Chapter 7.15
VEHICLE SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Sections:
7.15.010 Vehicle safety equipment – Generally.
7.15.020 Required safety equipment.
7.15.030 Vehicles to be equipped with tires – Safe condition defined.
7.15.040 Multiple-beam headlights.
7.15.050 Use of multiple-beam headlights.
7.15.070 Times when headlights, tail lights are required to be on.
7.15.090 Body and load projections.
7.15.100 Flags on projecting load.
7.15.110 Safety belts – Use required.
7.15.120 Child passenger restraints required.
7.15.130 Motorcycle safety equipment.
7.15.140 Motorcycle – Headlight and tail light to be on.
7.15.150 Motorcycles – Exhaust system.
7.15.160 Motorcycles – Eye protection.
7.15.170 Motorcycles – Helmet required.
7.15.180 Moving vehicle in unsafe condition.
7.15.010 Vehicle safety equipment – Generally.
It is a civil traffic infraction for any person to fail to comply with any provision set forth in this chapter. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.010.]
7.15.020 Required safety equipment.
No person shall drive any vehicle on a roadway that does not have the following safety equipment in proper condition and adjustment:
A. Bumpers. Every motor vehicle that was originally equipped with bumpers shall maintain them in good condition and shall not remove them except temporarily for repairs.
B. Headlights. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two headlights in proper working condition and alignment, at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle.
C. Horns. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a horn in good working order.
D. Muffler. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a muffler in good working order to prevent excessive or unusual noise.
E. Parking Brakes. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with parking brakes adequate to hold the vehicle on any grade on which it is operated.
F. Reflectors. Every motor vehicle shall carry on the rear at least two red reflectors. Every reflector shall be of such size and so mounted as to be clearly visible at night within 600 feet, when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps.
G. Service Brakes. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with service brakes maintained in good working order and adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle on any grade incident to its operation.
H. Stop Lamps. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two stop lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall clearly display a red or amber light and which shall be visible upon application of the service brakes.
I. Tail Lights. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two tail lights mounted on the rear which shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear of the vehicle.
J. Windshield. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a front windshield in such condition as to permit the driver a clear view.
K. Windshield Wipers. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with windshield wipers, maintained in good working order.
L. Mirrors. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a mirror mounted on the left side of the vehicle and so located to reflect to the driver a view of the roadway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle.
Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with an additional mirror mounted either inside the vehicle approximately in the center or outside the vehicle on the right side and so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the roadway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle.
All mirrors required by this section shall be maintained in good condition. [Res. 2016-17; Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.020.]
7.15.030 Vehicles to be equipped with tires – Safe condition defined.
Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with tires in safe operating condition. A tire shall be considered to be unsafe if it has:
A. Any ply or cord exposed either to the naked eye or when cuts or abrasions on the tire are probed; or
B. Any bump, bulge or knot affecting the tire structure; or
C. Any break repaired with a boot; or
D. A tread depth of less than two-thirty-seconds of an inch measured in two major tread grooves at three locations equally spaced around the tire; or
E. Any condition that reasonably demonstrates that the tire is unsafe; or
F. Markings on the tire specifying that the tire is not intended for use on a roadway, such as “for racing purposes only”; or
G. Tread wear indicators that contact the roadway in any two major tread grooves at three locations equally spaced around the tire. [Res. 2016-17; Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.030.]
7.15.040 Multiple-beam headlights.
The headlights of all motor vehicles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between high and low beams of lights. The high beams shall be so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of 450 feet ahead. The low beams shall be so aimed and of such intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of 150 feet ahead. On a straight level roadway none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.040.]
7.15.050 Use of multiple-beam headlights.
Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway during the time specified in CTC 7.15.070, the driver shall use a beam sufficient to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to these requirements.
A. Whenever a driver of a motor vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, such driver shall use low beams.
B. Whenever a driver of a motor vehicle approaches another vehicle from the rear within 300 feet, such driver shall use low beams. [Res. 2016-17; Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.050.]
7.15.060 Spot lamps.
Whenever a motor vehicle is equipped with spot lamps or other auxiliary lamps, such lamps shall not be of such intensity and adjustment as to strike the eyes of an approaching driver. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.060.]
