Chapter 12 - Traffic

ARTICLE 12-1
ARTICLE 12-2
ARTICLE 12-3
ARTICLE 12-4

ARTICLE 12-1        ADMINISTRATION

12-1-1           Duty of Police Department

12-1-2           Records of Traffic Violations

12-1-3           Accident Investigation

12-1-4           Detention of Persons to Serve Traffic Complaint

12-1-5           Traffic Accident Studies

12-1-6           Traffic Accident Reports

Section 12-1-1      Duty of Police Department

It shall be the duty of the police department under the direction of the police chief to provide for the enforcement of the street traffic regulations of the town and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in the town, to make arrests for traffic violations, to investigate accidents and to assist in developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions and to carry out all duties specially imposed upon the police chief by this chapter.

Section 12-1-2      Records of Traffic Violations

1. The police chief shall keep a record of all violations of the traffic laws of the town or of the state vehicle laws of which any person has been charged, together with a record of the final disposition of all such alleged offenses. Such record shall accumulate during at least a five year period and from that time on the record shall be maintained complete for at least the most recent five year period.
   
   

2. All forms for records of violations and notices shall be serially numbered.

Section 12-1-3      Accident Investigation

It shall be the duty of the police department under the direction of the police chief to investigate traffic accidents and to arrest and assist in the prosecution of those persons charged with violations of law causing or contributing to such accidents.

Section 12-1-4  Detention of Persons to Serve Traffic Complaint

Any police officer or duly authorized agent of the town may stop and detain a person as is reasonably necessary to investigate an actual or suspected violation of this chapter and to serve a copy of the traffic complaint for any alleged civil or criminal violations of this chapter.

Section 12-1-5      Traffic Accident Studies

Whenever the accidents at any particular location become numerous, the police chief shall conduct studies of such accidents and determine remedial measures.

Section 12-1-6      Traffic Accident Reports

The police chief shall maintain a suitable system of filing traffic accident reports.

ARTICLE 12-2        TRAFFIC CONTROL

12-2-1           Directing Traffic

12-2-2           Obedience to Traffic Regulations

12-2-3           Use of Coasters, Roller Skates and Similar Devices Restricted

12-2-4           Traffic Control Devices

12-2-5           Authority to Designate Crosswalks, Establish Safety Zones and Mark Traffic Lanes

12-2-6           Authority to Place and Obedience to Turning Markers

12-2-7           Authority to Place and Obedience to Restricted Turn Signs

12-2-8           Limitations on Turning Around

12-2-9           One-Way Streets and Alleys

12-2-10           Regulation of Traffic at Intersections

12-2-11           Designation of Through Streets

12-2-12           Drivers to Obey Signs

12-2-13           Processions

12-2-14           Unnecessary Squealing Tires

12-2-15           Damage to Roadway

12-2-16           Streets under Construction or Repair

 Section 12-2-1      Directing Traffic

1. Police officers are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal.
   
   

2. Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist  police officers in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity.

Section 12-2-2      Obedience to Traffic Regulations

Except as otherwise provided in this code, no person may do any forbidden act or fail to perform any act required by this chapter.  No person may willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer or of any fire department official.

Section 12-2-3      Use of Coasters, Roller Skates and Similar Devices Restricted

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or ride a skateboard, roller skates, roller skis or play vehicle in any of the following places:

1. All that part of the town as described as follows:

   The sidewalk on the West side of College Avenue from Highway 70 South to the Railroad Tracks, the sidewalk on the East side of Stadium Avenue from Highway 70 South to the Canal, the sidewalk on the North and South of Church Street from College Avenue to Stadium Avenue, the sidewalk on the North and South side of Railroad Street from College Avenue to Stadium Avenue, the sidewalk on the South Side of Highway 70 from College Avenue to Stadium Avenue.
   
   

2. On private property except where a sign allowing such use has been posted or permission granted by the owner, lessee or person in charge of the property.
   
   

3. In areas where not prohibited, operators of skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, roller skis or play vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to other pedestrians using public sidewalks, and shall not otherwise, congregate, endanger or interfere with pedestrian traffic on those sidewalks.

Section 12-2-4      Traffic Control Devices

1. Upon recommendation of the police chief and approval of the council, the town manager shall have placed and maintained traffic control devices, signs and signals when and as required under the traffic regulations of the town to make effective the provisions of said regulations, and may have placed and maintained such additional traffic control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic under the traffic laws of the town or under state law or to guide or warn traffic.
   
   

2. The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the traffic regulations of the town unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted in this chapter or by state law.

Section 12-2-5      Authority to Designate Crosswalks, Establish Safety Zones and Mark Traffic Lanes

The town manager, upon recommendation of the police chief and approval by the council, is hereby authorized:

1. To have designated and maintained, by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where, in his opinion, there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at such other places as he may deem necessary.
   
   

2. To establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians.
   
   

3. To have marked lanes for traffic on street pavement at such places as he may deem advisable, consistent with the traffic laws of the town.

