(A) Authority to direct traffic. Law enforcement officers, members of a fire department and Code Enforcement Officers are hereby 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 to safeguard pedestrians, the persons may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary contained in this subchapter or the State Vehicle Code.
(1994 Code, § 10.08.030 - 10.08.031)
(B) Persons other than officials shall not direct traffic. No person, other than 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 subchapter, any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the Director of Public Works.
(1994 Code, § 10.08.032)
(C) Obedience to Police and authorized officers. No person shall fail or refuse to comply with, or to perform, any act forbidden by any lawful order, signal or direction of a traffic or police officer, a member of the Fire Department, the Code Enforcement Officer or a person authorized by the Chief of Police or by law.
(1994 Code, § 10.08.033)
(D) Obstruction or interference with police or authorized officers. No person shall interfere with or obstruct, in any way, any police officer or other officer or employee of the city in his or her enforcement of the provisions of this subchapter. The removal, obliteration or concealment of any chalk mark or other distinguishing mark used by any police officer or other employee or officer of the city in connection with the enforcement of the parking regulations of this subchapter shall, if done for the purpose of evading the provisions of this subchapter, constitute the interference or obstruction.
(1994 Code, § 10.08.034)
(E) Public employees to obey traffic regulations. The provisions of this subchapter shall apply to the operator of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States government, the state or any country or city, and it shall be unlawful for the operator to violate any of the provisions of this subchapter except as otherwise permitted in this subchapter or by the State Vehicle Code.
(1994 Code, § 10.08.035)
(F) Exemption of certain vehicles.
(1) The provisions of this subchapter regulating the operation, parking, and standing of vehicles shall not apply to vehicles operated by law enforcement or fire protection agencies, any public ambulance, any public utility vehicle or any private ambulance, which public utility vehicle or private ambulance has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle, when any vehicle mentioned in this section is operated in the manner specified by the State Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call.
(2) The exemptions set forth in division (A) of this section shall not, however, relieve the operator of the vehicle from obligation to exercise due care for the safety of others or the consequences of his or her willful disregard of the safety of others.
(3) The provisions of this subchapter regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of a city department or public entity while necessarily in use for construction or repair work to any vehicle while in use for the collection, transportation, or delivery of United States mail.
(1994 Code, § 10.08.036)
(G) When vehicles may be removed from streets. Any peace officer may remove or cause to be removed:
(1) Any vehicle which 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 the street or highway, or a portion thereof, is necessary for the 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 or unusual sizes and the parking of the vehicle would prohibit or interfere with the use or movement; provided, however, signs giving notice that the vehicle may be removed are erected or placed at least 24 hours prior to the removal.
(1994 Code, § 10.08.037)
(H) Traffic control signs required for enforcement purposes. No provisions of the State Vehicle Code or of this subchapter for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator unless appropriate legible signs are in place giving notice of the provisions of the traffic laws.
(1994 Code, § 10.08.038)
(I) Obedience to traffic control devices.
(1) The operator of any vehicle or train shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device placed in accordance with this subchapter or state law unless otherwise directed by a police officer or other authorized person, subject to the exceptions granted the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to emergency calls.
(2) No person, public utility or department in the city shall erect or place any banner or sign on any street, unless of a type approved by the City Engineer or Director of Public Works, nor disobey the instructions, nor remove, tamper with or destroy any barrier or sign lawfully placed on any street by any person, public utility or by any department of the city.
(1994 Code, § 10.08.039) (Ord. 97-102, passed 10-14-1997) Penalty, see § 10.99