Chapter 10.30
BICYCLE REGISTRATION AND REGULATIONS

Sections:

10.30.010    Bicycle defined.

10.30.020    Retail sale information.

10.30.030    License--Required.

10.30.040    License--Application--Fee--Record.

10.30.050    License--Duration.

10.30.060    License plate--Issuance--Attachment.

10.30.070    License--Bicycle inspection prerequisite.

10.30.080    License--Transfer upon sale of bicycle.

10.30.090    Bicycle frame--License or plate--Mutilation unlawful.

10.30.100    License or license plate loss or destruction--Destruction of bicycle.

10.30.110    Bicycle rental--License required.

10.30.120    Impoundment of bicycles in possession of persons other than licensed owner--Release.

10.30.130    Equipment.

10.30.140    Operation of a bicycle or skateboard.

10.30.150    Parking.

10.30.160    Violation--Penalties.

10.30.010 Bicycle defined.

For the purpose of this chapter, the word “bicycle” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in the Vehicle Code, as the same exists or may be amended hereafter.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.020 Retail sale information.

Each bicycle retailer within the city shall supply to each purchaser, and the city, a record of the following information:

A.    Name and address of the retailer;

B.    Year, make, serial number and general description of the bicycle;

C.    Name and address of the purchaser.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.030 License--Required.

It is unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle on any street, road, highway or other public property within the city unless it has been licensed and a current license plate is attached thereto, as provided in this chapter, or unless it has been licensed by, and bears a current license plate from, another jurisdiction.  The chief of police may issue a license and a license plate as provided in this chapter for a bicycle owned by any nonresident of the city who applies therefor, when in the opinion of the chief such action would further the objectives sought to be achieved by this chapter.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.040 License--Application--Fee--Record.

Except as otherwise specified in this chapter, the chief of police is authorized to issue bicycle licenses upon application therefor and payment of the license fee fixed by resolution of the city council.  The chief shall not issue a license for any bicycle when he knows, or has reasonable grounds to believe, that the applicant is not the owner of, nor entitled to the possession of the bicycle.  The chief shall keep a record of the number of each license, the date issued, the name and address of the person to whom issued, and the serial number, make, type and model of the bicycle for which issued.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.050 License--Duration.

Each bicycle license issued shall continue in effect for three years from and after the date upon which the license is issued.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.060 License plate--Issuance--Attachment.

Upon issuance of a bicycle license, the chief of police shall also issue a license plate bearing the license number assigned to the bicycle.  The chief shall cause the license plate to be firmly attached to the rear mudguard or frame of the bicycle to which issued.  No person shall remove a license plate from a bicycle except on transfer of ownership or in the event the bicycle is dismantled and no longer operated in the city.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.070 License--Bicycle inspection prerequisite.

The chief of police shall inspect each bicycle before licensing it, and shall refuse to issue a license for any bicycle which he determines is in an unsafe mechanical condition.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.080 License--Transfer upon sale of bicycle.

A.    Upon the sale or other transfer of ownership of a licensed bicycle, the licensee shall, within ten days, give notice to the chief of police that such a transfer of ownership has occurred.  The notice shall include the name and address of the person to whom the bicycle was sold or transferred.

B.    Any person who purchases or otherwise acquires possession of a bicycle shall, within ten days of taking possession, apply for the transfer of the license to his name.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.090 Bicycle frame--License or plate--Mutilation unlawful.

It is unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the number of any bicycle frame license pursuant to this chapter.  It is also unlawful for any person to remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any license or license plate during the time in which such license or license plate is in effect.  Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the police department from stamping numbers on the frames of bicycles on which no serial number can be found, or on which the number is illegible or insufficient for identification purposes.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.100 License or license plate loss or destruction--Destruction of bicycle.

In the event of the loss, destruction or mutilation of a license or license plate, the licensee shall report this fact to the chief of police who shall thereupon cancel the license and issue a new license and license plate, upon payment of the fee fixed for this purpose by resolution of the city council.  If a bicycle for which a license and license plate have been issued is destroyed or damaged beyond repair, the licensee shall return the license and the license plate, if possible, to the chief of police who shall cancel them.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.110 Bicycle rental--License required.

Every person engaged in the business of renting bicycles shall not rent or offer any bicycle for rent unless the bicycle is licensed and a license plate is attached thereto, and the bicycle is equipped as required in this chapter.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.120 Impoundment of bicycles in possession of persons other than licensed owner--Release.

The police department may impound any bicycle found in the possession of a person other than the licensed owner of the bicycle without permission of the licensed owner of the bicycle.  If the license for a bicycle was issued by a city other than the city of Half Moon Bay, the police department shall communicate with the appropriate enforcement officers of the city whose license the bicycle bears, and advise the officers in question that the police department is holding the bicycle.  The police department shall release the bicycle to the appropriate enforcement officer of the city which has licensed it, or to the licensed owner of the bicycle.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.130 Equipment.

Every bicycle operated or used within the city shall be equipped as required by the California Vehicle Code.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.140 Operation of a bicycle or skateboard.

A.    The operator of a bicycle shall obey all vehicular traffic control devices and the applicable laws under the Vehicle Code of the state of California.

B.    No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk or pedestrian walkway or pedestrian mall.

C.    No person shall operate a skateboard on any sidewalk, public plaza, walkway or pedestrian mall in any commercially zoned district in the city.

D.    Where any provision of this section has been violated by a minor, then in lieu of criminal proceedings the chief of police may prohibit the operation of a bicycle or skateboard by said minor, in the city for a period of time not to exceed thirty days and in such an event the chief of police may impound a bicycle or skateboard used in any such violation for a period of time not to exceed thirty days.  (Ord. 10-83 §2, 1984).

10.30.150 Parking.

No person shall park, or allow to remain parked, any bicycle in the following places:

A.    Upon any public street or roadway, other than in such a manner that some portion of the bicycle touches the curb, and so as to afford the least obstruction to vehicular traffic; or

B.    Upon any public sidewalk, except in any bicycle rack, or against a building, or by means of a stand to maintain the bicycle in a vertical position, or at a curb, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).

10.30.160 Violation--Penalties.

A.    Any violation of the requirements of licensing imposed in this chapter shall result in a fine not to exceed five dollars, as provided by Vehicle Code §39011.

B.    Any violation of this chapter relating to operation of a bicycle shall result in a fine in an amount as provided by §42001 of the California Vehicle Code.  (Ord. 11-75 §1(part), 1975).