Whenever any words or phrases used in this Chapter are not defined herein and are defined in the California Vehicle Code, such definition shall be incorporated herein and shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases as used in this Chapter as though set forth in full.
"Bus zone"
means the space adjacent to a curb reserved by markings or signs for the exclusive use of a transit system operating buses engaged as common carriers in local transportation during the loading or unloading of passengers.
"DMV"
means the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
"Driveway approach"
means the portion of a curb, parkway or sidewalk which has been depressed below the level of the adjoining curb, sidewalk or parkway for the purpose of providing vehicular access from the street across said curb, parkway or sidewalk to the property fronting thereon or abutting thereto.
"Loading zone"
means the space adjacent to a curb reserved by markings or signs for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
"Parkway"
means that portion of a street other than a roadway or sidewalk, including all the area exclusive of the sidewalk lying between a property line and any curb.
"Passenger loading zone"
means the space adjacent to a curb reserved by markings or signs for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.
"Police officer"
means every officer of the Police Department of this City.
"Residential district"
means any district which is zoned residential or mixed residential in Chapter 12 of this Code.
"Stand or standing"
means to halt a vehicle, whether occupied or not, temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers or materials.
"Vehicle Code"
means the Vehicle Code of the State of California.
(Ord. 18-06 5-8-18)
Peace officers and persons designated by the Chief of Police, after passing a traffic regulation training program, are hereby authorized to direct traffic by voice, hand or other signal in conformance with traffic laws.
Whenever this Chapter delegates authority to a City Officer, or authorizes action by the City Council to regulate traffic upon a State Highway which in any way by state law requires the prior approval of the California Department of Transportation, no such person shall exercise such authority, nor shall such action by the City Council be effective with respect to any State Highway without the prior approval in writing of the California Department of Transportation in and to the extent required by the California Vehicle Code.
(Ord. 19-01 11-27-18)
No person, other than an officer of the Police Department, a person designated by the Chief of Police, or a person authorized by law shall direct or attempt to direct traffic by means of any voice, hand or other signal; except that persons may operate any mechanical pushbutton signal erected by order of the Public Works Director.
(Ord. 14-05 3-25-14)
The provisions of this Article shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned or used in the service of the United States Government, this State, any County, City and County, or municipal corporation, or other public agency, and it shall be unlawful for any driver to violate any of the provisions of this Article, except as otherwise permitted in this Code or by State law; provided, however, that the provisions of this Article regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of the Police Department or Fire Department, any public ambulance, or any public utility vehicle, or any private ambulance, which public utility vehicle or private ambulance has qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle when such vehicle is operated in the manner specified in the Vehicle Code in response to an emergency call; and, provided further, that the provisions of this Article, regulating the placing, parking or standing of vehicles or equipment, shall not apply to any vehicle or other equipment of a City department or public utility, or of a holder of a franchise or permit issued by the City or its authorized officers while same is necessarily in use for construction or repair work.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in damage to public property of any kind shall make a written report of the time and place of such accident as well as the names, addresses and license numbers of persons also involved and a brief description of the damage within twenty-four hours of the time of accident to the Police Department.
The Public Works Director shall have the exclusive power and duty to place and maintain official traffic control devices when and as required under this Article to make effective the provisions of this Article, and may place and maintain such additional traffic control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic in an orderly fashion under this Article or under State Law, or to guide or warn traffic or to remove hazards to life or property.
Every traffic sign, device or marking shall be sufficiently legible and visible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person and shall conform to the requirements of the Vehicle Code.
(Ord. 1999 5-6-69; Ord. 2060 7-2-71; Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 96-21 9-24-96)
[1]
Traffic Authority Abolished Ord. 1999, 5-6-69.
See State Vehicle Code Section 21351.
It shall be unlawful for any person not authorized by the Public Works Director to paint or place traffic markings or signs upon any public place within the City or to tamper, deface or remove signs, markings or traffic control devices duly installed pursuant to the provisions of this Article.
(Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 96-21 9-24-96)
It shall be unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to fail to obey the directions of any duly installed traffic control sign, device or marking unless directed otherwise by a police officer or unless otherwise exempt therefrom under other provisions of this Article.
