HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-07-07; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Traffic Safety Commission consider posting a speed limit on Cadencia StreetCITY Of CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
COMMISSION REPORT OF: July 7, 1986 ITEM NO. 1
LOCATION: Cadencia Street -Rancho Santa Fe Road to La Costa
Avenue
INITIATED BY: Dennis Price, 7515 Cadencia Street, Carlsbad, CA
92008
PROBLEM AS STATED BY REQUESTOR:
Cadencia Street needs to have speed limits posted.
DATA:
This item was continued from the Traffic Safety Commission
meeting of June 2, 1986 (see previuos report attached). Two
issues were to be researched and reported back to the
Commission. They are:
1. Is it possible to legally post two (2) different speed
limits on Cadencia Street?
2. Could a 25 M.P.H. speed limit be legally enforced by the
Police Department?
From a legal viewpoint, under the proper circumstances, it is
possible to have two different speed limits posted along one
street. These limits would have to be determined upon the
basis of an engineering and traffic survey per Section 22357
of the California Vehicle Code (attached). Speed zones of
less than half a mile and short transition zones• should be
avoided.
The Police Department could not enforce a 25 M.P.H. speed
limit with radar, when the speed limit is not justified by an
engineering and traffic survey within five years prior to the
date of the alleged violation (Section 40802 of the Cali-
fornia Vehicle Code, [attached]). Pacing of the alledged
violator by the Police would be necessary in such a case,
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
COMMISSION REPORT OF: July 7, 1986
Continued
ITEM NO. 1
i.e., the Police officer follows the car in question for
approximately one-half mile, checking the speed on the
speedometer and then pulling the speeding vehicle over. A
significant amount of manpower resources are required to use
the pacing method, which limits the amount of enforcement
effort available elsewhere.
The homes located on the northerly portion of Cadencia Street
near Rancho Santa Fe Road would qualify as a "residence
district" per Section 515 of the California Vehicle Code and
would have a prima facie speed limit of 25 M.P.H. This
district is approximately 0.40 miles in length. The
remaining portion of Cadencia Street would not qualify as a
residence district.
The 85th percentile speed on the portion of Cadencia Street
near Del Rey Avenue was established by a speed survey at 46
M.P.H. This ls the speed that 85% of the drivers t~avel at
or below and thus feel to be a safe and prudent speed based
upon their perception of roadway conditions.and their own
driving abilities.
The basic speed law states that no person shall drive at a
speed that is greater than reasonable or prudent. Most
drivers comply with this law and disregard regulations or
speed limit signs that they consider unreasonable.
In determining the speed limit that is most appropriate to
facilitate the orderly movement of traffic that is reasonable
and safe, several important factors must be considered.
These include accident history, prevailing speeds, unexpected
conditions and any other special circumstances. Only when
roadside development results in traffic conflicts and unusual
conditions not readily apparent to drivers are speed limits
below the 85th percentile warranted.
A review of Cadencia street and the associated physical
conditions such as width, curvature, grade, surface
conditions and other conditions readily apparent to the
dri~er would not require downward speed zoning, as the basic
rule of Section 22350 of the California Vehicle Code is
sufficient· regulation as to such conditions. Traffic
research has shown that when roadways are posted at a speed
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
COMMISSION REPORT OF: July 7, 1986
Continued
ITEM NO. 1
below the 85th
increase. This
speeds, creating
accidents.
percentile, the frequency of accidents can
is due to a wider dispersion of vehicle
more conflicts and thus more potential for
CONCLUSION:
The low accident history and 85th percentile indicates that a
45 M.P.H. speed limit sign could be recommended on the
southerly portion of Cadencia Street. However, considering
that posting the roadway will have little effect on
prevailing speeds and that police enforcement will not
increase, no speed limit should be posted.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the
denied and
area.
request for
the Police
NECESSARY COUNCIL ACTION:
a speed limit on Cadencia Street be
Department continue to monitor this
None required if the request is denied.
