Chapter 19

 

                                            MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC[1]

 

                                                    Art. I.          In General, §§ 19-1—19-10

                                                   Art. II.          Traffic Administration and Enforcement, §§ 19-11—19-30

                                                 Art. III.          Traffic-Control Devices, §§ 19-31—19-40

                                                 Art. IV.          Operation of Vehicles, §§ 19-41—19-60

                                                   Art. V.          Speed Regulations, §§ 19-61—19-70

                                                 Art. VI.          Special Stops Required, §§ 19-71—19-80

                                                Art. VII.          Methods of Parking, §§ 19-81—19-90

                                              Art. VIII.          Parking Prohibited in Specified Places, §§ 19-91—19-110

                                                 Art. IX.          Residential Permit Parking, §§ 19-111—19-120

                                                   Art. X.          Stopping for Loading and Unloading, §§ 19-121—19-130

                                                 Art. XI.          Parking on Certain Streets, §§ 19-131—19-140

                                               Art. XII.          Parking Meters, §§ 19-141—19-150

                                              Art. XIII.          Rights and Duties of Pedestrians, §§ 19-151—19-160

                                              Art. XIV.          Miscellaneous Provisions, §§ 19-161—19-168

 

                            ARTICLE I.  DEFINITIONS, PENALTIES, LIABILITY

 

Sec. 19-1.  Definitions.

 

         (a)     Whenever any words and phrases used in this chapter are not defined herein but are defined in the state laws regulating the operation of vehicles, the definitions therein shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein.

 

         (b)     In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

                  (1)     Alley and alleyways means lanes or passageways for use as a means of access to the rear of lots or buildings. Alleys and alleyways are not in any way to be considered thoroughfares.

 

                  (2)     Central business district means all streets and portions of streets within the area described as follows. All that area bounded by the salt river on the north, to 10th Street on the south and from Myrtle Avenue on the east to Maple Avenue on the west.

 

                  (3)     Commercial vehicle means every vehicle designed, maintained or used primarily for transportation of property.

 

                  (4)     Curb loading zone means a space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use vehicles during the loading or unloading passengers or materials.

 

                  (5)     Motorcade means an organized procession containing twenty-five (25) or more vehicles, except funeral processions, upon any public street, sidewalk or alley.

 

                  (6)     Motorized play vehicle means a coaster, scooter, any other alternatively fueled device or other motorized vehicle that is self-propelled by a motor or engine and which is not otherwise defined in Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 28, as a "motor vehicle," "motor-driven cycle" or "motorized wheelchair."

        

                  (7)     Motorized skateboard means a self-propelled device which has a motor or engine, a deck on which a person may ride and at least two (2) wheels in contact with the ground and which is not otherwise defined in Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 28, as amended, as a "motor vehicle," "motor-driven cycle" or "motorized wheelchair."

 

                  (8)     Operator means a person who operates or is in actual physical control of a motorized play vehicle or a motorized skateboard upon a public roadway, sidewalk, right-of-way, park, bicycle path or any other public property used for the operation of motor vehicles.

 

                  (9)     Owner means a person who holds the legal title to a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard, or any person who is a lessee, conditional vendee or mortgagor of a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard with a right to immediate possession.

 

                  (10)   Parade means any march or procession consisting of people, animals or vehicles, or combination thereof, except funeral processions, upon any public street, sidewalk or alley, which does not comply with normal and usual traffic regulations or controls.

 

                  (11)   Parkway means that portion of a street between the curb lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines.

 

                  (12)   Rights-of-way means all the property used as a public thoroughfare and lying between the exterior boundary lines of any area granted to or received by the city by grant, gift, easement, deed, dedications or operations of law for street, alley, walk or utility purposes.

 

                  (13)   Sidewalk means that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines, intended for use of pedestrians.

 

                  (14)   Stand or standing means the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.

 

                  (15)   Stop, when required, means complete cessation from movement.

 


                  (16)   Stop or stopping, when prohibited, means any halting, even momentarily, of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal.

 

                  (17)   Traffic division means the traffic division of the police department of this city, or in the event a traffic division is not established, then such term, whenever used herein, shall be deemed to refer to the police department of this city.

 

                  (18)   Traffic engineer means the public works manager of the city or his designee.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86; Ord. No. 95.33, 9-21-95; Ord. No. 98.22, 5-14-98; Ord. No. 2001.17, 7-26-01)

 

Sec. 19-2.  Civil sanctions.

 

         Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable for the imposition of a civil sanction not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250), unless another penalty is specified.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86; Ord. No. 94.33, 12-8-94; Ord. No. 95.11, 4-13-95)

 

Sec. 19-3.  Owner's liability for parking offenses.

