A. The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall for the purpose of this chapter have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this article.
B. Whenever any words and phrases used in this title are not defined in this title but are defined in the Vehicle Code of the state of California and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply.
“Bicycle” means any device upon which a person may ride which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains or gears, having one or more wheels. “Bike” shall mean the same as “Bicycle.”
“Bicycle lane” means that portion of the roadway which has been separated from any vehicular lanes by a solid white line or other marking on the pavement or defined for bike riders by appropriate signs.
“Bicycle path or bicycle trail” means a path that provides a completely separated right-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with crossflows by motorists minimized.
“Bicycle route” means a suggested route of travel for bicycle riders. A “bicycle route” may offer no physical protection to the bike rider and is normally defined for the bicycle rider only by a sign indicating “bike route,” which defines a suggested route element of a bicycle system and provides a certain awareness for the motorist that bicycle riders are sharing the roadway.
“City” means the city of Murrieta, California.
“Coach” means any motor bus, motor coach, or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers.
“Commercial vehicle” means any commercial vehicle as defined in the California Vehicle Code, including but not limited to truck tractors, trailers, or semitrailers, regardless of gross weight rating, used for the purpose of transporting materials or goods for commercial purposes, and bearing a commercial license plate as defined in the CVC; provided no passenger vehicle or pickup truck with a standard bed shall be deemed a commercial vehicle, even if bearing a commercial license plate.
“Council” means the city council of the city of Murrieta.
“Curb” means the lateral boundary of the roadway whether such curb be marked by curbing construction, or not so marked; the word “curb” as used in this title shall not include the line dividing the roadway of a street from parking strips in the center of a street, nor from tracks or rights-of-way of public utility companies.
“Divisional island” means a raised island located in the roadway and separating opposing or conflicting streams of traffic.
“E-Conveyance” means any electric bicycle, electric scooter, electric skateboard, or other device propelled by an electric motor and designed to convey 1 or more people.
“Electric bicycle” means an electric bicycle, or “e-bike”, which is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and is categorized by the following:
Class 1 - an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Class 2 - an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Class 3 - an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 miles per hour and is equipped with a speedometer.
“Electric scooter” or “e-scooter” means a two or three-wheeled device that has handlebars, has a floorboard that is designed to be stood upon when riding, and is powered by an electric motor. This device may also have a driver seat that does not interfere with the ability of the rider to stand and ride and may also be designed to be powered by human propulsion.
“Electric skateboard” or “e-skateboard” means a four-wheeled device that has a floorboard that is designed to be stood upon when riding and is powered by an electric motor.
“Gender” means whenever the words he/him appear, it shall be understood to apply to she/her as appropriate to the incumbent in the position referred to.
“Gross weight” means the weight of a vehicle without load plus the weight of any load thereon.
“Highway” means 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.
“Holidays” means the first day of January, known as New Year’s Day; the third Monday of February, known as President’s Day; the last Monday in May, known as Memorial Day; July 4th, known as Independence Day; the first Monday in September, known as Labor Day; November 11th, known as Veteran’s Day; the last Thursday in November, known as Thanksgiving Day; the day after Thanksgiving Day; and the twenty-fifth day of December, known as Christmas. In the event New Year’s Day, Independence Day, and Christmas fall on Sunday, the following day will be taken in lieu of the holiday and if they fall on Saturday, the Friday preceding will be deemed a holiday.
“Loading zone” means the space reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or freight.
“Motorized bicycle” means any two-wheeled or three-wheeled device having fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power, or having no pedals if powered solely by electrical energy, and an automatic transmission and a motor which produces less than four gross brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on level ground.
“Non-self propelled vehicle or vehicle part” means any trailer, boat, camper, camper shell, boat-trailer, two-axle camp trailer, one-axle trailer, utility trailer, semitrailer, trailer coach, or any other device which is not self-propelled, motorized, or capable of movement under its own power.
“Official time standard” means whenever certain hours are named in this chapter, they shall mean standard time or daylight-saving time as may be in current use in Murrieta.
“Ordinance” means the ordinance, rule or regulation adopted by the council relating to the movement of traffic, and enforcement thereof.
“Oversized vehicle” means any vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds ten feet high or twenty-six (26) feet in length or ninety-two (92) inches in width, exclusive of projecting lights or devices as allowed by sections 35109 and 35110 of the vehicle code as may be amended.
“Parkway” means that portion of street right-of- way other than roadway or sidewalk.
“Passenger loading zone” means the space reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles while receiving or discharging passengers.
“Passenger vehicle” means any motor vehicle except a commercial vehicle, recreational vehicle orpassenger van, used or maintained for the transportation of persons as defined by Sections 465 and 34710 of the California Vehicle Code.
“Police officer” means every officer of the police department of Murrieta or any civilian authorized to direct or regulate traffic.
“Push cart” means a vehicle propelled by a person but not ridden upon.
“Recreational vehicle” means a motorhome, housecar, housetrailer, travel trailer, truck camper or camping trailer, watercraft, vessel, with or without motive power, used for recreational purposes on land, water or air; which may or may not be designed for human habitation for emergency or recreational or other occupancy and as further defined by Section 18010 of the California Health and Safety Code and Section 362, CVC.
“Self-propelled vehicle” means any vehicle capable of movement under its own power through motorization of its mechanical parts.
“Traffic division” means a division within the public works department of Murrieta.
“Vehicle code” means the vehicle code of the state of California.
“Vessel” includes every description of watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, as defined in Section 9840, CPC. (Ord. 605-24 § 1, 2024; Ord. 357 § 1, 2006; Ord. 191 § 1, 1998; prior code §§ 12.01.001--12.01.019)