Section 12-2-6      Authority to Place and Obedience to Turning Markers

1. The town manager, upon recommendation of the police chief, is authorized to have placed markers, buttons or signs within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at such intersections, and such course to be traveled as so indicated may conform to or be other than as prescribed by law.
   
   

2. When authorized markers, buttons or other indications are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning thereat, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of such indications.

Section 12-2-7      Authority to Place and Obedience to Restricted Turn Signs

1. The town manager, upon recommendation of the police chief and approval by the council, is hereby authorized to determine those intersections at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right, left or U-turn and shall place proper signs at such intersections.  The making of such turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours, in which event the same shall be plainly indicated on the signs, or such signs may be removed when such turns are permitted.
   
   

2. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right, left or U-turn is permitted, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of any such sign.

Section 12-2-8      Limitations on Turning Around

The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street in a business district and shall not so turn a vehicle upon any other street unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic.

Section 12-2-9      One-Way Streets and Alleys

1. The council may designate any streets or alleys which are to be limited to one-way traffic.
   
   

2. Whenever the council designates any one-way street or alley, the town manager shall have placed and maintained signs giving notice thereof, and no such regulation shall be effective unless such signs are in place.  Signs indicating the direction of lawful traffic movement shall be placed at every intersection where movement of traffic in the opposite direction is prohibited.

Section 12-2-10    Regulation of Traffic at Intersections

1. The council shall designate through streets, intersections where stops are required, and intersections where vehicles shall yield the right-of-way.
   
   

2. Whenever the council shall designate any through street or intersection where vehicles are to stop or yield the right-of-way, the town manager shall erect and maintain the appropriate signs at every location where a vehicle must stop or yield the right-of-way.

Section 12-2-11    Designation of Through Streets^[1]

The following streets are hereafter to be known as through streets:

1. First Street - beginning at Reay Lane - East to First Avenue continuing on First Avenue South to Main Street and North to town limits.
2. Main Street is under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Highway Department.
3. Church Street - beginning at Stadium Avenue - East to town limits.
4. Church Street - beginning at Stadium Avenue - West to Reay Lane and continuing North on Reay Lane to Main Street.
5. First Avenue from Main Street - South to Church Street.
6. First Avenue from Church Street South to town limits.
7. Second Avenue from First Street - South to Main Street.
8. Second Avenue from Main Street - South to Church Street.
9. Third Avenue from First Street - South to Main Street.
10. Third Avenue from Main Street - South to Church Street.
11. Fourth Avenue from First Street - South to Main Street.
12. Fourth Avenue from Main Street - South to Church Street.
13. High School Avenue from First Street - South to Main Street.
14. High School Avenue from Main Street - South to Church Street.
15. High School Avenue from Church Street - South to Railroad Track.
16. College Avenue from First Street - South to Main Street.
17. College Avenue from Main Street - South to Church Street.
18. College Avenue from Church Street - South to Railroad Street.
19. Stadium Avenue from First Street - South to Main Street.
20. Stadium Avenue from Main Street - South to town limits.
21. Eighth Avenue from First Street - South to Main Street.
22. Eighth Avenue from Main Street - South to Church Street.
23. Reay Lane from Main Street - South to town limits.
24. Reay Lane from Main Street - North to town limits.

To facilitate a safe and orderly flow of traffic upon streets under the jurisdiction of the town, stop signs shall be placed upon all streets intersecting with said through streets and other traffic signs and devices as deemed necessary.

Section 12-2-12    Drivers to Obey Signs

Whenever traffic signs are erected as provided in this chapter, every driver of a vehicle shall obey such signs unless otherwise directed to proceed by a police officer or a traffic control signal.  No driver shall drive upon or through any private property such as an oil station, vacant lot or similar property to avoid obedience to any regulation included in this chapter.

Section 12-2-13    Processions

1. No procession or parade, except funeral processions, shall be held without first securing a permit from the police chief, and all such requests for permits shall state the time, place of formation, proposed line of march, destination and such other information as the police chief may require therein.
   
   

2. A funeral procession composed of a procession of vehicles shall be identified by such methods as may be determined and designated by the police chief.
   
   

3. No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the conspicuously designated vehicles comprising a funeral or other authorized procession while such vehicles are in motion.  This provision shall not apply at intersections where traffic is controlled by traffic control signals or a police officer. 
   
   

4. Each driver in a funeral or other procession shall drive as near to the right hand edge of the roadway as practical and shall follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practical and safe.

Section 12-2-14    Unnecessary Squealing Tires^[2]

No person shall operate any motor vehicle at such a speed on a curve or a turn or accelerate such motor vehicle in such a manner as to create loud and unnecessary noise through the squealing of tires upon the pavement.

Section 12-2-15    Damage to Roadway^[3]

No person shall operate a motor vehicle, including farm equipment, in such a manner as to cause damage to any public roadway.