§2.2356 -428-Div.11
ln~,.a•• of Freeway Llmll
22356. Whenever the Department of Transpoi'tatlon, after consultation
with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, determines upon the
basis of an.engineering and traffic survey on existing freeway segments,-or
upon the basis of ( ) 1 appropriate design standards and projected traffic
volumes in the case of newly constructed freeway se~ents, that a speed
greater than 65 miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of
vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe upon any state highway,
or portion thereof, which is a freeway with full control of access and without
crossings at gtade otherwise Subject to a maximum speed limit of 65 rpiles
per hour, the ( ) • Department of Transportation, with the approval of the
Department of the California Highway Patrol, may declare a higlier
maximum speed of 70 miles per hour, and shall cause appropriate signs to
be erected giving notice thereof.
No person shall drive a vehicle upon ( )3 that highway at a speed greater
than 70 miles per hour. • • .
Repealed Ch. 11, Stats. 1959. Effective September 18, 1959. •
Acfded Ch. 1135. Stats. 1963. Effective September 20, 1963. Amended Ch. 78, Stats. 1967. Effective November 8. 1967. Amended Ch. 632, Stats. 1969. Effe<:tive Noverriber 10. 1969. Supersedes Ch. 91 and Ch. 138. Amended Ch. 545, Slats. 1975. Effective January l, 1975. • ••
Amended Ch. 579, Stats. 1984. Effective January l, 1985. The 1984 amendment added·the italicized material and at the point(s) indicated delet_ed the following: ••
1 "approaching"
1 "Se<:retary of the Business and Transportation Agency".
~ "such"
lnawo•• of tocal Llndn
22357. Whenever· a local authority determines upon the basis of an
engineering and traffic survey that a speed greater than 25 miles per hour
would facilitate the· orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be
reasonable and safe upon any street other than a st3cte highway otherwise
subject to a prima facie limit of 25 miles per hour, the local authority may
by ordinance determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 30, 35, 40,
45, 50, 55, or 60 miles per hour or a maximum speed limit of 65 miles P!'r hour,
whichever is found most apj)ropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of
traffic and is reasonable ancl safe. The declared prima facie or maximum
speed limit shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof
are erected upon the street and shall not thereafter be revised except upon
the basis of an engineering and traffic surver. The provisions of this section
shall not apply in respect to any 25-mile-per-hour prima facie limit which is
applicable when passing a school building or the grounds thereof. •
Amended Ch. 11, Stats. 1959. Effective September 18, 1009.
Amended Ch. 631, Stats. 1969. Effective November 10, 1969.
Decreo1e of tocal tlmlll
22358. Whenever a local authority determines upon the basis of an
engineering and traffic survey that the limitof65 miles per hour is more than
is reasonable or safe upon any portion of any street other than a state
highway where the limit of 65 miles per hour is applicable, the local authorilY
may ·by ordinance determine and declare a prim a facie speed limit of 60, S.,,
50, 45, 40, 35, 30 or 25 miles per hour, whichever is.found most appropriate
to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic and is reasonable and safe, which
declared prima facie limit shall be effective when appropriate signs giving
notice thereof are erected upon the street.
Amended Ch. 11, Stats. 1959. Effective September 18, 1959.
Decreo•• on Norrow s,,...,
22358.3. Whenever a local authority determines upon the basis of. an
engineering and traffic survey that the prima facie speed limit of 25 miles
oer hour in a business or residence d.istrict or in a public park on any street
• • ···---•:nn •-• r.,.,t in width, other than a state highw•Y• • • ----...1:..-..,,nr.e.of·
Div.11
. -429 -§ 22162
resolution determine and decl . .
per hour, whichever is found :~s~ ~nma fa~1e spee~ limit of20 or 15 mii;s ~h~ decJa~ed prima facie limit sha1ff~opJTiate_ and is reasonable and safe.
gtAv;t'dedg nCohhce thereof are erected upon the :~~vel ~hen appropriate sigils • 1614, Slats 1965 Eft ti Se e Amended Ch. 1095, slats t97'2. £h ve. ptember 17, 1965. : ectwe March 7, 1973. Supersedes Ch 372.