 

         The registered owner(s) of any vehicle which has been parked in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or any other city ordinance prohibiting or restricting parking shall be prima facie responsible for such violation and subject to penalty therefor.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-4.  Penalties authorized for failure to satisfy judgment; immobilization; towing and impoundment.

 

         (a)     In addition to the fines provided in § 19-2, where a motor vehicle has been found parked in violation of the provisions of this chapter, and judgment has been entered and remains unsatisfied, the court may order the registration number of the vehicle placed on a list of vehicles which the police department is authorized to immobilize by installing on such vehicle a wheel clamp designed to restrict the normal movement of such vehicle.

 

         (b)     Whenever a vehicle is immobilized, the police officer or employee of the city  installing the wheel clamp shall conspicuously attach to the vehicle a notice that the vehicle has been immobilized by the city for failure to satisfy outstanding judgment, that release from such immobilization may be obtained at a designated place, and that unless arrangements are made for release of the vehicle within a reasonable time, the vehicle may be towed and impounded at the direction of the city. Reasonable charges may be made for releasing the wheel clamp from the vehicle or for towing and impounding such vehicle.

 

         (c)     It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to tamper with or remove, without police department authority, a wheel clamp which has been attached to a vehicle pursuant to this section.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86; Ord. No. 88.06, 2-11-88)

 


Sec. 19-5.  Parking violations; notice required; judgment by default.

 

         Whenever a vehicle without a driver is found parked in violation of the provisions of this chapter, any police officer or employee of the city designated to give such notices as a part of his official duties shall take the vehicle's registration number, and may take any other information displayed on the vehicle which may identify its user, and shall conspicuously attach to the vehicle a notice of parking violation on a form supplied by the police department. The notice of parking violation shall include the date, time and location of the violation, the vehicle registration number, reference to the city code provisions violated, and a warning that failure either to pay the fine indicated on the notice or to appear at the location indicated on the notice of parking violation and otherwise dispose of the charge within seven (7) calendar days from the date on which the notice was issued may result in a judgment by default being entered against the registered owner of the vehicle, and that the vehicle may thereafter be subject to immobilization by the installation of a wheel clamp and to towing and impoundment pursuant to § 19-4. The notice of parking violations attached to the vehicle pursuant to this section shall be deemed constructive notice to the registered owner that the vehicle may be immobilized and impounded.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Secs. 19-6—19-10.  Reserved.


                ARTICLE II.  TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

 

Sec. 19-11.  Police administration generally.

 

         The police department shall enforce the traffic regulations of this city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in this city, to make arrest for traffic violations, to investigate accidents and to cooperate with the traffic engineer and other officers of the city in the administration of the traffic regulations and in the developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-12.  Powers and duties of traffic engineer.

 

         (a)     It shall be the duty of the traffic engineer to determine the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control devices, to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering investigation of traffic on the streets and highways of this city, to cooperate with other officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out such additional powers and duties as may be imposed by chapter.

 

         (b)     Such traffic-control devices shall conform to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as adopted by the Arizona Highway Commission.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-13.  Drivers' files to be maintained.

 

         The police department shall maintain a suitable record of all traffic accidents, written warnings, arrests, convictions and complaints reported for each driver, which shall be filed alphabetically under the name of the driver concerned. Such records shall be kept for a period of five (5) years.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-14.  Emergency and experimental measures.

 

         The traffic engineer is hereby empowered to make regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of the traffic ordinances of this city and to make and enforce temporary or experimental regulations to cover emergencies or special conditions. The traffic engineer may erect and test traffic-control signal markings and signs that are under actual conditions of traffic.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-15.  Authority of police and fire department officials.

 

         It shall be the duty of the officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police to enforce all street traffic laws of this city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in this city. Officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance with the traffic laws. Provided, however, 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 regulations.  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.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-16.  Obedience to police and fire department officials.

 

         No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a police officer or fire department official.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-17.  Persons propelling pushcarts or riding animals to obey traffic regulations.

 

         Every person propelling any pushcart or riding an animal upon a roadway, and every person driving any animal-drawn vehicle, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter insofar as applicable.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-18.  Use of coasters, roller skates, skateboards and similar devices restricted.

 

         (a)     No person upon roller skates or riding in or by means of any coaster, skateboard, toy vehicle, go-carts under five (5) horsepower or similar device shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street in a crosswalk or implied crosswalk, and when so crossing, such a person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to pedestrians. This subsection shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street.

 

         (b)     No person shall operate a skateboard:

 

                  (1)     On any public property where such activity is specifically prohibited by appropriate posting, except as may be authorized above; or

        

                  (2)     In an unsafe manner so as to infringe upon the safety of themselves or the safety of other persons or property.

