Safety, Wellness, and Youth
Committee Memorandum
TO: SAFETY, WELLNESS, AND DATE: OCTOBER 15, 2025
YOUTH COMMITTEE
FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 10 – VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC CHAPTER 10.56 – RESTRICTED USE OF CERTAIN STREETS OF RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING SECTION 10.56.070 REGARDING FINES AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 10.56.
ISSUES:
Consider the proposed ordinance amending Riverside Municipal Code Title 10 – Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 10.56 – Restricted Use of Certain Streets by adding Section 10.56.070 regarding fines and penalties for violations of Chapter 10.56 and recommend that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee:
Receive and discuss the proposed ordinance amending Riverside Municipal Code Title 10 – Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 10.56 – Restricted Use of Certain Streets: and Recommend that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance amending Riverside Municipal Code Title 10 – Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 10.56 – Restricted Use of Certain Streets by adding Section 10.56.070 regarding fines and penalties for violations of Chapter 10.56.
BACKGROUND:
Riverside Municipal Code (RMC) Chapter 10.56 – Restricted Use of Certain Streets outlines various restrictions related to operating vehicles in specific areas throughout the City of Riverside. The restrictions are primarily related to weight and axle limits of commercial vehicles. Violations are often enforced by Riverside Police Department officers using various subsections of RMC Chapter 10.56 as well as applicable California Vehicle Codes.
The Riverside Police Department and City Attorney’s Office are proposing revisions to RMC Chapter 10.56, which would increase the penalty associated with violations of this chapter when enforced through the city’s administrative citation process. If recommended by the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee and adopted by the City Council, the proposed revisions will be incorporated into RMC Chapter 10.56.
DISCUSSION:
City personnel have received recurring community complaints regarding commercial trucks driving through restricted areas of the City of Riverside. RMC Chapter 10.56 was reviewed for potential areas of improvement. One suggestion discussed was the fine amount associated with violations of RMC Chapter 10.56.
While the current administrative fine of $100 provides a nominal penalty, both community feedback and anecdotal reports from truck drivers indicate that the existing amount is viewed as insignificant and does not serve as a meaningful deterrent. In practice, commercial truck operators may view the $100 fine as simply a “cost of doing business” rather than an incentive to comply with prohibited truck routes. To achieve actual deterrence and reinforce the City’s regulatory intent, the fine amount should be set at a level that outweighs the convenience or financial benefit of violating the RMC.
The attached redline version of RMC Chapter 10.56 reflects proposed revisions that include adding Section 10.56.070 which increases fines associated with violations of this chapter to $1,000.00.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of the clarified language and the updated fine amounts will likely result in a small increase in revenue due to an increase in the fine from $100 to $1,000, however, the exact revenue estimates are unknown at this time.
Prepared by: Adam LeVesque, Police Lieutenant
Approved by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Ordinance in Redline
Presentation
Proposed amendments to RMC 10.56 ● Page 3