0.U.0•• of toeol tlmlt1 Near Sch00l1 •
22358.4. Whenever a local h . en~neering and traffic sui've :ht onty d_etermir:ies upon the basis of a
per hour es!ablished by paraJapht(gie f,nv:J. f~~1e speed limit of 25 mile~
more t!:>an is reasonable or safe th lo su IVISl!)n (b) of Section 22352 is
resolution, determine and decJa;e a e ?cal au_thonty may, by ordinance or
per hour, whichever is iustillea asp;hma fac1e sp_eed limit of 20 or 15 miles
s~ey: ~o such_ ordinance or resolutioneshfllbprffite ~peed ~mit hy such
Sign& g1vh1~g notice thereof are erected the he. eclive until appropriate a state 1ghway until s h d. upon e ighway nor in thi f
Transportation ~nd such~gi: ~~a:ce tis dapproVed by the rlepart~':[ ~f Added Ch. 102 Stat,. 1974 Elf,.,.., 1 rec e upon the highway ' • ~ ..... ve anuary 1, 1975. •
Do.,,,ward s,,..d Zonln11
~.5. It is the intent of the Le "s] • as ~dth, curvature, grade and su fa g1 ature_ t_hat physical conditions such
readily apparent to a driver in the ce b conditions, or any other condition ("';Jff{1 special downward sp~ed zoni~g s~ili 0 ~~her factors, would not
lS s cent regulation as to such condit! e ic ruJe of Section 22350
Added Ch. 11, Stats. 1959. Effective September 1!0~~
/Joundary lln• s,,..,. ' ·
22:)-59. With respect to bound l. portions thereof are within cliff; ary . ''!e _st~eets and highwa s wh·
under Sec!i~ns 22357 and 22358 sh!zint Junsdi~ttons, no ordinancl ado ~!d hll authonhes having Jurisdiction ofb;heffectr,:e as lo any such portion ~ntil
rave approved ~e same. This section sh~Jporttons) o~ the street concerned. 11;,::!~=~hcons1sting of separate roadWay~-0~~hfnY ~e c~e o_fb~u~dary
• 209, Stats. 196.'.3. Effective April 29, 1963. rent Junsd1chons.
Unkln11 D/1trld1 on local H/11/tway• •
~-Whenever a local a th "I d
:0reneeri~li andtrafficsllrveythat~h~~i~:;Minti uponhthe _b~is of an
J.:-L asonable or safe upon any ti m es per our is more th
•-~•~ay for a distance of not f~:eeo~ of a highway other than a sta~:
fJ!~!S.,. e;~n~'t'/!1::J~:;.,sid~~e, th~l~c~•:/h~~lt~ :::ate3:::r!t~::d
per ~olur, _but not less than 25P mil:S ~~~e ~m,t thhe~eon lower than 65 miles
spee un,t shall be effective when a o~r, w. ich declared prima facie
are erected upon said street o h" h ppropnate Signs giving notice ther f Amended Ch l r ig way ea • I ' Stats. 1009. Effective Septembe; 18 1959
Mullfpl .. tan• H/11/twai,. • • •
dift,22.16!. qn multiple-lane highwa s . h
IH!d:~e: pnNh facie speed limits m;;y b~tes::bliiliedre r&arate roadways
Amendelc~ 2/iJ e procedures specified in Sectioris ~ t I ot;,~~~t ~oad"'.ays ~ • • Stats. 1963. Effective April 29, 1963. • .o ~. mclus1ve,
OOo, Um/I w1,.,. ,..,.on, al Work • .....,2 ·It· • to O • 15 pnma facie a violation of th b ·
a 1u:~ate a hehicle in excess of the posted esp!!1d j.Pe~d law for any person
the ay w ere officers or emplo ees f th 1m1 u~on ~ny portion of
the ::::r, or any ~o~tractor of the !geniy or eh ~gencyl havmg Jurisdiction of
by Passi way or withm the right-of-way so clos i;hem~ oyees, are at Work on
ng traffic. This section appli s j erhe o as to be endangered e on Y w en appropriate signs,
,•,
I I
I I,
' 1!
' I .\
§ 40760 -720-,Div.17
terms of costs and accident or violation redu~tion. This section shall not be
construed as a limitation on the board"s authority to establish a uniform
sanction model.
Added Ch. 722, Stats. 1978. Effecti\•e January I, 1979.
Repealed Ch. 722, Stats. 1978. Qperative July I, 1984.
Amended' Ch. 166, Stats. 1980. Effective June 12, 1980 by terms of an urgency clause.
Amended Ch. 1116, Stats. 1983. Effective January 1, 1984. .
