Chapter 10.04 TRAFFIC REGULATION GENERALLY*

* As to bicycles passing and meeting vehicles, see § 10.20.290 of this code. As to repair of damage to sidewalks, curbs and gutters by vehicle, see § 12.04.130.

10.04.010 Definitions.

A. Whenever any words or phrases used in this title are not defined in this section, but are now defined in the Vehicle Code, such definitions are incorporated in this section and shall apply to such words and phrases used in this title as though set forth in this section in full.

B. The following words and phrases when used in this title shall for the purpose of this title have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:

1. “Holidays” are the first day of January, the twelfth day of February, the twenty-second day of February, the thirtieth day of May, the fourth day of July, the first Monday in September, the ninth day of September, the twelfth day of October, the eleventh day of November, the twenty-fifth day of December and Thanksgiving Day. If the first day of January, twelfth day of February, twenty-second day of February, the thirtieth day of May, the fourth day of July, the ninth day of September, the twelfth day of October, the eleventh day of November or the twenty-fifth day of December falls upon a Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday.

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

3. Official Time Standard. Whenever certain hours are named in this title, they shall mean Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time as may be in current use in the city.

4. “Park” means to stand or leave standing any vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

5. “Parkway” means that portion of a street other than a roadway or a sidewalk.

6. “Passenger loading zone” means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

7. “Pedestrian” means any person afoot.

8. “Police officer” means 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.

9. “Stop” means when required, complete cessation of movement.

10. “Stop or stand,” when prohibited, means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device. (Prior code § 17.1: Ord. 267 §§ 1—8, 10, 11)

10.04.020 Pedestrians standing in roadways.

No person shall stand in any roadway other than in a safety zone or in a crosswalk if such action interferes with the lawful movement of traffic. This section shall not apply to any public officer or employee, or employee of a public utility when necessarily upon a street in line of duty. (Prior code § 17.2: Ord. 267 § 49)

10.04.030 Driving through funeral processions.

No driver of a vehicle shall drive between vehicles comprising a funeral procession while they are in motion and when the vehicles in such processions are conspicuously so designated. (Prior code § 17.3: Ord. 267 § 43)

10.04.040 Clinging to moving vehicles.

Any person riding upon any bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, roller skates or any toy vehicle shall not attach the same or himself to any moving vehicle upon any roadway. (Prior code § 17.4: Ord. 267 § 44)

10.04.050 Vehicles not to be driven on sidewalks or parkways.

The driver of a vehicle shall not drive within any sidewalk area or any parkway except at a permanent or temporary driveway. (Prior code § 17.5: Ord. 267 § 45)

10.04.060 Driving over new pavement or freshly painted marking unlawful—Penalty.

A. No person shall ride or drive any animal or any vehicle over or across any newly made pavement or freshly painted marking in any street when a barrier, sign, cone marker, or other warning device is in place warning persons not to drive over or across such pavement or markings or when any such device is in place indicating that the street or any portion thereof is closed.

B. Any person found in violation of this section shall be charged with an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in Section 1.08.020. (Ord. 677 § 1 (part), 1975; Ord. 600 §§ 1, 2, 1970)

10.04.070 Driving in public parks prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to ride any bicycle or to drive any type of vehicle whatsoever within the public parks of the city. (Prior code § 17.7: Ord. 117 § 1)

10.04.080 Driving onto or from limited-access roadways.

No person shall drive a vehicle onto or from any limited access roadway except at such entrances and exits as are established by public authority. (Prior code § 17.8: Ord. 267 § 47)

10.04.090 Restrictions on use of freeways.

No person shall drive or operate any bicycle, motor-driven cycle or any vehicle which is not drawn by a motor vehicle upon any street established as a freeway, as defined by state law, nor shall any pedestrian walk across or along any such street so designated and described except in space set aside for the use of pedestrians; provided, official signs are in place giving notice of such restrictions. (Prior code § 17.9: Ord. 267 § 48)