(Ord. No. 86-45, 7-10-86; Ord. No. 90.18, § 1, 4-12-90)

 

Sec. 19-19.  Public employees to obey traffic regulations.

 

         The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this state, county or city, and it shall be unlawful for any such driver to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-20.  Application of traffic laws.

 

         (a)     All traffic laws shall apply to persons riding motorized play vehicles and motorized skateboards.  Every person operating a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of this state declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles, or by the traffic regulations of this city applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to special
regulations in this chapter and except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application.

 

         (b)     This section shall not be construed to require the licensing or registration of motorized play vehicles or motorized skateboards, or the carrying of insurance covering accidents involving motorized play vehicles or motorized skateboards.

 

         (c)     It is unlawful for any person operating a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard not to obey the instructions of official traffic-control signals, signs and other traffic direction devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

(Ord. No. 98.22, 5-14-98)

 

Sec. 19-21.  Responsibility of parents, guardians and custodians.

 

         No person shall, if a parent, guardian or custodian of a child, authorize or knowingly permit any child to violate this article.

(Ord. No. 98.22, 5-14-98)

 

Sec. 19-22.  Prohibited operation.

        

         No person shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard:

 

         (1)     On any sidewalk in the city, except for use in crossing such sidewalk by the most direct route to gain access to any public or private road or driveway;

 

         (2)     In any city parking structure or city park, except for use on public roadways within such park;

 

         (3)     On any public property that has been posted or designed by the owner of such property as an area prohibiting "skateboards";

 

         (4)     On any public roadway consisting of a total of four (4) or more marked traffic lanes, or having an established speed limit of greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour; or

 

         (5)     On any private property of another, or any public property which is not held open to the public for vehicle use, without the written permission of the owner, the person entitled to immediate possession of the property, or the authorized agent of either.

(Ord. No. 98.22, 5-14-98)

 

Sec. 19-23.  General operating restrictions.

 

         (a)     No child under the age of fourteen (14) shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard.

 

         (b)     No person shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard in excess of the posted speed limit or at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing.

 

        


(c)     The operator of a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard, approaching a sidewalk, bicycle path, bicycle lane or multi‑use path in order to cross such, shall yield the right-of-way to all other users.

 

         (d)    Motorized play vehicles and motorized skateboards may be operated on a path or lane that is designated as a bicycle path or lane by state or local authorities.  However, motorized play vehicles and motorized skateboard operators on said bicycle path or lane shall yield at all times to other users.

 

         (e)     No operator shall allow passengers when the motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard is in operation or motion.

 

         (f)     No person operating or riding upon a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard shall attach themselves in any manner to any other vehicle.

 

         (g)     No person shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard while carrying any package, bundle or article which prevents the operator from keeping both hands upon the steering mechanism at all times.

 

         (h)     No person, other than the owner, shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard without the written permission of the owner.

 

         (i)      No person shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard that has been structurally altered from the original manufacturer's design.

 

         (j)      No person shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard in a crosswalk. 

(Ord. No. 98.22, 5-14-98)

 

Sec. 19-24.  Operating restrictions on roadway.

 

         (a)     A person operating a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic, at the time and place and under the then existing conditions, shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except under the following conditions and when the movement can be made safely:

 

                  (1)     If overtaking and passing a bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction;

 

                  (2)     In preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private roadway or driveway;

 

                  (3)     If reasonably necessary to avoid hazardous conditions ahead in the roadway; or

 

                  (4)     If the lane in which the person is operating the motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard is too narrow for a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard and a bicycle or another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

 

        


(b)     No operator of a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard shall transport extra fuel in a separate container or alter the fuel reservoir from the original manufacturer's design.  This includes the prohibition of physically attaching fuel packs or containers to the operator's person.

 

         (c)     Persons operating motorized play vehicles or motorized skateboards on the roadway shall not ride more than two (2) abreast.

(Ord. No. 98.22, 5-14-98)

 

Sec. 19-25.  Required safety equipment.

 

         (a)     No person shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard without a head lamp emitting a beam and a red rear reflector anytime from sunset to sunrise, or any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible, persons or vehicles on the roadway.

 

                  (1)     A head lamp shall emit a white light and be visible from the front at a distance no less than five hundred (500) feet;

 

                  (2)     A rear red reflector shall be visible when illuminated by a vehicle head lamp from a distance of not less than three hundred (300) feet; and

 

                  (3)     A rear red lamp visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear may be used in addition to the rear red reflector.

 

         (b)     No person shall operate a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard unless it is equipped with a brake which enables the operator to make a braked wheel(s) skid on pavement.

