For the purposes of this chapter, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated, except when such
meanings would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Mayor
and Common Council:
BUS
A.
A motor vehicle that is designed to carry more
than 10 passengers and is used to carry people.
B.
Any other motor vehicle that is designed and
used to carry people for compensation, except for a taxicab.
BUSINESS DISTRICT
The territory contiguous to and including a street or highway
when 50% or more of the frontage thereon for a distance of 300 feet
or more is occupied by buildings in use for business
DRIVE
To drive, operate, move or be in actual physical control
of a vehicle, including the exercise of control over or the steering
of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle.
DRIVER
Any individual who drives a vehicle.
HIGHWAY
The entire width between the boundary lines of any way or
thoroughfare of which any part is used by the public for vehicular
travel, whether or not the way or thoroughfare has been dedicated
to the public within the City and accepted by any proper authority.
MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS
Includes the following: North Longwell Avenue Municipal Lot,
Longwell Avenue Municipal Lot Annex (formerly known as "Key Street
Municipal Lot"), south end of the LeRoy L. Conaway Municipal Lot (formerly
known as "Railroad Municipal Lot") and the north end of the LeRoy
L. Conaway Lot, Chapel Municipal Lot, Albion Municipal Lot. Winter's
Municipal Lot, Eugene A. Bauerlien Municipal Lot, Longwell Avenue
Municipal Parking Garage and the Westminster Square Municipal Parking
Garage.
[Added 3-24-2003 by Ord. No. 698]
OPERATE
As used in reference to a vehicle, to drive, as defined in
this section.
OPERATOR
As used in reference to a vehicle, driver, as defined in
this section.
OWNER
As used in reference to a vehicle:
A.
A person who has the property in or title to
the vehicle.
B.
Includes a person who, subject to a security
interest in another person, is entitled to the use and possession
of the vehicle.
PARK
To halt a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, other than
temporarily:
A.
When necessary to avoid conflict with other
traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or
a traffic control device.
B.
For the purpose of and while actually engaged
in loading or unloading property or passengers.
PARKING METER
A device which shall indicate thereon the length of time
during which a vehicle may be parked in a particular place, which
shall have as a part thereof a receptacle or chamber for receiving
and storing coins of the United States or city-approved tokens, a
slot or place in which such coins may be deposited, a timing mechanism
to indicate the passage of the interval of time during which parking
is permissible and which shall also display an appropriate signal
when the aforesaid interval of time shall have elapsed and brief instructions
as to its operation and the length of time of parking allowed upon
the deposit of the required coin or coins. The term "parking meter"
shall also include the mechanisms and equipment used by the City to
measure time and impose charges for the Longwell Avenue Municipal
Parking Garage and the Westminster Square Municipal Parking Garage.
[Amended 3-24-2003 by Ord. No. 698]
PARKING SPACE
A portion of the surface of the street of sufficient length
and depth from the sidewalk curb to accommodate a vehicle to be parked,
as shall be specified and marked off by authority of the Mayor and
Common Council.
POLICE OFFICER
Any member of the City Police Department who has the authority
to make arrests and also includes any officer authorized to direct
or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of any of the
provisions of the City Code and the Maryland Vehicle Law or of local
or any other traffic laws or regulations.
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
The territory contiguous to and including a street or highway
not comprising a business district when over 50% of the frontage on
such highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is improved with individual
residences or building uses for residential purposes.
SNOW TIRES
Those tires that are in a good state of repair and that:
A.
Are normally designated by their manufacturer
as "snow tires."
B.
Are approved by the Administrator as meeting
the standards of effectiveness required of normally designated "snow
tires."
C.
Have antiskid patterns cut into the treaded
surfaces to form bars, buttons or blocks specially designed to give
effective traction on snow- or ice-covered highways.
STAND
To halt a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, other than
temporarily:
A.
When necessary to avoid conflict with other
traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or
a traffic control device.
B.
For the purposes of and while actually engaged
in receiving or discharging passengers.
STOP
A.
Where used in a mandatory sense, the complete
cessation from movement.
B.
Where used in a prohibitory sense, to halt even
momentarily a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, except when
necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with
the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device.
STREET
Includes any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard,
parkway, alley, lane, viaduct, bridge and the approaches thereto within
the City used by the public, whether actually dedicated to the public
and accepted by the proper public authority or otherwise. It also
means the entire width thereof between abutting property lines and
includes roads and driveways of the state.
TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE
Any sign, signal, marking or device not inconsistent with
the Maryland Transportation Article, placed or erected by authority
of the Mayor and Common Council or other public body or official having
jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL
Any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically
operated, by which traffic is alternatively directed to stop and permitted
to proceed.
VEHICLE
Every self-propelled device in, upon or by which any person
or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except
devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks or propelled
by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated
upon rails or tracks.
[Amended 5-8-1995 by Ord. No. 598]
This chapter shall have no application to the
operation and parking of a vehicle or bicycle by a police officer
when on duty or conducting official police business.
In dealing with abandoned vehicles, the Westminster City Police Department is authorized to utilize the procedures set forth in Subtitle 2 of Title 25 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland as it is presently codified or as it may be subsequently amended. Further, any vehicle impounded under §§
155-10 and
155-11 shall be deemed to be an abandoned vehicle if it is not reclaimed by its owner within 48 hours after impoundment.