrative fee charged as a condition of, and prior to, the release of the vehicle to the legal or registered owner or agent. The fee shall be equal to the reasonable estimated administrative costs relating to the removal, impound, storage and release of the vehicle. The fee shall be determined and revised from time to time by the chief of police. The administrative fee shall be collected by the chief of police, or his or her designee, before the city will release or authorize the release of the subject vehicle. Collection of the fee shall be subject to California Vehicle Code Section 22850.5, as amended. The vehicle release fee imposed by this section shall be in addition to any other fees, expenses or charges that may apply pursuant to other provisions of this code, the California Vehicle Code or other law.

B. Any person whose vehicle has been removed, stored or impounded by the city shall be entitled to a post-storage hearing to determine the validity of the storage pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22852 (including any amendments or successor statute). Any person whose vehicle has been removed, stored or impounded by the city pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 14602.6 or 14607.6, as amended, shall be entitled to a post-storage hearing to determine the validity of, and/or consideration of any mitigating circumstances attendant to, the storage in accordance with Vehicle Code Sections 14602.6(b) or 14607.6(n) and 22852. The hearing officer for any such hearing shall be the chief of police, or his or her designee.

(Ord. 123-01 § 2, 2001).