The following definitions pertain to terms utilized in this chapter, in order to provide clarity and consistency.
ABANDONED VEHICLE. Any vehicle which reasonably appears to have been left derelict by its driver or owner on either public or private property.
ALLEY. Any highway having a roadway not exceeding 25 feet in width which is primarily used for access to the rear or side entrances of abutting property.
APPROVED PARKING SURFACE. Any concrete, cement, asphalt, brick or surface specifically designed for vehicular travel or parking, or otherwise approved by the City Community Development Department. An approved parking surface must be contiguous from the street or driveway to the end of the approved parking surface.
BUS. Any vehicle, as defined in Section 233 of the California Vehicle.
CODE. The Code of Indio.
COMMERCIAL TRAILER. Any auxiliary dolly, pole or pipe dolly, semitrailer, tow dolly, trailer coach or trailer bus.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE. Any vehicle as defined in Section 260 of the California Vehicle Code, including, but not limited to, a motor truck, truck tractor, bus, water tender vehicle or any other commercial types of vehicles. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES do not include passenger vehicles, house cars, pickup trucks, or vanpool vehicles.
COURT. The Indio Branch of the Riverside Superior Court.
DRIVEWAY. Concrete, asphalt, or other approved parking surface used for the parking of vehicles located between a street and the end of the approved parking surface.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL. Any employee or agent duly authorized by the Chief of Police to enforce traffic or parking laws included in the California Vehicle Code and Code of Indio.
GOLF CART. A motor vehicle having not less than three wheels in contact with the ground, having an unladen weight less than 1,300 pounds, which is designed to be and is operated at not more than 15 miles per hour and designed to carry golf equipment and not more than two persons including the driver.
HIGHWAY. A way or place of whatever nature publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. HIGHWAY includes street. "Public property" does not include HIGHWAY.
HOA. Homeowners Association is a common interest development or holding for the purpose of maintaining commonly owned real estate and improvements.
HOUSE CAR. A motor vehicle originally designed, or permanently altered, and equipped for human habitation, or to which a camper has been permanently attached. A motor vehicle to which a camper has been temporarily attached is not a house car for purposes of this chapter. A HOUSE CAR shall not be deemed to be a motor truck.
INOPERATIVE VEHICLE. Any vehicle, which (1) has one or more flat tires, (2) will not start or cannot be driven due to mechanical problems, (3) cannot be operated safely or legally on the street, or (4) is prohibited from being operated on a public street or highway pursuant to Sections 4000, 5202, 24002 or 40001 of the California Vehicle Code, concerning license plates, registration, equipment, safety or related matters.
MOTOR TRUCK. A motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
MOTORCYCLE. Any motor vehicle, as defined in Section 400 of the California Vehicle Code.
PARK or PARKING. The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, with the sole exception of a temporary stop with the purpose loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
PARKING LOT. Any dedicated paved surface primarily used for the parking of vehicles and trailers usually associated with commercial, industrial or multi-family residential establishments.
PASSENGER VEHICLE. Any motor vehicle, other than a motor truck, truck tractor, or a bus, as defined in this chapter, and used or maintained for the transportation of persons. The term PASSENGER VEHICLE shall include a house car.
PICKUP TRUCK. A motor truck with a manufactures gross vehicle weight rating of less than 11,500 pounds, an unladen weight of less than 8,001 pounds, and which is equipped with an open box-type bed not exceeding nine feet in length. PICKUP TRUCK does not include a motor vehicle otherwise meeting the above definition that is equipped with a bed mounted storage compartment unit commonly called a "utility body."
PRIVATE ROAD. A portion of road in private ownership, including driveways and HOA roads, used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner but not by other members of the public.
ROADWAY. That portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
RUNNER. A continuous pathway, constructed of concrete, cement, asphalt or brick and situated where a vehicle's tires travel, between a street and an approved parking surface.
SEMITRAILER. A vehicle designed for carrying persons or property, used in conjunction with a motor vehicle, and so constructed that some part of its weight and that if its load rests upon, or is carried by, another vehicle.
STOP OR STOPPING. Any cessation of vehicular movement, whether the vehicle in question is occupied or not.
STORAGE. The keeping, leaving, displaying, or maintaining of goods including but not limited to motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts and equipment.
STREET. A way or place of whatever nature publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for the purposes of vehicular travel. STREET includes highway.
TRAILER. A vehicle designed for carrying persons or property on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon any other vehicle.
TRUCK TRACTOR. A motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load, other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and the load so drawn. As used in this section, "load" does not include items carried on the truck tractor in conjunction with the operation of the vehicle if the load carrying space for these items does not exceed 34 square feet.
VACANT LOT. Any parcel of land, developed or otherwise, which does not contain a building, approved parking lot or approved parking surface.
VEHICLE. A device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, except for a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. For the purpose of this chapter, VEHICLE includes, but is not limited to, any bus, camper, golf cart, house car, motorcycle, motor truck, passenger vehicle, pickup truck, trailers and truck tractors.
VEHICLE CODE. The California Vehicle Code.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN). The motor number, serial number, or other distinguishing number, letter, mark, character, or datum, or any combination thereof, required or employed by the manufacturer or the department for the purpose of uniquely identifying a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part or for the purpose of registration.
(Ord. 1561, passed 6-17-2009)