Repealed Ch. 1116, Stats. 1983. Effective July I, 1985.
Article 9. Termination and Transition
Ad/udlcotlon Tron•lllon
40760. Pursuant to Section 40750,5, the administrative adjudication
demonstration program will end on July 1, 1985. It is the intent of the
Le~lature that the transition from administrative adjudication to court
adjudication be expeditious, and yet not impose unnecessary operational and
fiscal burdens on the courts. The board may develop administrative
guidelines and procedures to facilitate this transition, including, but not
limited to, procedures to notify cited motorists whose driver licenses have
been suspended or revoked pursuant to Section 40701 of this code, that their
unresolved citations will be transferred to the jurisdiction of the courts
effective July 1, 1985.
Added Ch. 1116, Stats. 1983. Effective January 1, 1984.
Repealed Ch. 1116, Stats. 1983. Effective July l, 1985.
Court Jurl,dlctlon ol Boord-lmpo••d Su,pon,lon, and Revocations; Foo•
40761. All driving privilege suspensions and revocations imposed by the
board pursuant to Section 40701 and in effect on Julr 1, 1985, shall remain
in effect until the cited person has complied with al the applicable orders
of the board or hearing officer. The municipal court for the district where
the underlying citation Was issued shall have jurisdiction to determine
whether the cited person has so complied, and shall promptly notify the
department when such a suspension or revocation is terminated. Upon
termination of a suspension or revocation, a fee of twenty dollars ($20) shall
be paid to the court, for deposit into the general fund of the county in
addition to any other fees required by this code. However, the court may
waive this fee for good cause shown.
Added Ch. 1116. Stats. 1983. Effective January I, 1984.
Repealed Ch. 1116, Stats. 1983. Effective July 1, 198.S.
Ct,url Adfudlcollon
40762. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the
board shall not ~djudicate notices to appear or notices of violation issued
after December 31, 1984. The issuance and adjudication of these citations
shall be governed by applicable provisions of this code other than this
chapter. •
(b) Commencing July 1, 1985, the municipal court for the judicial district
• where a notice to appear was issued pursuant to Section 40675 shall, with
respect_ to any matter that has not been fully adjudicated by the board, have
junsdiction to receive bail, to adjudicate the matter, and to impose sentence
in accordance with Divisio~ 18 (commencing"with Section 42000)·. The clerk
of the court may fix bail based upon the bail schedules in effect at the time
of payment or accept payment of sanctions established by the board, and anr
payment of sanctions to the court shall be deemed a deposit of bail for all
pilrposes. The citation form;approved pursuant to subdiyision (g) of Section
40666 shall constitute a complaint to which the cited person may enter ·a plea.
I
Added Ch. 1116, Stats. 198.1. Effective January I, 1984.
Repealed Ch. 1116, Stats. 198.'.J. Effective July I, 1985.
Div.17 -721-§ 40802
CHAPTER 3, ILLEGAL EVIDENCE
Article 1. Prosecutions Under Code
. Vehicle and Uniform U,ed by Officer,
• 4~-Every tr~f~ic officer_ o~ _duty for the exclusive or main purpose of
enforcmg the prov1S1ons of D1v1s10n lO or 11 of this code shall wear a full
distinctive un!form, an~ ir th«; officer while_ S? on duty uses a motor vehicle,
it must be pamted a d1stmchve color specified by the commissioner.
~his SE;Cti~n does not aJ?ply t~ an offi_cer assigned exclusively to the duty
of mvesbgahng and securmg evidence m reference to any theft of a vehicle
or failure of a person to stop in the event of an accident or violation of Section
. 231~ or in reference to any felony cha~ge, or to any officer engaged in
servmg any warrant when the officer ts not engaged in patrolling the
.highways for the purpose of enforcing the traffic laws.
. Amended Ch. 202, Stats. 1961. Effective September 15, 1961.
Speed Trap Prohibition
40801. No peace officer or other person shall use a speed trap in arresting
o~ !Ja~ticipati~g or assisting in the arrest of, any person for any alleged
v10 ahon of this code nor s~all any speed trap be used in securing evidence
as to the speed of any vehicle for the purpose of an arrest or prosecution upder this code.
