Authority to Install Traffic-Control Devices

The Director of Public Works and Utilities shall place and maintain traffic-control signs,
signals, and devices when and as required under this title, and may place and maintain such additional
traffic-control devices as deemed necessary to regulate, guide, or warn traffic under the traffic
ordinances of this city or under state law. (Ord. 16951 §59; March 11, 1996: prior Ord. 15633 §1;
July 9, 1990: P.C. §10.24.010: Ord. 8282 §15; December 16, 1963: Ord. 7794 §5; July 16, 1962:
Ord. 5699 §501; April 12, 1954).

10.12.020 Obedience to Official Traffic-Control Devices.

It shall be unlawful for any person to disobey the instruction of any official traffic-control
device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this title, unless otherwise
directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency
vehicle. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not less than $75.00 or by
imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six months, or both. The penalty herein
provided shall be cumulative with and in addition to the revocation, cancellation, or forfeiture of any
license, permit, or right elsewhere in this title provided for violation thereof. (Ord. 17756 §1;
November 6, 2000: prior Ord. 15633 §2; July 9, 1990: P.C. §10.24.030: Ord. 8282 §16; December
16, 1963: Ord. 5699 §503; April 12, 1954).

10.12.030 Traffic-Control Signal Legend.

Whenever traffic is controlled by an automatic traffic signal or other official traffic-control
device exhibiting different colored lights or colored, lighted arrows successively, one at a time or
in combination, only the colors green, red, and yellow shall be used, except for pedestrian signals,
and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
GREEN: Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or
turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. Vehicular traffic facing a
circular green signal, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other
vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such
signal is exhibited. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal, pedestrians facing any
green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway
within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

GREEN ARROW: Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal shown alone may enter the
intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow or arrows. Such vehicular traffic
shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully using the intersection. Unless otherwise directed
by an automatic pedestrian-control signal, as hereinafter provided, pedestrians facing any green
signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within
any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

GREEN FLASHING: Upon the display of a flashing or intermittently lighted green light
by such signal, vehicular traffic facing it is warned that the signal is about to change to yellow and
shall enter such intersection only if such vehicle can proceed through the intersection safely; and
pedestrians facing it shall not enter or cross the intersection unless such pedestrian started to cross
before such flashing or intermittently lighted green signal was first displayed.

YELLOW: Upon the display of a yellow light by such signal, vehicular traffic facing it shall
stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection unless such stop cannot be
made safely, in which event the vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection and be
given the right-of-way to clear the intersection. Pedestrians facing such signal shall not enter or
cross the roadway unless such pedestrian started to cross before such yellow light was first
displayed.

RED: Upon the display of a red light by such signal, vehicular traffic facing it shall stop
before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection and remain stopped until a green
light is displayed, except as otherwise permitted in this title, and pedestrians facing such signal shall
not enter or cross the roadway except as otherwise provided at intersections controlled by automatic
pedestrian-control signals.

RED WITH GREEN ARROW: Upon the display of a red light in combination with a green
arrow, vehicular traffic facing it may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement
indicated by such arrow, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and to other traffic lawfully
within the intersection. Pedestrians facing such signal shall not start to cross the intersection.
RED FLASHING: Upon the display of the flashing or intermittently lighted red light by
such signal, vehicular traffic facing it shall come to a complete stop at such signal before entering
the nearest crosswalk, and regardless of the direction shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles and
pedestrians upon the street to be entered or crossed.

YELLOW FLASHING: Upon the display of a flashing or intermittently lighted yellow light
by such signal, vehicular traffic facing it may proceed through the intersection past such signal only
with caution. (Ord. 15633 §3; July 9, 1990: P.C. §10.24.040: Ord. 12552 §1; April 9, 1979: Ord.
8282 §17; December 16, 1963: Ord. 5699 §504, as amended by Ord. 6433; January 14, 1957).
10.12.040 Display of Unauthorized Signs, Signals or Markings.