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting the words "GO," "CAUTION" or "STOP," or exhibiting different colored lights successively one at a time, the following colors only shall be used, and said terms and lights shall indicate as follows:
(1) 
Green alone or "GO":
(a) 
Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall proceed either straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn, except that:
(b) 
Vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or adjacent crosswalks at the time such signal is exhibited.
(c) 
Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(2) 
Yellow alone, or with green, or "CAUTION," when shown following the green or "GO" signal:
(a) 
Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection, but if such stop cannot be made in safety, a vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection.
(b) 
No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway until green or "GO" is shown alone.
(3) 
Red alone or "STOP":
(a) 
Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest intersection or crosswalk, or crossing the nearest clearly indicated limit line, and, except in the case of red flashing signals only, shall remain standing until green or "GO" is shown alone, or flashing amber is shown alone, except as provided in the next succeeding paragraph.
(b) 
At any intersection the driver of a vehicle which is stopped as close as practicable to the right hand curb and at the entrance to the nearest crosswalk may make a right turn, unless traffic signs or signals in place otherwise direct, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at said intersection.
(c) 
No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway until green or "GO" is shown alone, or flashing amber is shown alone.
[1]
See State Vehicle Code Section 21450 et seq.
When a yellow lens is illuminated with intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with added caution.
The special speed limits established by the Public Works Director are prima facie speed limits, and the speed of any vehicle upon any portions of any public streets duly designated and posted with notice of the established prima facie limit shall be construed to be prima facie unlawful pursuant to Section 22350 of the Vehicle Code; provided, however, that a person charged with such prima facie violation may establish by competent evidence that speed in excess of said prima facie limit did not constitute a violation of the basic rule declared in Section 22350 of the Vehicle Code, at the time and place and under the conditions then and there existing.
(Ord. 2060 7-2-71; Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 96-21 9-24-96)
Any provision of this Chapter which regulates traffic or delegates the regulation of traffic upon State Highways in any way for which the approval of the Public Works Department is required by state law shall cease to be operative six months after receipt by the City Council of written notice of withdrawal of approval of the Public Works Department.
(Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 96-21 9-24-96)
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a vehicle, bicycle, skateboard, or electric or motorized device within any sidewalk area, parkway, or any other right-of-way intended only for pedestrian travel, except at a driveway approach. This Section shall not apply to any City employee on official business or to a physically disabled person who is operating a wheelchair or other personal assistive mobility device.
(Ord. 18-06 5-8-18)
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive, propel, draw, trail or move any vehicle, plow, harrow, scarifier, equipment, device or any other object, instrument, or article in or upon any street or other public place within the City, the surface of which has been improved or finished by or with an oil pavement, macadam pavement, concrete pavement or other type of pavement or improvement, in such a way or manner as to scratch, tear, injure, mutilate, cut, disfigure or mar any such pavement or improvement surface or improvement; provided, however, that with respect to newly made pavement a sign prohibiting entry thereto shall be posted; and, provided further, that the provisions of this Section shall not apply to official acts performed in the exercise of official duty, nor to employees of the City or of contractors holding contracts with the City, in the lawful exercise of their respective duties and assignments or in the lawful execution of their respective contracts.
It shall be unlawful for any person to drain, place, let fall, drip, leak or deposit, whether from a vehicle or otherwise, in or upon any street or public place within the City, any filthy water, liquid or substance, or any water, liquid or substance from any sink or hopper, or any water or other liquid or substance containing salt or other chemicals, or content, which may or does stain, discolor, mar, or soften or in any other manner injure any paving, pavement or surface, or other public improvement existing in or upon any such street or other public place. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the temporary deposit of any such items or materials in course of lawful transport or other lawful handling when same are enclosed in a suitable body, box or receptacle which effectively prevents the same from coming in contact with the pavement, paving or surface of, or any other improvement in, such street or other public place.
It shall be unlawful for any person to move, remove, transport or convey in, upon or along any street or other public place within the City any garbage or any combustible rubbish, semicombustible rubbish, or noncombustible rubbish, as said materials are defined in the provisions of this Code relating to the collection and transportation thereof, without first applying for and obtaining a written permit from the Public Works Director or authorized representative so to do; provided, however, that the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not apply to any officer or employee of the City while engaged in the performance of official duty, or to any person with whom the City has at the time an existing contract for the removal, disposal and/or conveyance of any such material, or to any employee of such contractor, while engaged in the lawful execution of such contract.
(Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 96-21 9-24-96)
Particular streets, or portions thereof, designated as through streets are listed in the following ordinances, which shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be repealed by this Code: 1267, 1276, 1287 and 1318.
Particular streets, or portions thereof, designated as stop intersections and stop entrances, respectively are listed in the following ordinances which shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be repealed by this Code: 1267, 1276, 1284, 1302, 1318, 1320, 1328, 1330, 1358, 1366 and 1390.
The Public Works Director shall establish, designate and maintain crosswalks at intersections and other places by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway where he determines that there is particular hazard to pedestrians crossing the roadway. Other than crosswalks at intersections, no crosswalk shall be established in any block which is less than two hundred feet in length. Elsewhere not more than one additional crosswalk in any one block and such crosswalk shall be located as nearly as practicable in midblock.
(Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 96-21 9-24-96)
It shall be unlawful for any person to stand, sit or remain in any roadway, other than in a safety zone, if such action interferes with the lawful movement of traffic. This provision shall not apply to any public officer or employee, or to the employee of any public utility or of any franchise or permit holder holding a franchise or permit from the City or from any of its authorized officers when such person is necessarily upon a street and engaged in the performance of his or her necessary duty therein, or to licensed surveyors or to members of their respective parties or crews when actually and necessarily engaged in the performance of their proper functions.
It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter or stand upon any sidewalk in such a manner as to: (a) unreasonably obstruct free movement of persons seeking to walk by; or to (b) unreasonably annoy or molest pedestrians; or to (c) unreasonably obstruct or block the entrance to any personal establishment or public facility or other facility open to the public.
Nothing in this Article should be construed to prohibit a person from standing in line at any business establishment or public facility nor shall it apply to any person who is selling or giving political or religious literature to other persons; nor shall it apply to any person who is walking in a picket line; nor shall it apply to any other person who is conducting a lawful business or who has a lawful reason for standing in or upon the street or sidewalk, provided that such person is complying with all other laws, rules and regulations applicable to waiting to conduct business, distributing political and religious literature picketing, or conducting other lawful business.
(Ord. 1976 12-27-68)
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any train or train of cars or permit the same to remain standing, so as to block the movement of traffic upon any street for a period of time longer than five minutes.
Particular streets or portions thereof within the City which are designated as permitting traffic one way only are listed in the following ordinances, which shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be repealed by the enactment of this Code: 1267 and 1304.
Motor vehicles operating on private property open to the public or on a public parking lot not subject to the provisions of the California Vehicle Code shall be subject to the following regulations:
(a) 
No person shall operate any motor vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent nor in any manner that endangers the welfare and safety of persons or property, having due regard for the surface and condition of the area.
(b) 
No person shall engage in or aid or abet in any motor vehicle speed contest or motor vehicle exhibition of speed thereon without prior written authorization therefor from the owner, lessee or other person in legal possession.
(c) 
No person shall unreasonably accelerate the motor of any vehicle or unreasonably sound, blow or operate the horn or other audible warning device of any vehicle.
(Ord. 2344 6-26-79)
Excluding dogs, cats and other household pets on a leash or tether, it shall be unlawful for anyone to ride, lead, herd, corral, tether or otherwise allow any horses, livestock or other animals owned and maintained by persons upon any public street or sidewalk if the animals are not confined within a truck and/or trailer intended for conveying animals.
Exceptions allowing animals upon a public street:
(a) 
Any parade or procession, including circus parades, for which a permit has been duly issued by the City of Inglewood. A condition of any such parade permit shall be specific provisions for the immediate removal by the parade operator of any animal droppings from the street;
(b) 
Animal rides provided upon streets duly barricaded for neighborhood block club events;
(c) 
Horses and other equine animals used to pull and/or to accompany a coffin-bearing wagon or caisson to a cemetery, subject to prior review and approval of route and any applicable conditions by the Public Works Director, including, but not limited to, temporary street closures or diversion of traffic, and removal of animal droppings;
(d) 
Horses ridden by law enforcement personnel as part of their enforcement duties;
(e) 
Animals used in the filming of a cinema or television production, for which a filming permit has been duly issued by the City of Inglewood.
(Ord. 08-09 6-24-08)