Chapter 10.01
TRAFFIC, GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections:
10.01.020 Obedience to police.
10.01.030 Signs, obedience to.
10.01.040 Display of unauthorized signs prohibited.
10.01.050 Establishment of crosswalks.
10.01.060 Police and fire vehicles exempt.
10.01.010 Definitions.
Whenever in this title the following terms are used, they shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
“Business district” means the territory contiguous to a street when 50 percent or more of the frontage thereon for a distance of 300 feet or more is occupied by buildings in use for retail or wholesale business; also any territory contiguous to a street which is immediately adjacent to a continuation of a street within a business district when such territory is so designated by the Chief of Police.
“Crosswalk” means that portion of the roadway included within the prolongation of the curb and property lines at street intersections.
“Intersection” means the area embraced within the prolongation of the property lines of two or more streets which join at an angle, whether or not one such street crosses the other.
“Loading zone” means that space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
“Official warnings, direction signs and signals” means all warnings, direction signs and signals not inconsistent with this title heretofore or hereafter placed or erected under this title or by authority of the City Council.
“Operator” means any person who is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
“Park” means to stand a vehicle for a period of time greater than is reasonably necessary for the actual loading of persons or materials.
“Pedestrian” means any person afoot.
“Right-of-way” means the privilege of immediate use of the street.
“Roadway” means that portion of a street between the regularly established curb lines.
“Safety zone” means that marked portion of the roadway reserved for the exclusive use of pedestrians.
“Sidewalk” means that portion of a street between the curb lines and the adjacent property lines.
“Street” means every way set apart for public travel except alleyways, bridle paths and footpaths.
“Vehicle” means any device or animal by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a street, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon rails. For the purpose of this title, a bicycle shall be deemed a vehicle. (Ord. 2009-9 § 1, 9-8-2009)
10.01.020 Obedience to police.
Officers of the Police Department are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by means of visible or audible signal, and it shall be unlawful for any person to refuse or fail to comply with any lawful order, signal or direction of a traffic or police officer. It shall be unlawful for any minor to direct or attempt to direct traffic unless authorized to do so by order of the Chief of Police. (Ord. 2009-9 § 1, 9-8-2009)
10.01.030 Signs, obedience to.
A. The City Council shall, by resolution, determine and designate the character of all official warning and direction signs and signals. Subject to this section, the Chief of Police is hereby authorized and, as to those signs required hereunder, it shall be his duty to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained all official warning and direction signs and signals. All signs authorized and required hereunder for a particular purpose shall be uniform.
B. No provision of this title for which signs are required shall be enforceable against the alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation the sign herein required is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person.
C. It shall be unlawful for any operator or pedestrian to disobey the instructions of any mechanical or electrical traffic signal, traffic sign or marks upon the street placed in accordance with the provisions of this title, provided every sign or mark by use of paint upon the curb shall bear thereon the official emblem of the Police Department.
D. No public utility or department in the City shall erect or place any barrier or sign unless of a type first approved by the Chief of Police. It shall be unlawful for any operator or pedestrian to disobey the instructions of any barrier or sign approved, as above provided, erected or placed by a public utility or any department of the City. (Ord. 2009-9 § 1, 9-8-2009)
10.01.040 Display of unauthorized signs prohibited.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, maintain or display any device, other than an official warning or direction sign or signal erected under competent authority, upon or in view of a street, which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official warning or direction sign or signal or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or the actions of operators, and any such prohibited device shall be a public nuisance and the Chief of Police may remove it, or cause it to be removed, without notice.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully deface, injure, move or interfere with any official warning or direction sign or signal. (Ord. 2009-9 § 1, 9-8-2009)
10.01.050 Establishment of crosswalks.
The Chief of Police is hereby authorized and required to establish, maintain and to designate upon the surface of the roadway, by appropriate devices, marks or white lines, crosswalks approximately equal in width to the adjacent sidewalks at all intersections where in his opinion there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway. (Ord. 2009-9 § 1, 9-8-2009)
10.01.060 Police and fire vehicles exempt.
The provisions of this title regulating the movement, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to emergency vehicles of the Police or Sheriff’s Office or of the Fire Department or of a public utility while the driver of any such vehicle is engaged in the necessary performance of public emergency duties. (Ord. 2009-9 § 1, 9-8-2009; Ord. 108, 8-12-1930)
10.01.070 Penalty.
Any person violating any provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an administrative violation. (Ord. 2009-9 § 1, 9-8-2009; Ord. 77-22, 5-24-1977)