Chapter 10.20
TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

10.20.010    Authority to install.

10.20.020    Required for enforcement purposes.

10.20.030    Obedience.

10.20.040    Installation of traffic signals.

10.20.050    Lane marking.

10.20.060    Distinctive roadway markings.

10.20.070    Authority to remove, relocate and discontinue.

10.20.080    Hours of operation.

10.20.090    Unauthorized painting of curbs.

10.20.010 Authority to install.

(a)    The city engineer shall have the power and duty to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained official traffic control devices when and as required to make effective the provisions of this title.

(b)    Whenever the Vehicle Code requires for the effectiveness of any provision thereof that traffic control devices be installed to give notice to the public of the application of such law the city engineer is hereby authorized to install or cause to be installed the necessary devices subject to any limitations or restrictions set forth in the law applicable thereto.

(c)    The city engineer may also place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained such additional traffic control devices as he may deem necessary or proper to regulate traffic or to guide or warn traffic, but he shall make such determination only upon the basis of traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations and in accordance with such standards, limitations, and rules as may be set forth in this title or as may be determined by ordinance or resolution of the council. (Prior code § 13.1(4)).

10.20.020 Required for enforcement purposes.

No provision of the Vehicle Code or of this title for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator unless appropriate legible signs are in place giving notice of such provisions of the traffic laws. (Prior code § 13.1(4.1)).

10.20.030 Obedience.

The operator of any vehicle or train shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device placed in accordance with this title unless otherwise directed by a police officer or other authorized person subject to the exceptions granted the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to emergency calls. (Prior code § 13.1(4.2)).

10.20.040 Installation of traffic signals.

(a)    The city engineer is hereby directed to install and maintain official traffic signals at those intersections and other places where traffic conditions are such as to require that the flow of traffic be alternately interrupted and released in order to prevent or relieve traffic congestion or to protect life or property from exceptional hazard.

(b)    The city engineer shall ascertain and determine the locations where such signals are required by field investigation, traffic counts and other traffic information as may be pertinent and his determinations therefrom shall be made in accordance with those traffic engineering and safety standards and instructions set forth in the California Maintenance Manual issued by the Division of Highways of the State Department of Public Works.

(c)    Whenever the city engineer installs and maintains an official traffic signal at any intersection, he shall likewise erect and maintain at the intersection street name signs visible to the principal flow of traffic unless such street name signs have previously been placed and are maintained at any said intersection. (Prior code § 13.1(4.3)).

10.20.050 Lane marking.

The city engineer is hereby authorized to mark centerlines and lane lines upon the surface of the roadway to indicate the course to be traveled by vehicles and may place signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the centerline of the highway. (Prior code § 13.1(4.4)).

10.20.060 Distinctive roadway markings.

The city engineer is authorized to place and maintain distinctive roadway markings as described in the Vehicle Code on those streets or parts of streets where the volume of traffic or the vertical or other curvature of the roadway renders it hazardous to drive on the left side of such marking or signs and markings. The marking or signs and markings shall have the same effect as similar markings placed by the State Department of Public Works pursuant to provisions of the Vehicle Code. (Prior code § 13.1(4.5)).

10.20.070 Authority to remove, relocate and discontinue.

The city engineer is hereby authorized to remove, relocate or discontinue the operation of any traffic control device not specifically required by the Vehicle Code or this title whenever he shall determine in any particular case that the conditions which warranted or required the installation no longer exist or obtain. (Prior code § 13.1(4.6)).

10.20.080 Hours of operation.

The city engineer shall determine the hours and days during which any traffic control device shall be in operation or be in effect, except in those cases where such hours or days are specified in this title. (Prior code § 13.1(4.7)).

10.20.090 Unauthorized painting of curbs.

No person, unless authorized by this city, shall paint any street or curb surface; provided, however, that this section does not apply to the painting of numbers on a curb surface by any person who has complied with the provisions of any resolution or ordinance of this city pertaining thereto. (Prior code § 13.1(4.8)).