It is the duty of members of the Police Department or such members
as are assigned by the Police Chief to enforce the street traffic
regulations of this city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable
to street traffic in this city, to make arrests for traffic violations,
to investigate traffic accidents and to cooperate with the Traffic
Engineer and other officers of the city in the administration of the
traffic laws and in developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions,
and to carry out those duties specially imposed upon said Department
by this chapter and the traffic ordinances of this city.
(Rev. Code 1954 §§ 6230, 6250)
It shall be the general duty of the Traffic Engineer to determine
the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control
devices and signals, to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents
and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering investigation
of traffic conditions and to cooperate with other city officials in
the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and
to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by this code.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6231)
Unless the limitations of this section are specifically excepted,
the authority granted to the Traffic Engineer shall be limited as
follows, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the remainder
of this title. Before erecting, establishing, installing or removing
any traffic-control sign, signal, marker or device of any nature whatsoever,
the Traffic Engineer must obtain the written approval of the Public
Works Director; provided, however, that if any ordinance or a prior
resolution of the Council directs that said traffic-control sign,
signal, marker or device be so installed or removed, or if said sign,
signal, marker or device is necessary to the efficiency of any traffic
regulation already provided for by ordinance, resolution or the State
Vehicle Code, or if said sign, signal, marker or device is merely
a notice of an existing regulation and does not amount to the establishment
of a new regulation, or discontinuance of an existing regulation,
the authority of the Traffic Engineer shall not be so limited.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6231; O3083)
Officers of the Police Department or such officers as are assigned
by the Police Chief are authorized to direct all traffic by voice,
hand or signal in conformance with traffic laws, provided that in
the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to
safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department may direct
traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions
of the traffic laws.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6250)
Officers of the Fire Department, when at the scene of a fire,
may direct or assist the police in directing traffic thereat or in
the immediate vicinity.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6250)
No person other than an officer of the Police Department or
a person deputized by the Police Chief or 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 herein provided
any mechanical pushbutton signal directed by order of a public body
or official having jurisdiction.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6253)
The Traffic Engineer shall have the exclusive power and duty
to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained official
traffic-control devices when and as required under the traffic ordinances
of this city to make effective the provisions of said ordinances.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6270)
Whenever the State Vehicle Code requires for the effectiveness
of any provision thereof that traffic-control devices be installed
to give notice to the public of the application of such law, the Traffic
Engineer is authorized to install the necessary devices subject to
any limitations or restrictions set forth in the law applicable thereto.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6270)
The Traffic Engineer may also place and maintain such additional
traffic-control devices as he or she may deem necessary to regulate
traffic or to guide or warn traffic, but he or she shall make such
determination only upon the basis of Traffic Engineering principles
and traffic investigations and in accordance with such standards,
limitations and rules as may be set forth in this title or as may
be determined by ordinance or resolution of the legislative body of
this city.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6270)
No provision of the State Vehicle Code or of this title for
which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator
unless appropriate signs are in place and sufficiently legible to
be seen by an ordinarily observant person, giving notice of such provision
of the traffic laws.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6271)
The Traffic Engineer is directed to install and maintain official
traffic-control signals at those intersections and other places where
traffic conditions are such as to require that the flow of traffic
be alternately interrupted and released in order to prevent or relieve
traffic congestion or to protect life or property from exceptional
hazard.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6273)
The Traffic Engineer is authorized to regulate the timing of
traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly
and safe manner at speeds slightly at variance from the speeds otherwise
applicable within the district or at intersections, and is hereby
authorized to erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.
(O2016-15, 11/15/16)
The Traffic Engineer shall ascertain and determine the locations
where traffic-control signals are required by resort to field observations,
traffic counts and other traffic information as may be pertinent and
his or her determinations therefrom shall be made in accordance with
those Traffic Engineering and safety standards and instructions set
forth in the maintenance manual issued by the Division of Highways
of the State Department of Public Works.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6273)
Whenever the Traffic Engineer installs and maintains an official
traffic-control signal at any intersection, he or she shall likewise
erect and maintain at such intersection street name signs visible
to the principal flow of traffic unless such street name signs have
previously been placed and are maintained at any said intersection.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6273)
The Traffic Engineer is authorized to mark center lines and
lane lines upon the surface of the roadway to indicate the course
to be traveled by vehicles and may place signs temporarily designating
lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless
of the center line of the highway.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6274)
Whenever the State Department of Public Works determines by
resolution and designates a distinctive roadway marking which shall
indicate no driving over such marking, the Traffic Engineer is authorized
to designate by such markings those streets or parts of streets where
the volume of traffic or the vertical or other curvature of the roadway
renders it hazardous to drive on the left side of such marking or
signs and markings. Such markings or signs and markings shall have
the same effect as similar markings placed by the State Department
of Public Works pursuant to provisions of the State Vehicle Code.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6275)
The Traffic Engineer is authorized to remove, relocate or discontinue
the operation of any traffic-control device not specifically required
by state law or this chapter whenever he or she shall determine in
any particular case that the conditions which warranted or required
the installation no longer exist or obtain.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6276)
The Traffic Engineer shall determine the hours and days during
which any traffic-control device shall be in operation and effect,
except in those cases where said hours or days are specified by ordinance
or are specifically designated by the Council by resolution.
(Rev. Code 1954 § 6277)
