HomeMy Public PortalAboutOrd. 1510Ordinance No. 1510
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD ADDING A NEW CHAPTER
7 -14.4 TO THE LYNWOOD MUNICIPAL CODE AND PROHIBITING
"CRUISING" ON LONG BEACH BOULEVARD BETWEEN TWEEDY AND
MARTIN LUTHER DING, JR. BOULEVARDS
WHEREAS, the City of Lynwood ( "City ") is a general -law City located in the State of
California; and
WHEREAS, the courts have declared that the right to operate motor vehicles — a
potentially dangerous undertaking — in public places is not a natural and unrestrained
right, but rather a privilege subject to reasonable regulations enacted under the police
power and in the interest of public safety; and
WHEREAS, the power of the State Legislature to regulate travel over public roads is
thus extensive, and may be exercised in any reasonable manner to conserve the safety of
travelers and pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, the City, pursuant to Section 21 of the California Vehicle Code, may enact
and enforce ordinances relating to automobiles and traffic when authorized to do so under
State law; and
WHEREAS, Section 21000(k) of the Vehicle Code allows the City to prohibit
"cruising," as hereinafter defined, in a manner meeting certain procedural and notice
requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City finds that there has recently been an increase in vehicular
"cruising," as defined herein, which has resulted in extreme traffic congestion, an
increased level of crime, and depletion of police services to the community;
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A new Chapter 7 -14.4 is hereby added to the Lynwood Municipal Code, to
read as follows:
7 -14.4 Vehicular Cruising.
a. Definitions.
1) Cruising. As used in this chapter, vehicular "cruising" is defined as
driving or occupying any motor vehicle on a street or highway three or
more times within a four -hour period, past a traffic control point
designated by the ranking peace officer on duty, established at or near a
place where traffic is congested.
2) Affected area refers to the portion of Long Beach Boulevard between
Tweedy Boulevard and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. This is the area
designated as subject to cruising controls.
b. General Prohibition
1. No person shall operate or occupy a motor vehicle past a traffic control
point established at or near a place where traffic is congested, within four
hours after the vehicle operator has been given written notice by a peace
officer that further driving past the traffic control point within this time
frame is prohibited. Each successive trip past the traffic control point shall
constitute a separate violation of this section, and no additional written
notice shall be required for such separate violation.
2. This section shall not apply to the drivers, operators or passengers of the
following vehicles:
1. Any authorized emergency vehicle as defined in Section 165 of
the California Vehicle Code;
2. Any publicly owned vehicle of any city, county, district, state, or
federal agency;
3. Any vehicle licensed for public transportation or vehicles which
are normally used for business purposes and are engaged in such
business use.
3. No person is in violation of this section unless:
1. That person has been given the written notice on a previous
driving trip past the traffic control point and then again passes the
control point within the prohibited time frame; and
2. The beginning and end of the portion of the street subject to
vehicular cruising controls are clearly identified by signs that
reference the appropriate provisions of this chapter.
c. Traffic control point. The ranking peace officer on duty within the affected area
shall have the authority to establish one or more traffic control points at or near
the area of traffic congestion for the purpose of regulating vehicular cruising. The
city traffic engineer, or the ranking peace officer on duty, or his designee, shall
cause "No Cruising" signs to be placed at the beginning and end of the affected
area. These signs shall clearly reference Section 7- 20.24(b) of the Lynwood
Municipal Code as well as Vehicle Code Section 21100(k). The signs shall be
prominently displayed and shall be visible to motorists regardless of the
motorists' direction.
d. Written notice. Any person who, as the operator of, or passenger in, a motor
vehicle driven past a vehicle control point established pursuant to Section 7-
20.24(c) at least two times within a four -hour period, may be given written notice
that further driving past the traffic control point will be a violation of Section 7-
20.24(b) of this code.
e. Penalty. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, it shall be a
misdemeanor for any person to violate the provisions of Section 7- 20.24(b) herein,
and upon conviction thereof, such person shall be punished by imprisonment in
the county jail for not less than five days nor more than six months, or by a fine of
not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or both such
fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 6th
ATTEST:
O�' A' U, /
ANDREA L. HOOPER, CCITT CLERK
day of November, 2001.
PAUL H. RICHARDS, II, MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
CITY MANAGER
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
P
4HN K. T VER,
CITY ATTORNEY
l
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
) SS.
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, do hereby certify that the
foregoing ordinance was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Lynwood
at a regular meeting held on the 6 day of November, 2001.
AYES: COUNCILMEN BYRD, REA, REYES, SANCHEZ, RICHARDS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
_ 1
City Clerk, City of Lynwood
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
)SS.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
I, the undersigned City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, and Clerk of the City
Council of said City, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a full, true and
correct copy of Ordinance No. 1510 on file in my office and that said
ordinance was adopted on the date and by the vote therein stated.
Dated this 5 day of November, 2001.
t
City Clerk