CHAPTER 8.04
DEFINITIONS; ENFORCEMENT
SECTION:
8.04.020: Conformance With State Vehicle Code Definitions
8.04.040: Authority And Duties Of Police Officers
8.04.050: Erection Of Barriers
8.04.060: Obedience To Traffic Signs
8.04.070: Exemptions For Certain Vehicles
8.04.080: Exemptions For Certain Vehicles
8.04.090: Report Of Damage To Certain Property
8.04.010 SHORT TITLE:
This title shall be known as, and whenever cited, referred to, or amended, may be designated as the TRAFFIC CODE. (1972 Code § 10.04.010)
8.04.020 CONFORMANCE WITH STATE VEHICLE CODE DEFINITIONS:
A. Terms Defined In Vehicle Code Apply: Except as otherwise defined herein, the definition of any term used in this title is the definition of such term as it is defined and described in the California Vehicle Code and amendments thereto.
B. New Definitions Incorporated: Whenever any words or phrases used herein are not defined herein but are now defined in the California Vehicle Code, such definitions are incorporated herein and shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein. (1972 Code § 10.08.010)
8.04.030 TERMS DEFINED:
Whenever in this title the following words and phrases set forth in this section are used, they shall, for the purpose of this title, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
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ALLEY: |
Any street less than twenty five feet (25’) in width between property lines. |
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CENTRAL TRAFFIC DISTRICT: |
All streets and portions of streets within the area described as follows: from and including Alta Street and including Center Street, as such streets extend, limited by First Street and Seventh Street. |
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COUNCIL: |
The council of the city. |
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LOADING ZONE: |
That space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials. |
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OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES: |
All signs, signals, markings, and devices not inconsistent with this title placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic. |
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OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGNALS: |
Any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and proceed, and which is erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction. |
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PARKWAY: |
Any portion of a street other than a roadway or sidewalk. |
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PASSENGER LOADING ZONE: |
That space adjacent to a curb reserved exclusively for the use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers. |
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PERSON: |
Every natural person, firm, copartnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation. |
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POLICE OFFICER: |
Every officer of the police department of the city. |
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SHALL AND MAY: |
"Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive. |
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STOP, STOP OR STAND, PARK: |
A. "Stop", when required, means complete cessation of movement. |
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B. "Stop or stand", when prohibited, means any stopping of a vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or official traffic control. |
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C. "Park" means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily, for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers or materials. |
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TRAFFIC: |
Pedestrians and vehicles, either singly or together, while using any street for the purpose of travel. |
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TRAFFIC AUTHORITY: |
The council of the city is the "traffic authority". (1972 Code §§ 10.08.020 - 10.08.160; amd. 2003 Code) |
8.04.040 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICERS:
A. Enforcement: Officers of the police department, or persons deputized by the chief of police, are empowered, and it shall be their duty, to enforce the provisions of this title.
B. Directing Traffic: Officers of the police department, or persons deputized by the chief of police, are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, or signal in conformance with the traffic laws; provided, that in the event of fire or other emergency, or the need to expedite traffic or safeguard pedestrians, traffic may be directed as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws. (1972 Code § 10.12.010)
8.04.050 ERECTION OF BARRIERS:
A. Approval By Police Chief: No person, public utility, or any officer, agent, or employee of the city, except in cases of extreme emergency, shall erect or place any barrier or sign on any street in the city unless of a type first approved by the chief of police.
B. Compliance Required: No person shall move or damage any such barrier or sign, and no person shall disobey the instruction of any such barrier or sign, placed in any street by any public utility or any officer, agent or employee of the city. (1972 Code § 10.12.020)
8.04.060 OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC SIGNS:
Except as otherwise permitted by the provisions of this title or the California Vehicle Code, it is unlawful for any pedestrian or the operator of any vehicle, including any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States government, the state, any county or city, to disobey the instructions of any signal, traffic sign, or mark upon any street, placed in accordance with the provisions of this title, unless otherwise directed by a police officer or a person deputized by the chief of police or otherwise authorized by law to direct traffic. (1972 Code § 10.12.040; amd. Ord. 2010-61, 2-16-2010)
8.04.070 EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES:
A. Government, Emergency Vehicles: The provisions 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 California Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.
B. Drivers To Regard Safety Of Others: 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. Construction Or Repair Work; Mail Delivery: 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. (1972 Code § 10.12.050; amd. Ord. 2010-61, 2-16-2010)
8.04.080 EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES:
A. Government, Emergency Vehicles: The provisions 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 California Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.
B. Drivers To Regard Safety Of Others: 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. Construction Or Repair Work; Mail Delivery: 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. (1972 Code § 10.12.050)
8.04.090 REPORT OF DAMAGE TO CERTAIN PROPERTY:
A. Driver Responsibility: 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 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. Contents Of Report: 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. Incapacity Of Driver: A driver involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of this section if such driver is physically incapable of making the report required of him within the prescribed time, but in such event the driver shall make a report as required in subsection A of this section within twenty four (24) hours after regaining the ability to do so. (1972 Code § 10.12.060)