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13.12 - 1 CHAPTER 13.12 TRAFFIC OBSTRUCTIONS SECTION: 13.12.010: Street Intersection Sight Obstruction 13.12.020: Sight Areas and Sight Line Setbacks 13.12.030: Traffic Control Device Obstruction 13.12.040: Sight Distances Defined 13.12.050: Walkway or Bicycle Path Obstruction 13.12.060: Special Traffic Obstruction Cases - Costs - Finality of Decision 13.12.070: Obstruction Declared a Nuisance 13.12.010: Street Intersection Sight Obstruction: Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, no person may park vehicles or install, set out, or maintain any sign, fence, hedge, shrubbery, natural growth, or other obstruction which impedes the view of motor vehicle operators at an intersection within the sight areas and between the height limits defined in Section 13.12.020. (Ord. 2756, Sec. 1, 1983) 13.12.020: Sight Areas and Sight Line Setbacks: The sight area at an intersection is that area between the intersecting traffic lanes and the sight line setbacks required for each type of intersection. Sight line setbacks required for a motor vehicle operator's view, both to the left and to the right, as the operator approaches the intersection, are as follows: Sight line Setback, Minor Street/Major Street. Intersections included in this group are those controlled by a stop sign or flashing red signal for the minor street and amber, green, or no control on the major street (see Figure No. Where conditions preclude the sight line setbacks shown on Figure No. 1, these setbacks may be modified at the discretion of the Traffic Engineer. The minor street setback point may be reduced from fifteen feet (15’) to ten feet (10’) back from the through street traffic lane edge, and the major street setback point reduced to the following distances from the intersection. Minimum Distance Speed Limit from Center of (Major Street) Intersection 50 mph 375 feet 45 mph 325 feet 40 mph 275 feet 35 mph 225 feet 30 mph 200 feet 25 mph 150 feet ---PAGE BREAK--- 13.12 - 2 Figure 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- 13.12 - 3 Sight Line Setback, Uncontrolled Crossing Intersections. The sight line setback for uncontrolled crossing intersections are shown on Figure No. 2. Figure 2 SIGHTLINE SETBACK UNCONTROLLED CROSSING INTERSECTION ---PAGE BREAK--- 13.12 - 4 Sight Line Setback, Yield and T-Intersections. The sight line setbacks for yield and T-intersections are shown on Figure No. 3. Sight Line Setback, Others. Intersections with traffic signals or stop signs on all approaches have no established sight areas. Sight areas for intersections not clearly included in the above types and for which view problems may exist will be set by the Traffic Engineer. Figure 3 Sight Obstruction Height Limits. There may be no obstruction between the height of thirty-six inches (36”) and ninety inches (90”) above the roadway surface within the defined sight line setback area, except as allowed in Section 13.12.020(6). Sight Obstructions Allowed. The following obstructions within the established sight areas are permissible: Two obstructions within each sight area, each of which is not more than two and one-half feet (2½ feet) wide when viewed from the driver’s position in a motor vehicle and which has at least four feet (4 feet) of clear view inside the obstruction. At distances greater than forty feet (40 feet) from the view point, the obstruction may be up to three feet (3 feet) wide. (Ord. 3577 Sec. 1, 1994: Ord. 3274 Sec. 7, 1990: Ord. 2756, Sec. 1, 1983) SIGHTLINE SETBACK YIELD AND T-INTERSECTIONS ---PAGE BREAK--- 13.12 - 5 13.12.030: Traffic Control Device Obstruction: Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, no person may park vehicles or install, set out, or maintain any fence, hedge, shrubbery, natural growth, or other obstruction which impedes the view of a vehicle operator of any official traffic control device within the sight distances defined in Section 13.12.040. (Ord. 2756, Sec. 1, 1983) 13.12.040: Sight Distances Defined: Official traffic control devices must be completely and continuously visible from a point of nine feet (9 feet) from the right edge of the travel lane and at the distance in advance of the traffic control devices listed in the following table: Distance in Advance Posted Speed Limit Traffic Control Device 55 mph 625 feet 50 mph 540 feet 45 mph 460 feet 40 mph 390 feet 35 mph 325 feet 30 mph 270 feet 25 mph 215 feet 20 mph 175 feet (Ord. 3577 Sec. 2, 1994: Ord. 2756, Sec. 1, 1983) 13.12.050: Walkway or Bicycle Path Obstruction: Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, no person may park vehicles or install, set out, or maintain any sign, fence, hedge, shrubbery, natural growth, or other obstruction which impedes the use of a walkway or bicycle path by a pedestrian or bicyclist within the public right-of-way. No obstruction of a walkway or bicycle pathway may exist within the right-of-way unless seven or more feet above the surface. (Ord. 2756, Sec. 1, 1983) 13.12.060: Special Traffic Obstruction Cases - Costs - Finality of Decision: When obstructions exist which do not comply with this chapter but may not be removed without severe hardship, the Traffic Engineer may allow the obstruction to remain so long as the intersection is otherwise reasonably safe and other safety measures are available. Costs of such correction must be borne by the property owner or occupant. The Traffic Engineer’s decision is final. (Ord. 2756, Sec. 1, 1983) 13.12.070: Obstruction Declared a Nuisance: Every obstruction prohibited by this chapter is a nuisance. Any person violating any provision of this chapter after notice of the obstruction shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished accordingly. (Ord. 2756, Sec. 1, 1983)