7.15.070 Times when headlights, tail lights are required to be on.
No person shall drive or move any vehicle on a roadway without headlights and tail lights turned on, from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and anytime weather conditions diminish a driver’s clear view. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.070.]
7.15.080 Wheel projections.
No vehicle shall be equipped with wheel nuts, hub caps, or wheel disks which project outside the body of the vehicle in a manner constituting a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.080.]
7.15.090 Body and load projections.
The body, fenders, and bumpers of all vehicles shall be maintained without protrusions which could be hazardous to pedestrians and cyclists. No person shall operate or move any vehicle on a roadway with any load which extends beyond the line of the fenders on the left side of the vehicle nor extending more than six inches beyond the line of the fenders on the right side thereof. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.090.]
7.15.100 Flags on projecting load.
No person shall drive or move any vehicle on a roadway when the vehicle has a load that extends beyond its sides or that extends to the rear four or more feet beyond the body or bed of the vehicle, without red signal flags, at least 12 inches square, marking the extremities. During hours of darkness such extremities shall be marked with a red light plainly visible from a distance of at least 500 feet from the sides and rear. This light shall be in addition to the red tail lights required on every vehicle. [Res. 2016-17; Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.100.]
7.15.110 Safety belts – Use required.
A. Every person 16 years of age or older operating or riding in a motor vehicle shall wear the safety belt assembly in a properly adjusted and securely fastened manner.
B. No person may operate a motor vehicle unless all passengers under the age of 16 years are either wearing a safety belt assembly or are securely fastened into an approved child restraint device. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.110.]
7.15.120 Child passenger restraints required.
A. The parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of three years shall have the child properly secured in a Federally approved child safety seat when the child is a passenger in a vehicle owned and operated by the parent or legal guardian.
B. The parent or legal guardian of a child age three years or four years shall have the child properly secured in a Federally approved child safety seat or seat belt when the child is a passenger in a vehicle owned and operated by the parent or legal guardian. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.120.]
7.15.130 Motorcycle safety equipment.
No person shall drive or move any motorcycle which does not have the following safety equipment in proper condition and adjustment:
A. Brakes. Every motorcycle shall be equipped with service brakes in safe, working order and that operate on the front and rear wheels.
B. Headlights. Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one headlight in good working order.
C. Reflector. Every motorcycle shall carry on the rear, either as part of the tail light or separately, at least one red reflector.
D. Stop Lamps. Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one stop lamp that shall clearly display a red or amber light and that shall be visible upon application of the service brake.
E. Tail Lights. Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one tail light in good working order. [Res. 2016-17; Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.130.]
7.15.140 Motorcycle – Headlight and tail light to be on.
Every motorcycle shall have its headlight and tail light on whenever such vehicle is in motion on any roadway. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.140.]
7.15.150 Motorcycles – Exhaust system.
No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motorcycle in a manner, or fail to maintain the exhaust system, so as to amplify or increase the noise above the level emitted by the muffler originally installed on the motorcycle. [Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.150.]
7.15.160 Motorcycles – Eye protection.
No person under 18 years of age shall drive or ride as a passenger on any motorcycle on any roadway without wearing glasses or goggles or a face shield in a manner that actually protects the eyes. [Res. 2016-17; Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.160.]
7.15.170 Motorcycles – Helmet required.
No person under 18 years of age shall drive or ride as a passenger on any motorcycle on any roadway without wearing a protective helmet that meets either current Snell safety standards or U.S. Department of Transportation standards. [Res. 2016-17; Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.170.]
7.15.180 Moving vehicle in unsafe condition.
It is a civil traffic infraction to drive or move any vehicle that is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property. [Res. 2016-17; Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.180.]
7.15.190 Bicycle equipment.
Every bicycle when in use during the hours of darkness as defined under CTC 7.15.070 shall be equipped with a lamp or reflector on the front that shall emit or reflect white light and with a red reflector on the rear. [Res. 2016-17; Res. 2011-020; Res. 2006-63; GC vote 3/7/1989. Prior code § 4.1.4.190.]