(a) LIMITATIONS. No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any
street an unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or
resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the
movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official
traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal.

(b) COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING. No person shall place or maintain, nor shall any
public authority permit, upon any street any traffic sign or signal or meter or other structure bearing
thereon any commercial advertising.

(c) ADVERTISING SIGN OVER STREET. No advertising sign or device shall be erected
on, maintained or located upon or over, any divided street or any portion thereof.
(d) FLOOD LIGHT. No flood light or spot light shall be erected or operated when the
beam of any such light adversely affects the vision of operators of vehicles or of pedestrians, or
when the beam of any such light is directed or concentrated upon or over the street.
(e) NUISANCE. Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby declared to be
a public nuisance and any police officer is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be
removed. (Ord. 15633 §4; July 9, 1990: P.C. §10.24.050: Ord. 7949 §1; January 21, 1963: Ord.
7836 §1; August 13, 1962: Ord. 5699 §505; April 12, 1954).

10.12.050 Interference With Official Traffic-Control Devices or Railroad Signs or Signals.
No person shall, without lawful authority, attempt to, or in fact, alter, deface, injure, knock
down or remove any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription,
shield or insignia thereon, or any part thereof. (Ord. 15633 §5; July 9, 1990: P.C. §10.24.060: Ord.
8282 §19; December 16, 1963: Ord. 5699 §506; April 12, 1954).

10.12.055 Mobile Infrared Transmitters; Unlawful; Exceptions.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person
to:
(1) Possess a mobile infrared transmitter;
(2) Use a mobile infrared transmitter;
(3) Sell a mobile infrared transmitter to a person other than a person specified in
subsection (b); or
(4) Purchase a mobile infrared transmitter for use other than a duty described in
subsection (b).
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the operator, passenger, or owner of
any of the following authorized emergency vehicles in the course of such person’s emergency
duties:
(1) Publicly owned fire department vehicles;
(2) Publicly owned police vehicles; or
(3) Motor vehicles operated by ambulance services duly authorized by an
appropriate governmental unit. (Ord. 18335 §2; April 5, 2004).

10.12.060 Signs Required on Arterial Streets.

Whenever any ordinance designates and describes an arterial street, the Director of Public
Works and Utilities shall, on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, place a stop sign
or yield right-of-way sign on each and every street intersecting such arterial street unless traffic at
any such intersection is controlled at all times by traffic-controlled signals; provided, however, that
at the intersection of two such arterial streets or at the intersection of an arterial street and a heavy
traffic street not so designated, stop signs shall be erected at the approaches of either of said streets
as may be determined by the Director of Public Works and Utilities upon the basis of an engineering
and traffic study. (Ord. 16951 §60; March 11, 1996: prior Ord. 15633 §6; July 9, 1990: P.C.
§10.24.070: Ord. 7900 §1; October 15, 1962: Ord. 5699 §507; April 12, 1954).

10.12.070 Other Intersections Where Stop or Yield Right-of-Way Required.

The Director of Public Works and Utilities is hereby authorized to determine and designate
intersections where particular hazard exists upon other than arterial streets and to determine:
(a) That vehicles shall stop at one or more entrances to any such intersection, in which
event said Director shall place a stop sign at such entrances, or
(b) That vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles on a different street at such
intersection as prescribed in paragraph (a) of Section 10.14.020, in which event the Director of
Public Works and Utilities shall cause to be erected a yield right-of-way sign at every place where
obedience thereto is required. (Ord. 16951 §61; March 11, 1996: prior Ord. 15633 §7; July 9, 1990:
P.C. §10.24.080: Ord. 7900 §2; October 15, 1962).

10.12.080 Stop Signs and Yield Right-of-Way Signs.

Every stop sign and every yield right-of-way sign shall be erected as near as practicable to
the nearest line of the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no crosswalk, then
as near as practicable to the nearest line of the intersecting street. (Ord. 15633 §8; July 9, 1990: P.C.
§10.24.090: Ord. 7900 §3; October 15, 1962).