Section 12-2-16    Streets under Construction or Repair^[4]

No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon a roadway under construction or a roadway under repair when signs and barricades are visibly in place or a flagman is present so designating that the roadway is closed to all vehicular traffic.

ARTICLE 12-3        PARKING

12-3-1           Method of Parking

12-3-2           Blocking Traffic

12-3-3           Parking Adjacent to Schools

12-3-4           Authority to Erect Signs Restricting Parking

12-3-5           Parking Vehicles on Sidewalks

12-3-6           Parking or Encroachments on Main Street

12-3-7           Restricted Parking Areas for the Physically Disabled

12-3-8           Abandoned Vehicles

 Section 12-3-1      Method of Parking^[5]

Except as otherwise posted, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway where there are adjacent curbs shall be so stopped or parked with the vehicle parallel to and within eighteen inches of the curb.

Section 12-3-2      Blocking Traffic

1. No person shall stop, stand or park any motor vehicle, or other vehicle, upon a street in the town in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic, except that a person may stop temporarily, in the actual loading or unloading of passengers, or when necessary, in the observance of traffic signs or signals of a police officer.
   

2. No person shall park a motor vehicle, or other vehicle, within an alley or entrance to a private driveway except for the loading or unloading of materials, and not then unless such loading or unloading can be accomplished without blocking the alley to the free movement of vehicular traffic.

Section 12-3-3      Parking Adjacent to Schools^[6]

When signs are erected indicating no parking on that side of the street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place for one hour before school opens until one hour after school closes on any school day.

Section 12-3-4      Authority to Erect Signs Restricting Parking

The town manager, upon approval of the council, may erect signs or provide markings requiring parking at an angle to the curb, allowing parking on the left hand curb on one-way streets, notifying drivers that parking is prohibited and restricting parking in any way that may be necessary.  When such signs have been erected, or markings provided, no person shall stop or stand a vehicle in disobedience to such parking restrictions.

Section 12-3-5      Parking Vehicles on Sidewalks

No person shall park any vehicle, whether in usable condition or not, nor shall an owner permit his vehicle to be parked upon any sidewalk in the town.

Section 12-3-6      Parking or Encroachments on Main Street^[7]

1. No person shall park or leave standing a vehicle on Main Street within the corporate limits of the town, in any manner other than at the curb of said street and parallel thereto.
   
   

2. No person shall park or leave standing a motor vehicle on Main Street overnight or for a period longer than two hours during the daylight hours.
   
   

3. No person shall encroach upon or make private use of Main Street, as designated as right-of-way for U.S. Highway 70 to the Arizona Department of Transportation from property line to property line for the full length of the street within the corporate limits of the town.

Section 12-3-7      Restricted Parking Areas for the Physically Disabled^[8]

1. No person shall park a vehicle in a parking space set aside and identified for use only by persons with physical disabilities, unless the vehicle has displayed thereon a distinguishing insignia or numbered plates bearing the international wheelchair symbol as provided in A.R.S. § 28-881.
   
   

2. Subsection A of this section shall apply only to those parking spaces identified with standard signs or other markers, as specified in A.R.S. § 28-883.

Section 12-3-8      Abandoned Vehicles

Any trailer, motor home, boat or other vehicle remaining parked upon any street or right-of-way of the town for more than seventy-two hours is declared to be an abandoned vehicle, and the police may remove such vehicle from the street at the expense of the owner of the vehicle.

ARTICLE 12-4        BICYCLES

12-4-1           Definitions

12-4-2           Bicycle Identification Stickers

12-4-3           Transfer of Ownership

12-4-4           Numbering by Police Department

Section 12-4-1  Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Bicycle" means any two-wheeled vehicle having a tandem arrangement of the wheels and having cranks, levers or pedals for its propulsion by the feet.
   
   

2. "Owner" means a person who holds the legal title to a bicycle, or if the bicycle is the subject of a lease or an agreement for the conditional sale thereof, with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or if a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then such lessee, conditional vendee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner.

Section 12-4-2      Bicycle Identification Stickers

1. The police department shall furnish to every bicycle owner an identification sticker which shall have displayed upon it a number assigned to the bicycle and to the owner.
   
   

2. Identification stickers on bicycles shall be permanently applied to the bicycle by the police department.
   
   

3. In the event any identification sticker is lost, destroyed or mutilated so as not to be legible, the owner of such sticker shall make application to the police department and shall be issued a duplicate upon approval of such application by the police department.
   
   

4. Identification stickers shall not be transferable from one bicycle to another.

Section 12-4-3      Transfer of Ownership

When the owner of a bicycle transfers or assigns his ownership or interest thereto or when his ownership or interest is transferred by legal proceedings, the transferee, before operating or permitting the operating of such a bicycle, shall first report the transfer to the police department.

Section 12-4-4      Numbering by Police Department

The police department may stamp such identifying numbers upon the frame and removable parts of licensed bicycle as in their discretion is practicable.

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