10.04.100 Erection and contents of signs on one-way streets and alleys.

Whenever any ordinance or resolution of the city designates any one-way street or alley, the city traffic engineer shall place and maintain signs giving notice thereof, and no such regulations shall be effective unless such signs are in place. Signs indicating the direction of lawful traffic movement shall be placed at every intersection where movement of traffic in the opposite direction is prohibited. (Prior code § 17.10: Ord. 267 § 39)

10.04.110 Truck routes.

A. Whenever any ordinance or resolution of this city designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a street the use of which is permitted by any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of three tons, the city traffic engineer is authorized to designate such street or streets by appropriate signs as “truck traffic routes” for the movement of vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of three tons.

B. When any such truck traffic route or routes are established and designated by appropriate signs, the operator of any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of three tons shall drive on such route or routes and none other, except that nothing in this section shall prohibit the operator of any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight of three tons coming from a truck traffic route having ingress and egress by direct route to and from restricted streets when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on such restricted streets or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure upon such restricted streets for which a building permit has previously been obtained therefor.

C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

1. Passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission; or to

2. Any vehicle owned by a public utility while necessarily in use in the construction, installation or repair of any public utility.

D. Those streets and parts of streets described in Section 10.16.080 are declared to be truck traffic routes for the movement of vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of three tons. (Prior code § 17.11: Ord. 267 § 74)

10.04.120 Commercial vehicles prohibited from using certain streets.

A. Whenever any ordinance of the city designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a street the use of which is prohibited by any commercial vehicle, the city traffic engineer shall erect and maintain appropriate signs on those streets affected by such ordinance.

B. Those streets and parts of streets described in Section 10.16.090 are declared to be streets the use of which is prohibited by any commercial vehicle. The provisions of this section shall not apply to passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission.

C. Whenever any ordinance or resolution of this city designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a street the use of which is prohibited to use by any vehicle exceeding a maximum posted gross weight limit, the city traffic engineer is authorized to designate such street or streets by appropriate signs as “Load Limit 8 Tons Gross” or similar signs prohibiting the movement of vehicles exceeding the stated maximum weight.

D. When any such load limit route or routes are established and designated by appropriate signs, the operator of any vehicle exceeding the stated maximum gross weight limit of three tons shall not drive on such routes except for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on such restricted streets.

E. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

1. Passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission; or

2. Any vehicle owned by a public utility while necessarily in use in the construction, installation or repair of any public utility. (Ord. 393 § 1, 1962; prior code § 17.12: Ord. 267 § 75)

10.04.130 Railway gates.

No person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed. (Prior code § 17.13: Ord. 267 § 76)

10.04.140 Trains not to block crossings.

It is unlawful for any person to cause or permit any railway train or railway cars or similar vehicle on rails to operate or to be operated in such a manner as to prevent the use of any street for the purposes of travel for a period of tine longer than ten minutes, except that this provision shall not apply to railway trains, cars or similar vehicles on rails while blocking or obstructing a crossing because of an accident which requires the operator of the train, car or similar vehicle on rails to stop at or near the scene of the accident. (Prior code § 17.14: Ord. 267 § 77)

10.04.150 Excessive acceleration of motor vehicles prohibited—Exception—Penalty.

A. No person in operating a motor vehicle within the city limits shall so accelerate the same as to cause audible noise by tire friction on pavement or so as to cause the tires of such vehicle to leave skid marks upon the pavement except when such acceleration is reasonably necessary to avoid a collision.

B. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of an infraction and punished as provided in Section 1.08.020. (Ord. 677 § 1 (part), 1975; prior code § 17.14-1: Ord. 343 § 2)

10.04.160 Increase of prima facie speed limit on designated streets.

By resolution, the city council may determine that based on an engineering and traffic investigation that the speed permitted by state law upon streets is less than is necessary for safe operation of vehicles and that the prima facie speed limit shall be increased on those streets or parts of streets when signs are erected giving notice. (Ord. 2016-005 § 1, 2016: Prior code § 17.15: Ord. 314 § 1; Ord. 267 § 78)

10.04.170 Decrease of prima facie speed limit on designated streets.

By resolution, the city council may determine that based upon an engineering and traffic investigation that the speed permitted by state law is greater than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist upon designated streets, and that the prima facie speed limit shall be decreased on those streets or parts of streets designated when signs are erected giving notice. (Ord. 2016-005 § 2, 2016: Ord. 572 § 1, 1968; Ord. 442 § 1, 1963; prior code § 17.16: Ord. 305 § 1; Ord. 267 § 79)

10.04.180 [Reserved].

10.04.190 Regulation of speed by traffic signals.

The city traffic engineer is authorized to regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner at speeds slightly at variance from the speeds otherwise applicable within the district or at intersections, and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof. (Prior code § 17.17: Ord. 267 § 80)

10.04.250 City traffic engineer—Office established—Powers and duties generally.

The office of city traffic engineer is established. The director of public works shall serve as city traffic engineer. in addition to his other functions, and shall exercise the powers and duties with respect to traffic as provided in this title. (Prior code § 17.23: Ord. 267 § 17)

10.04.260 City traffic engineer—Additional powers and duties.

It shall be the general duty of the city traffic engineer to determine the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control devices and signals, to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering and traffic investigations of traffic conditions and to cooperate with other city officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by ordinances of the city. (Prior code § 17.24: Ord. 267 § 18)

10.04.270 Authority of police and fire department officials.

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 other 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 or when in the course of their duties they are protecting the personnel or equipment of the fire department, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic. (Prior code § 17.25: Ord. 267 § 19)

10.04.280 Obedience to police and fire department officials.

No person shall wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order of a police officer or fire department official when directing traffic. (Prior code § 17.27: Ord. 267 § 21)

10.04.290 Obedience to persons appointed to control traffic at school crossings.

It is unlawful for any person to refuse or fail to comply with any lawful order, signal or direction of a traffic or police officer, or at any school crossing to refuse or fail to obey any order, signal, or direction of any person appointed by the chief of police to control traffic at school crossings; provided, that such person giving any order, signal or direction at such school crossing shall at the time be wearing some insignia indicating such appointment. (Prior code § 17.28: Ord. 267 § 23)

10.04.300 Traffic regulations to apply to persons riding bicycles or animals.

Every person riding a bicycle or riding or driving an animal upon a highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application. (Prior code § 17.29: Ord. 267 § 22)

10.04.310 Persons other than officials not to direct traffic.

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 traffic engineer. (Prior code § 17.30: Ord. 267 § 23 (part))

10.04.320 Minors not to direct traffic unless authorized.

It is unlawful for any minor to direct or attempt to direct traffic unless authorized to do so by order of the chief of police. (Prior code § 17.31: Ord. 267 § 23 (part))

10.04.330 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, the 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 the Vehicle Code of the state. (Prior code § 17.32: Ord. 267 § 24)

10.04.340 Exemptions to certain vehicles.

A. The provisions of this title, regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles, shall not apply to any vehicle or the police or fire department, any vehicle of the city department, any public ambulance or any public utility vehicle or any private ambulance, which public utility vehicle, vehicle of a city department 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 of the state 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. (Prior code § 17.33: Ord. 267 § 25)

10.04.350 Report of damage to certain property.

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 in or along any street, shall within twenty-four hours after such accident make a written report of such accident to the police department of the 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 said driver shall make a report as required in subsection A of this section within twenty-four hours after regaining ability to make such report. (Prior code § 17.34: Ord. 267 § 26)

10.04.360 Required obedience to chapter.

It is an infraction for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this title. (Ord. 677 § 1 (part), 1975; prior code § 17.26: Ord. 267 § 20)