 

         (c)     Any operator of a motorized play vehicle or motorized skateboard under the age of eighteen (18) years being operated on a roadway shall at all times wear a protective helmet on his or her head in an appropriate and safely secured manner.  The helmet shall meet minimum standards of testing and safety inspected by the bicycle industry.

 

         (d)    No person shall operate a motorized skateboard without wearing footwear.  The footwear must have a sole and completely cover the feet and toes.

(Ord. No. 98.22, 5-14-98)

 

Sec. 19-26.  Violations.

 

         Violations of any of the sections of this article concerning motorized play vehicles and motorized skateboards are designated as civil traffic violations and shall be prosecuted in the same manner as provided by law for other civil traffic violations.

(Ord. No. 98.22, 5-14-98)

 


Sec. 19-27.  Repeal of conflicting ordinances.

 

         All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance or any part of the code adopted herein by reference, are hereby repealed.

(Ord. No. 98.22, 5-14-98)

Secs. 19-28—19-30.  Reserved.


                                   ARTICLE III.  TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES

 

Sec. 19-31.  Authority to install.

 

         The traffic engineer shall place and maintain traffic control signs and devices when and as required under the traffic ordinances. He may place and maintain such additional traffic-control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic under the ordinances of this city or under state law, or to guide or warn traffic. Traffic signals shall be approved in advance by the city council.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-32.  When traffic devices required for enforcement purposes.

 

         No provision of this chapter for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violation if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that signs are required, such section shall be effective even though no signs are erected or in place.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-33.  Signs prohibiting the movement of trucks.

 

         No person shall drive, ride, stop, stand or park any truck upon any street, roadway or highway or any portion thereof in violation of any restriction posted on traffic-control signs or markings.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-34.  Authority to change, alter, etc., traffic devices.

 

         Any traffic-control devices, signs, signals or markings, or rulings, decisions or determinations heretofore or hereinafter erected or made by the traffic engineer or by the city council, pursuant to this or any other ordinance of the city, may, at any time, be changed, altered, modified, rescinded or abolished by a vote of a majority of the council, without the necessity of an amending ordinance.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Secs. 19-35—19-40.  Reserved.


                                      ARTICLE IV.  OPERATION OF VEHICLES

 

Sec. 19-41.  Authority to limit turns.

 

         The traffic engineer is authorized to determine those intersections at which drivers of vehicles shall not make right or left turns and shall place proper signs so directing at intersections. Such regulation of turns may be limited to certain hours, at the discretion of the traffic engineer.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-42.  Entering an intersection.

 

         No person shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic-control indication to proceed.

(Ord. No. 86.45, 7-10-86)

 

Sec. 19-43.  Parades and motorcades.

 

         (a)     It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct a parade or motorcade in or upon any public street, sidewalk or alley in the city or knowingly participate in any such parade or motorcade unless and until a permit to conduct such a parade or motorcade has been issued by the police chief or, as hereinafter provided, from the assistant city manager.

 

         (b)     No permit shall be issued authorizing the conduct of a parade or motorcade which the police chief finds is proposed to be held for the sole purpose of advertising any product, goods, wares, merchandise or event, and is designed to be held purely for private profit.

 

         (c)     No person shall knowingly join or participate in any parade or motorcade conducted under permit from the police chief in violation of any of the terms of said permit, nor knowingly join or participate in any permitted parade or motorcade without the consent of the permittee nor in any manner interfere with its progress or orderly conduct.

 

         (d)    Any person who wants to conduct a parade or motorcade shall apply to the police chief for a permit at least thirty (30) days in advance of the date of the proposed parade or motorcade. If a permit is not timely submitted, it may be denied. The application for such permit shall be in writing on a form approved by the police chief. In order that adequate arrangements may be made for the proper policing of the parade or motorcade, the application shall contain the following information:

 

                  (1)     The name of the applicant, the sponsoring organization, the parade or motorcade chairman and the address and telephone numbers of each;

 

                  (2)     The purpose of the parade or motorcade, the date when it is proposed to be conducted, the location of the assembly area, the location of the disbanding area, the route to be traveled and the approximate time when the parade or motorcade will assemble, start and terminate;

 

                 


(3)     A description of the individual floats, marching units, vehicles, bands, including a description of any sound-amplification equipment to be used; and

 

                  (4)     Such other information as the police chief may deem reasonably necessary.

 

         (e)     The police chief shall distribute the permit application to the traffic engineer who shall submit findings pursuant to paragraph (f) of this section and his recommendations for specifications under paragraph (h) of this section.

 

         (f)     The police chief shall issue a parade or motorcade permit conditioned upon the applicant's written agreement to comply with the terms of such permit unless the police chief finds that: