Chapter 16.12
ENFORCEMENT AND OBEDIENCE
Sections:
16.12.010 Police department – Duty to enforce.
16.12.020 Police department – Traffic direction – Unusual conditions.
16.12.025 Police department – Traffic diversion – Unusual conditions.
16.12.030 Fire department – Traffic direction.
16.12.040 Obedience to traffic regulations.
16.12.050 Obedience to police and fire department officials.
16.12.060 City personnel authorized to direct traffic.
16.12.070 Public employees to obey traffic regulations.
16.12.080 Exempt vehicles – Responding to emergency call.
16.12.090 Exempt vehicles – Recklessness not excused.
16.12.100 Exempt vehicles – Parking and standing.
16.12.110 Accident report – Required.
16.12.120 Accident report – Contents.
16.12.130 Accident report – Incapacity of driver.
16.12.010 Police department – Duty to enforce.
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. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-301(a), 1952].
16.12.020 Police department – Traffic direction – Unusual conditions.
Officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are hereby 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. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-301(b), 1952].
16.12.025 Police department – Traffic diversion – Unusual conditions.
In the event an officer of the police department determines that the traffic load on a particular street or highway or a portion thereof is such that little or no vehicular flow is occurring and, additionally, if the officer finds that a significant number of vehicles are not promptly moving when an opportunity arises to do so, then the officer may divert vehicles from that street or highway, or portion thereof, subject to traffic congestion, until such time as reasonably flowing traffic is restored.
The officer may place or cause to be placed any approved traffic-control devices to accomplish such diversion. It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor, and may be enforced pursuant to Chapter 1.16 PGMC, to refuse to comply with a traffic-control device so placed, or to refuse to comply with any other lawful direction given to accomplish such diversion. [Ord. 08-006 § 59, 2008; Ord. 1497 N.S., 1985].
16.12.030 Fire department – Traffic direction.
Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-301(c), 1952].
16.12.040 Obedience to traffic regulations.
It is a misdemeanor, enforceable pursuant to Chapter 1.16 PGMC, for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this title. [Ord. 08-006 § 60, 2008; Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-302, 1952].
16.12.050 Obedience to police and fire department officials.
No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order of a police officer or fire department official when directing traffic. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-303, 1952].
16.12.055 Obedience to police and other officers – Obliterating distinguishing marks used to enforce parking regulations.
No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of this city in his or her enforcement of the provisions of this title. 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 title shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provisions of this title, constitute such interference or obstruction. [Ord. 690 N.S. § 1, 1971].
16.12.060 City personnel authorized to direct traffic.
No person, other than (1) an officer of the police department, (2) a person deputized by the chief of police, (3) a city employee requested and authorized by the chief of police, or (4) a person otherwise authorized by this code or other provision of law, shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal. Provided, that persons may operate, when and as herein provided, any mechanical signal device approved by the city engineer. [Ord. 97-06 § 1, 1997; Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-304, 1952].
16.12.070 Public employees to obey traffic regulations.
The provisions of this title shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States government, this state, or any county or city and it shall be unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this title except as otherwise permitted in this title or by state statute. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-305, 1952].
16.12.080 Exempt vehicles – Responding to emergency call.
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 to any public utility vehicle or 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. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-306(a), 1952].
16.12.090 Exempt vehicles – Recklessness not excused.
The exemptions in PGMC 16.12.080 shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his or her willful disregard of the safety of others. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-306(b), 1952].
16.12.100 Exempt vehicles – Parking and standing.
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 to any vehicle owned by the United States while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of United States mail. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-306(c), 1952].
16.12.110 Accident report – Required.
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, a 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 24 hours after such accident, make a written report of such accident to the police department of this city. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-307(a), 1952].
16.12.120 Accident report – Contents.
Every accident 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. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-307(b), 1952].
16.12.130 Accident report – Incapacity of driver.
A driver involved in an accident shall not be subject to the requirements or penalties of PGMC 16.12.110 and 16.12.120 if and during the time such driver is physically incapable of making a report. In such event said driver shall make a report as required in PGMC 16.12.110 within 24 hours after regaining ability to make such report. [Ord. 210 N.S. § 8-307(c), 1952].