Speed Trap
40802, • A "speed trap" is either of the following:
(a) A particular section of a highway measured as to distaflce and with
boundaries marked. designated, or otherwise determined in order that the
speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle
to travel the known distance.
(b) A partic?lar section of a highway with a prima facie speed limit
prov1d~~ by thlS code or by local ordinance pursuant· to paragraph ( 1) of
subchv1s1on (b) of Section 22352, or established pursuant to Section 22354
22357, 22358, or 22358.3, which speed limit is not justified by an engineering
a~dtr_affic survey conducted within five years prior to the date of the alleged
v10lahon, and where enforcement involves the use of radar or other
elect~onic devices which measure the speed of moving objects. The
provisions of this subdivision do not apply to local streets and roads.
1 For purposes of this section, local streets and roads shall be defined by the
atest functional usage and federal-aid system maps as submitted to the
Fede~al Highway Administration. When these maps have not been
su?m•t!ed, the following definition shall be used: A local street or road
Pr1
1
1ma~ily provides ac?E:ss to abutting residential property and shall meet the fo owmg three cond.thons:
I, Roadway width of not more than 40 feet.
h2. ~ot more th~n one-half mile of ~ninterrupted length. Interruptions
s all mclude official traffic control devices as defined in Section 445.
3. ~at ~ore than one traffic lane in each direction.
d Th1_s section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1987, and as of that
J.ate 1s repealed unless a later enacted statute, which is chaptered before
anuary 1, 1987, deletes or extends that date.
• Amended Ch. 1346. Stats. 1972. Effective March 7, 1973.
~rnended Ch. 200, Stats. 1973. Effective Jul. 9. 1!173, by terms of an urgency clause. inended Ch. 121_0, Stats. 1978. Effective January I, 1979.
~epealed Ch. 1210, Stats. 1978. Operative January 1, 1982.
mended Ch. 357, Stats. l98l. Effective January I, 1982.
Repealed Ch. 357, Stats. 1981. Operative January I, 1987.
NOTE: The foregoing section remains in effect only until January 1 1987 at
Vll'hich time it i1 repealed and the following section becomes effect{ve. '
40802, A "speed trap" is either of the following:
.i
j ":IVUU'tJ UIV.17
(a) A particular section of a highway measured. as to distance and with
boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in or.der that the
speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the lime ii takes the vehicle
to travel the known ·distance. •
(b) A particular section of a highway with a prima facie speed limit
P,rovided by this code or by local ordinance pursuant to paragraph (1) of
subdivision (b) of Section 22352, or established pursuant to Section 22354,
22357, 22358, or 22358.3, which speed limit is not justified by an engineering
and traffic survey conducted within five years prior to the date of the alleged
violatiop, _and where enforcement involves the use of radar or other
electronic devices which measure the Speed of'moving •objects.
This section shall become operative on January 1, 1987.
Amended Ch. 357, Stats. 1981. Operative Janu~ I, 1987.
Speed Trop Ev/djnce
40803. (a) No evidence as to· the speed of a vehicle upon a highway shall
be admitted in any court upon the.trial of any person for an alleged violation
of this code when the evidence is based upon or obtained from or by the
maintenance or use of a speed trap. •
(b) In any prosecution under tliis code of a charge involving·the speed
of a vehicle, where enforcement involves the use of radar or other electronic
devices which measure the speed of moving objects, the prosecution shall
establish, as part of ~ts prima facie case, tiiat the evidence or testimony
presented is not based UP<!n a speed trap as defined in ·subdivision (b) of
Section 40802. Evidence that a traffic and engineering survey has been
conducted within five years of the date of the alleged violation or evidence
that the offense was committed on a local street or road as defined in
subdivision (b) of Section 40802 shall constitute a prima facie case that the
evidence or testimony is not based upon a speed trap as defined m
subdivision (b) of Section 40802.
Amended Ch. 3S7, Stats. 1981. Effective January I, 1982.
