Chapter 16.20
TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES
Sections:
16.20.010 Installation authority.
16.20.030 Required for enforcement.
16.20.040 Presumption of legality.
16.20.050 Display of unauthorized prohibited.
16.20.060 Unauthorized destruction, alteration or removal prohibited.
16.20.070 Play streets – Establishment authority.
16.20.080 Play streets – Driving restrictions.
16.20.090 Establishment of crosswalks, safety zones.
16.20.100 Marking of traffic lanes.
16.20.010 Installation authority.
The police chief shall place and maintain traffic control signs, signals, and devices when and as required under city traffic ordinances to make effective the provisions of these ordinances, and may place and maintain such additional traffic control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic under city traffic ordinances or under state law, or to guide or warn traffic. (Ord. 597 § 1, 1969; Ord. 505 § 13, 1964).
16.20.020 Design.
All traffic control signals, signs and traffic control devices to be erected or maintained upon any city street designated as forming a part of the route of a primary state highway or secondary state highway must be approved by the state highway commission prior to their installation; provided, however, in cities having a population in excess of $15,000 according to the latest federal census, traffic control signals, signs, and traffic control devices are subject to approval of the State Highway Commission for installation and type only. All signs and signals required hereunder for a particular purpose shall, so far as practicable, be uniform as to type and location throughout the city. All traffic control devices so erected and not inconsistent with the provisions of state law or this chapter shall be official traffic control devices. (Ord. 505 § 14, 1964).
16.20.030 Required for enforcement.
No provision of this title for which official traffic control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that signs are required, such section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place. (Ord. 505 § 15, 1964).
16.20.040 Presumption of legality.
(a) Whenever official traffic control devices are placed in position approximately conforming to the requirements of this chapter, such devices shall be presumed to have been so placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.
(b) Any official traffic control device placed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and purporting to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such devices shall be presumed to comply with the requirements of this chapter, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence. (Ord. 505 § 15.1, 1964).
16.20.050 Display of unauthorized prohibited.
(a) No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal.
(b) No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
(c) Every such prohibited sign, signal, or marking is declared to be a public nuisance and the authority having jurisdiction over the highway is empowered to remove it or cause it to be removed without notice. (Ord. 505 § 16, 1964).
16.20.060 Unauthorized destruction, alteration or removal prohibited.
No person shall without lawful authority attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof. (Ord. 505 § 17, 1964).
16.20.070 Play streets – Establishment authority.
The police chief shall have authority to declare any street or part thereof a play street and to place appropriate signs or devices in the roadway indicating and helping to protect the same. (Ord. 597 § 1, 1969; Ord. 505 § 18, 1964).
16.20.080 Play streets – Driving restrictions.
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating any street or part thereof as a play street, no person shall drive a vehicle upon any such street or portion thereof except operators of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area, and then any such operator shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any such street or portion thereof. (Ord. 505 § 19, 1964).
16.20.090 Establishment of crosswalks, safety zones.
The police chief is authorized to:
(a) Designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks, or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where in his opinion there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at such other places as he may deem necessary;
(b) Establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians. (Ord. 597 § 1, 1969; Ord. 505 § 20, 1964).
16.20.100 Marking of traffic lanes.
(a) The police chief is authorized to mark traffic lanes upon the roadway of any street or highway where a regular alignment of traffic is necessary.
(b) Where such traffic lanes have been marked, it is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to fail or refuse to keep such vehicle within the boundaries of any such lane except when lawfully passing another vehicle or preparatory to making a lawful turning movement. (Ord. 597 § 1, 1969; Ord. 505 § 21, 1964).