Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 10.48 Trucks and Truck Routes

No operator of the following vehicles shall drive the same in any business district between the hours of seven a.m. and six p.m. on any day except Sunday.

Any vehicle so loaded that any part of its load extends more than three feet to the front or more than ten feet to the rear of said vehicle.

(Ord. 2125 (part), 1963: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.131)

(a) For the purpose of this chapter, unless it is plainly evident from the context that a different meaning is intended, certain terms used herein are defined as follows:

(1) "Destination" or "destinations" mean either a single delivery or several deliveries within multiple delivery zones as delineated on the maps attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter and made a part thereof.*

* Editor's Note: The maps referred to herein may be found at the end of this title in a printed edition of this code.

(2) "Local truck route" means any street as herein designated upon which trucks with an origin and/or destination within the city may operate only between the hours of seven a.m. and seven p.m.

(3) "Restricted street" means all streets in the city except through truck routes and local truck routes as herein established.

(4) "Through truck route" means any street as herein designated upon which the unrestricted use of trucks is permitted.

(5) "Truck" means any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight of seven tons.

(Ord. 2181 (part), 1963: Ord. 2280 (part), 1966: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.132(a))

(a) All streets or parts of streets in the city of Palo Alto other than those designated in this section as through or local truck routes are hereby designated as restricted streets.

(b) When appropriate signs are erected, as hereinafter provided, no person shall operate, drive or cause or permit to be operated or driven, any truck on any restricted street, except as hereinafter provided.

(Ord. 2181 (part), 1963: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.132(b))

The following named streets are hereby declared to be through truck routes for the movement of trucks, and the city engineer is hereby authorized and directed to designate such streets by appropriate signs as "THROUGH TRUCK ROUTE," which method of designation the city council has determined will best serve to give notice of this chapter.

(Ord. 2181 (part), 1963: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.132(c))

The following named streets are hereby declared to be local truck routes upon which trucks with an origin and/or destination within the city may operate only between the hours of seven a.m. and seven p.m.

Oregon Avenue from Alma Street to Bayshore Freeway is hereby declared to be a truck route twenty-four hours a day but only for trucks making pickups or deliveries from or to the Middlefield Road multiple delivery zone; as to all other trucks Oregon Avenue from Alma Street to Bayshore Freeway is hereby declared to be a restricted street twenty-four hours a day.

(Ord. 2282, 1966: Ord. 2281, 1966: Ord. 2280 (part), 1966: Ord. 2181 (part), 1963: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.132(d))

(a) Entering City. No truck shall enter or leave the city except on a through or local truck route.

(b) Outside Destination, Through Traffic. All trucks entering the city for destinations outside the city shall operate only over a through truck route.

(c) Inside Destination. All trucks entering the city for destinations in the city shall proceed only over a through or local truck route and shall deviate therefrom only by the shortest and most direct route to the nearest through or local truck route, except that a truck may go directly to the next destination by the shortest and most direct route without renaming to the nearest through or local truck route if it will result in a shorter distance being traveled on restricted streets.

(Ord. 2181 (part), 1963: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.132(e))

(a) Portion of Trip Outside of the City. If any portion of a truck's trip is outside of the city even though its origin is inside the city it shall be considered as an outside origin trip upon re-entry into the city and Section 10.48.060 shall apply.

(b) Outside Destinations. All trucks, on a trip originating in the city and traveling in the city for destinations outside the city, shall proceed by the shortest and most direct route to the nearest through or local truck route.

(c) Inside Destinations. All trucks, on a trip originating in the city and traveling entirely within the city for destinations in the city, shall proceed by the shortest and most direct route to the nearest through or local truck route and shall deviate therefrom only by the shortest and most direct route between each destination and the nearest through or local truck route except that a truck may go directly to the next destination by the shortest and most direct route without returning to the nearest through or local truck route if it will result in a shorter distance being traveled on restricted streets.

(Ord. 2181 (part), 1963: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.132(f))

Any police officer shall have the authority to require any person driving or in control of any commercial vehicle not proceeding over a through truck route to proceed to any public or private scale available for the purpose of weighing and determining whether this section has been complied with.

(Ord. 2181 (part), 1963: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.132(g))

(a) The provisions of this chapter shall not prohibit the operation of any truck coming from a through truck route having ingress or egress by direct route to and from a restricted street when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on the restricted street or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction of any building or structure upon the restricted street for which a building permit has previously been obtained so long as the operator of such truck takes a route as prescribed in Sections 10.48.060 and 10.48.070 hereof.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

(1) Passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission and school buses;

(2) Any vehicle owned or operated by a public utility, or by the city, or any vehicle used for the removal of refuse under contract with the city;

(3) Any vehicle which is authorized by written contract with the city to use the Palo Alto solid waste disposal site;

(4) Any authorized emergency vehicle.

(Ord. 3855 § 1, 1989: Ord. 2661, 1972: Ord. 2181 (part), 1963: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.132(h))

Truck routes designated in permits issued under the provisions of Chapter 16.28 of this code shall be in compliance with routes established in this chapter.

(Ord. 2181 (part), 1963: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.132(i))