Te1tlmony --.I on SPffll Trop
4080I. (a) In anr prosecution under this code upon a charge involving
the speed of a vehicle, any officer or other person shall be.incompelerit as
a witness if the testimony is based upon or obtained from or by the
. maintenance or ·use of a speed trap. •
(b) Every officer arresting, or part!cipating or assisting in \he arrest of, a
person so charged while on duty for the exclusive or mam purpose of
enforciµg the provisions of Divisions IO and 11 is incompetent as a witness
if at the lime of such arrest he was not wearin!! a distinct\ve uniforin, or was
using a motor vehicle not painted the distlilctive color specified by the
commissioner. • • ·' • ·' • • •
This section does not apply to an officer assigned exclusively to the d~ty
of investigating and securing evidence in reference to any theft of a vehicle
or failure of a person to stop in the event of an accident or violation ofSecti~n
23109 or in reference to any felo'!Y charge or to any-officer engaged m
serving any warrant when the ·officer is not en_gaged in patrolling the
highways for the purpose of enforcing the traffic laws. • ·
Amended Ch. 58. Stats. 1961. Effective September Uli, 1961.·
Amen~ed Ch. 84, Stats. 1978. Effective January 1, 1919.
Adm/Hlon ol Spe.,J 1,op Evidence
40805. Every court shall be without jurisdiction to render a judgment of
conviction against any person for a violation of this code in\rolving the s~~d
of a vehicle if the court admits any evidence or testimony secured m
violation of, or which is inadmissible under this article.
Po//,-lleporl• .
40806. In the event a defendant charged with an offense under this code
pleads guilty, the trial court shall not al any time prior lo pronouncing
~el!~ence receive or consider any report, verbal or written, of any police or
I
y <1UOJJ
traffic officer or witness of the offense without fully informing the defendant
of all statements in the report or statement of witnesses, or without giving
the defendant an opportunity lo make answer thereto or to produce
witnesses in rebuttal, and .for such purpose the court shall grant a
continu~nce before pronouncing sentence if requested by the defendant.
U•e of Evld•nca Regordln11 Dt1portmenlol Adion
40807. No record of any action taken by the department against a
person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle, nor any testimony regarding
the proceedings at, or concerning, or produced at, any hearing held in
connection with such action, shall be admissible as evidence in any court in
• • any criminal action.
No provision of this section shall in ally way limit the admissibility of such
, records ,or testimony as iS necessary to enforce the provisions of this code
relating to operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver"s license or when
the driving privilege is suspended or revoked, the admissibility of such
records or testimony in any prosecution for failure to disclose any matter at
such a hearing when {equired by law to do so, or the admissibility of such
records and testimony when introduced solely for. the purpose of
impeaching the credibility of a witness.
Added Ch. 604, Stats. 19T1. Effective January I, 1978.
Article 2. Civil Actions
Effecl •ol Con11/cl/on1
40830. In either of the following circumstances a violation of any
provision of this code does not establish negligence as a matter of law, but
iii any civil action under either of the circumstances negligence must he
p"roved as a fact without regard to the violation. The· circumstances under
which this section applies are either:
(a) Where violation-of the provision was required by a law of the federal
goveriiment or by any rule, regulation, directive or order of any agency of
the federal government, the violation of which is subject to penalty under
an act of Congress or by any valid order of military authority.
. (b) Where violation o! the provision was required in order lo comply with
any regulation, directive, or order of the Governor promulgated under the
California Emergency Services Act.
Amended Ch. 438, Stats. 1971. Operative May 3, 1972.
"!Ellecl ol SPffll Con11lcllon
408.'ll. In any civil action proof of speed in excess of any prima facie limit
declared in Section 22352 at a particular time and place does riot establish
negligence as a matter of law liut in all such actions it shall be necessary to
establish as a fact that the operation of-a vehicle at the excess speed
constituted negligence.
Su•pen•lon or llevocoHon of Driving Prlvl/eg•
40832. No record of the suspension or revocation of the privilege to
operate a motor vehicle by the departinent, nQr any testimony of or
C?onceming or produced at the hearing terminating in the suspension or
revocation, shall he admissible as evidence iil any court in any civil action.
llepo,t or Action of O.patlment o• Evld•nce
40833. Neither the report required by Sections 16000, 16001, 16002, or
16003, the action taken by the department pursuant to Chapter 1 of Division
7 (commencing at Section 16000), the findings, if any, of the department
upon which action is based, nor the security filed as provided in that chapt,:r
sliall be referred to in any way, or be any evidence of the negligence or due
care of any party, at the trial of any action at law to_ recover damages.