Chapter 10.04
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections:
10.04.020 Traffic regulations—Generally.
10.04.030 Authority of police and fire officers.
10.04.040 Existing signs and signals.
10.04.050 Duty to obey traffic signs and signals.
10.04.060 Vehicles stopping at stop signs.
10.04.070 Stop when traffic obstructed.
10.04.010 Definitions.
In addition to those definitions contained in the chapters of ORS adopted in Section 10.08.010, the following words or phrases, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning, shall mean as follows:
“Bus stand” means a fixed area in the roadway adjacent to the curb to be occupied exclusively by busses for layover in operating schedules or waiting for passengers.
“Curb” means the extreme edge of the roadway.
“Holidays,” where used in this chapter or on signs erected in accordance with this chapter, means Sundays, New Years’ Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, and any other legal holidays designated as such by the statutes of the state of Oregon.
“Loading zone” means a space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials or freight.
“Parkway” means that portion of a street not used as a roadway or a sidewalk.
“Passenger loading zone” means reserved only for the loading or unloading of passengers and their luggage.
“Person” means every natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation.
“Taxicab stand” means a fixed area in the roadway adjacent to the curb set aside for taxicabs to stand or wait for passengers.
“Traffic lane” means that portion of the roadway used for the movement of a single line of vehicle. (Ord. 737 § 2, 1987: Ord. 333 § 2, 1967)
10.04.020 Traffic regulations—Generally.
A. In making the best use of streets and sidewalks for vehicle traffic and parking and pedestrian traffic, the city manager is authorized to provide appropriate and reasonable regulation of the classes of traffic signs, signals, markings and devices described in subsection B of this section for the streets, sidewalks and other public property of the city as are found appropriate for public safety, convenience and welfare. Subject to approval by the State Highway Commission where such approval is required by the Motor Vehicle Laws of the state of Oregon, the city manager shall base his determinations only upon:
1. Traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations;
2. Standards, limitations and rules promulgated by the State Highway Commission; and
3. Other recognized traffic control standards.
B. Pursuant to subsection A of this section, the city manager may establish, maintain, remove or alter the following classes of traffic controls:
1. Street areas and city-owned or leased land upon which parking may be entirely prohibited, prohibited during certain hours or otherwise regulated, and the angle of such parking;
2. Parking meters within the zone provided for parking meters;
3. The location and the time of operation of traffic control signals;
4. Sub stands, taxicab stands and stands for other passenger common carrier vehicles;
5. The location of passenger loading zones for use in connection with a hotel, auditorium, theater, church, school or public building;
6. Loading zones for commercial purposes;
7. Intersections or areas where drivers of vehicles shall not make right, left or U-turns and the time when the prohibition applies;
8. Play streets, or such hours when certain streets may be used as such, on which no person shall drive a vehicle upon such street or portion thereof except drivers of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area, and then such driver shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon such street;
9. Crosswalks, safety zones, parking spaces, traffic lanes and other symbols;
10. Traffic control signs;
11. All other signs, signals, markings and devices required to implement traffic and parking controls enacted by the council or required by state law or regulation.
C. Pursuant to subsection A of this section, the city manager may provide for experimental or emergency traffic regulation of a temporary nature that shall not remain in effect more than thirty (30) days. No experimental or emergency regulation is effective until adequate traffic signs, signals, markings or devices are erected clearly indicating the regulation.
D. The city manager shall maintain a current record of all action taken by the city council and by the city manager under this section.
E. The city manager shall not remove or alter a traffic sign, signal, marking or device if his act would be contrary to state law or this section. If a traffic sign, signal, marking or device is installed under authority of a resolution of the city council, the city council shall first approve any change or alteration by the city manager.
F. The city manager shall cause the removal or trimming of all trees, shrubs, articles and other objects in or upon the space between the property line and the abutting street, including parking strips where the same obstructs driver or pedestrian vision, or which otherwise obstructs safe passage and constitutes a hazard. A parking strip is that space between the sidewalk and the curb or curbline of all dedicated streets.
If the city manager determines that there is violation hereof, he shall notify the abutting property owner to remove the same within ten days from the giving of such notice. In the event such abutting property owner fails and refuses to remove the hazard, the city manager shall cause such tree, shrub, article and other object to be removed. (Ord. 807 § 1, 1992; Ord. 333 § 4, 1967)
10.04.030 Authority of police and fire officers.
A. It is the duty of the police department through its officers to enforce the provisions of this section relating to traffic control.
B. In the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department may direct traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of this section.
C. When at the scene of a fire, members of the fire department may direct or assist the police in directing traffic. (Ord. 333 § 5, 1967)
10.04.040 Existing signs and signals.
All official traffic signs and signals existing at the time of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this title, such as stop signs, caution signs, slow signs, no-reverse-turn signs, signs designating time limits for parking or prohibiting parking, line painted or marked on street or curb designating parking areas or spaces, markers designating loading zones, parking meters, and all other official traffic signs or signals erected, installed or painted for the purpose of directing, controlling and regulating traffic are approved. (Ord. 333 § 6, 1967)
10.04.050 Duty to obey traffic signs and signals.
A. Drivers of motor vehicles and pedestrians shall obey the instructions of every traffic sign, signal, marker, barrier or parking meter placed in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Laws of the state of Oregon or this section, including those erected by any authorized public utility and department of this city or other authorized person, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or when otherwise directed by a police officer.
B. No unauthorized person may move, remove or alter the position of, or deface or tamper with any such sign, signal, marker, barrier or parking meter. (Ord. 333 § 7, 1967)
10.04.060 Vehicles stopping at stop signs.
When stop signs are erected at or near the entrance to any crosswalk, intersection or railroad crossing, a driver of a vehicle approaching such sign shall stop before entering any crosswalk, intersection or railroad crossing except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic control signal. (Ord. 333 § 8, 1967)
10.04.070 Stop when traffic obstructed.
No driver may enter an intersection or marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the opposite side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed. (Ord. 333 § 9, 1967)
10.04.080 Unlawful marking.
Except as provided by this title, no person may letter, mark or paint in any manner any letters, marks or signs on any sidewalk, curb or other portion of any street, or post anything designed or intended to prohibit or restrict parking on any street. (Ord. 333 § 10, 1967)
10.04.090 Emergency vehicle.
The sections of this title regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall apply to authorized emergency vehicles except as provided by the Motor Vehicle Laws of the state of Oregon and shall apply as follows:
A. A driver when operating such vehicle in an emergency except when otherwise directed by a police officer or other authorized person, may park or stand notwithstanding the provisions of this title.
B. A driver of a police or fire department vehicle when operating such vehicle in an emergency may disregard regulations governing turning in specified directions as long as he does not endanger life or property.
C. The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of his reckless disregard of the safety of others. (Ord. 333 § 65, 1967)