Chapter 10.32
TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES
AND SIGNALS
Sections:
10.32.010 Installation authority.
10.32.030 Enforcement provisions.
10.32.040 Official traffic-control devices – Presumption of legality.
10.32.050 Unauthorized sign, signal or marking display.
10.32.060 Interference with official traffic-control devices or railroad signs or signals.
10.32.070 Authority to establish play streets.
10.32.090 Crosswalks and safety zones.
10.32.010 Installation authority.
The city manager shall have the authority to designate and maintain traffic-control signs, signals and devices when and as required under the traffic ordinances of this city to make effective the provisions of said ordinances, and may place and maintain such additional traffic-control devices as he/she may deem necessary to regulate traffic under the traffic ordinances of this city or under state law, or to guide or warn traffic. All traffic-control devices shall meet the requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD). (Ord. 2624 § 1, 1999; Ord. 1522 § 13, 1968).
10.32.020 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 the state law or this title shall be official traffic-control devices. (Ord. 1522 § 14, 1963).
10.32.030 Enforcement provisions.
No provisions 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. 1522 § 15, 1968).
10.32.040 Official traffic-control devices – Presumption of legality.
(1) Whenever official traffic-control devices are placed in position approximately conforming to the requirements of this title, such devices shall be presumed to have been so placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority, unless the contrary is established by competent evidence.
(2) Any official traffic-control device placed pursuant to the provisions of this title and purporting to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such devices shall be presumed to comply with the requirements of this title, unless the contrary is established by competent evidence. (Ord. 1522 § 15.1, 1968).
10.32.050 Unauthorized sign, signal or marking display.
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) This section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to highways of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.
(4) Every such prohibited sign, signal, or marking is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and the authority having jurisdiction over the highway is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice. (Ord. 1522 § 16, 1968).
10.32.060 Interference with official traffic-control devices or railroad signs or signals.
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. 1522 § 17, 1968).
10.32.070 Authority to establish play streets.
The city manager 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. 1522 § 18, 1968).
10.32.080 Play streets.
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 said operator shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any such street or portion thereof. (Ord. 1522 § 19, 1968).
10.32.090 Crosswalks and safety zones.
The city manager is hereby authorized:
(1) To 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;
(2) To establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians. (Ord. 1522 § 20, 1968).
10.32.100 Traffic lanes.
(1) The city manager is hereby authorized to mark traffic lanes upon the roadway of any street or highway where a regular alignment of traffic is necessary.
(2) Where such traffic lanes have been marked, it is unlawful for the driver 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. 1522 § 21, 1968).