Chapter 10.12 - Traffic Direction and Enforcement#

10.12.010 - Fire and police personnel may direct traffic.#

Officers of the police department and such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, audible or other signal in conformance with traffic laws; except, that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or pedestrians, officers of the police department or members of the fire department may direct traffic as conditions require, notwithstanding provisions to the contrary contained in this division or the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 344B §3, 1978)

10.12.020 - Unauthorized traffic direction.#

No persons other than an officer of the police department or a person authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal, except that persons may operate, when and as provided in this chapter, any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the city traffic engineer.

(Ord. 344B §3.1, 1978)

10.12.030 - Obedience to authorized traffic directors.#

No person shall fail or refuse to comply with, or perform any act forbidden by any lawful order, signal or direction of a traffic or police officer, a member of the fire department, or a person authorized by the chief of police or other lawful authority.

(Ord. 344B §3.2, 1978)

10.12.040 - Interference or obstruction of enforcement.#

No person shall interfere with or obstruct in any way any police officer or other officer or employee of this city in their enforcement of the provisions of this division. The removal, obliteration or concealment of any chalk mark or other distinguishing mark used by any police officer or other employee of this city in connection with the enforcement of the parking regulations of this division shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provisions of this division, constitute such interference or obstruction.

(Ord. 344B §3.3, 1978)

10.12.050 - Applicability to public vehicles and servants.#

The provisions of this division shall apply to the operator of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, any county or city, and it is unlawful for any such operator to violate any of the provisions of this division or the Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 344B §3.4, 1978)

10.12.060 - Emergency and other exempted vehicles.#

(a) The provisions of this ordinance regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to vehicles operated by the police or fire department, any public utility vehicle, or any private or public ambulance, which public utility vehicle or ambulance has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle, when any vehicle mentioned in this subsection is operated in the manner specified by the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.

(b) The exemptions set out in subsection (a) of this section shall not, however, relieve the operator of any such vehicle from the obligation to exercise due care for the safety of others or the consequences of his willful disregard for the safety of others.

(c) The provisions of this division regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of a city department or public utility while necessarily in use for construction or repair work, or any vehicle owned or operated by the United States Postal Service while in use for the collection, transportation or delivery of the United States Mail.

(Ord. 344B §3.5, 1978)

10.12.070 - Removal of standing vehicles authorized.#

Any regularly employed and salaried officer of the police department may remove or cause to be removed:

(1) Any vehicle that has been parked or left standing upon a street or highway for 72 or more consecutive hours;

(2) Any vehicle which is parked or left standing upon a street or highway where the use of such street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for cleaning, repair or construction of the street or highway or for the installation of underground utilities, or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is authorized for a purpose other than the normal flow of traffic, or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is necessary for the movement of equipment, articles or structures of unusual size, and the parking of such vehicle would prohibit or interfere with such use or movement, provided that signs giving notice of such restrictions are erected or placed at least 24 hours prior to the removal.

(Ord. 344B §3.6, 1978)