No person shall drive a vehicle upon a public road, street,
or highway in the city at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent
under the conditions and circumstances then existing. Except when
a special hazard exists that requires lower speeds for compliance
with the above requirement, the limits set shall be lawful, but any
speed in excess of the limits as set for the streets and highways
and portions thereof to which they apply shall be prima facie evidence
that the speed is not reasonable or prudent. All speed limits as specifically
designated by the city are on file in the office of the city clerk.
(1991 Code, sec. 33-61)
No person shall drive a vehicle upon a public alley in the city
at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions
and circumstances then existing. Except when a special hazard exists
that requires lower speeds for compliance with the above requirements,
a speed of ten (10) miles per hour shall be lawful, but any speed
in excess of ten (10) miles per hour shall be prima facie evidence
that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful.
(1991 Code, sec. 33-62)
It shall be unlawful for any person driving any motor vehicle
to turn at any street intersection within the city limits and proceed
along the same street in the opposite direction from that which he
approached such street intersection. Such turning and proceeding in
the opposite direction is hereby defined and shall be known as a U-turn.
(1991 Code, sec. 33-63)
It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, drive or propel
a vehicle in such manner as to block or obstruct the traffic on any
street or alley of the city.
(1991 Code, sec. 33-64)
No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk
unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection
or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing
the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any
traffic-control signal indication to proceed.
(1991 Code, sec. 33-65)
(a)
Every funeral procession or other motorcade shall be marked with
appropriate pennants or other device or method, such as burning headlights
in daytime, sufficient to show the nature of such procession, and
any person who, as the driver of any vehicle, shall cross through
or interrupt any funeral procession or other motorcade shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b)
All motor vehicles in a police escorted funeral procession or other
motorcade which have been properly designated shall have the right-of-way
over any other vehicles, except fire apparatus, ambulances, and police
vehicles at any roadway intersection within the city, and the procession
may be escorted through stop signs or signalized intersections without
stopping, but the drivers of the motor vehicles shall exercise due
regard for the safety of all approaching vehicles, and funeral processions
or other motorcades being escorted shall be subject at all times to
the control of police officers of the city.
(1991 Code, sec. 33-66)
No person shall operate any motor vehicle over, on or across
the public parks and grounds or other public property of the city,
except on roadways provided for vehicular travel. This section shall
not be applicable to the agents, servants and employees of the city
during the maintenance, construction and operation of such grounds
by the city.
(1991 Code, sec. 33-67)
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive any automobile,
buggy, wagon or other vehicle over, across or along any parkway, park,
public school ground or that part of any street which is devoted to
a parkway or which is not intended for use as a thoroughfare within
the city.
(1991 Code, sec. 33-68)
(a)
Semitrailer.
Truck tractor.
Definitions.
A vehicle designed or used with a motor vehicle so that part
of the weight of the vehicle and its load rests on or is carried by
another vehicle.
A motor vehicle:
(b)
It shall be unlawful for persons operating or towing semitrailers
or truck tractors to be upon the city streets, alleys and rights-of-way,
excluding state and U.S. highways, except for the purpose of making
pickups or deliveries by the most direct route from or to the nearest
state or U.S. highway.
(c)
This section shall not apply to state, county or municipal vehicles.
(1991 Code, secs. 33-69, 33-70)
(a)
Engine braking.
Definition.
Sometimes referred to in common nomenclature as “jake
braking,” but which must not be confused with the registered
trademark “jake brake” belonging to the Jacobs Vehicle
Systems, Inc., shall mean the use or operation of any mechanical exhaust
device designed to aid in the braking, decompression or deceleration
of a motor vehicle which results in the excessive, loud, unusual or
explosive noise from such vehicle in excess of state or federal noise
standards for said vehicles.
(b)
Offense.
Engine braking, as defined in this section,
shall be unlawful within the city limits. Therefore, it shall be unlawful
for the driver of any vehicle to use or operate or cause to be used
or operated within the city limits any engine brake, jake brake, compression
brake, dynamic braking system, mechanical exhaust device, or other
similar device designed to aid in the braking or deceleration of any
vehicle that results in excessive, loud, unusual or explosive noise
from such vehicle.
(c)
Exceptions.
(1)
The provisions of this section shall not apply to the application
of unmuffled compression brakes where necessary for the protection
of persons and/or property, which cannot be avoided by application
of an alternative braking system.
(2)
Noise caused by the application of engine compression brakes, otherwise
known as engine braking, which is effectively muffled, or if the application
is necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the community,
shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
(3)
Sounds created by emergency equipment for emergency purposes shall
be exempt.
(4)
Sounds created by city-owned and operated equipment shall also be
exempt from the provisions of this section.
(d)
Erection of signs.
The director of public works and
engineering shall be and is hereby specifically authorized to erect
such signage as shall be necessary and appropriate for the enforcement
of this section.
(e)
Penalty provision.
Any person, firm, corporation, agent
or employee thereof who violates any of the provisions of this section
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof shall
be fined an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for
each offense. Multiple violations may arise from the same occurrence
if violations continue unabated after the issuance of a citation.
Enforcement hereunder shall not require the pleading or proving of
any culpable mental state.
(Ordinance 5890 adopted 8/3/15)
(a)
A person commits the offense of violation of bicycle equipment requirements
if the person does any of the following:
(b)
A bicycle is operated in violation of the requirements of this section
if any of the following requirements are violated:
(1)
A bicycle must be equipped with a brake that enables the operator
of the bicycle to stop the bicycle within fifteen (15) feet from a
speed of ten (10) miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement.
(2)
A person shall not install or use any siren or whistle upon a bicycle.
This subsection does not apply to bicycles used by police officers.
(3)
At the times described in the following, a bicycle or its rider must
he equipped with lighting equipment that meets the described requirements:
(A)
The lighting equipment must be used during limited visibility conditions.
(B)
The lighting equipment must show a white light visible from a distance
of at least 500 feet to the front of the bicycle.
(C)
The lighting equipment must have a red reflectoror lighting device
or material of such size or characteristic and so mounted as to be
visible from all distances up to 600 feet to the rear when directly
in front of lawful lower beams of headlights on a motor vehicle.
(c)
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit
the use of additional parts and accessories on any bicycle consistent
with this section.
(d)
The offense described in this section, violation of bicycle equipment
requirements, is a class C traffic violation.
(Ordinance 6046 adopted 8/7/17)
(a)
Safe distance.
(1)
(2)
Vulnerable road user.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases,
when used in this section will have the meanings set forth in this
subsection, except when the context clearly indicates a different
meaning:
While passing, a separation between a motor vehicle and a vulnerable
road user that, when all road, traffic and weather conditions are
considered, provides the motorist sufficient space and time to avoid
a collision with a vulnerable road user but, in any event, not less
than three (3) feet if the operator’s vehicle is a passenger
car or light truck and not less than six (6) feet if the operator’s
vehicle is a truck (other than a light truck) or a commercial vehicle
as defined by Texas Transportation Code section 522.003; or
While trailing, a separation between a motor vehicle and a vulnerable
road user that, when all road, traffic and weather conditions are
considered, provides the motorist sufficient space and time to avoid
a collision with a vulnerable road user.
A pedestrian (including a runner), physically disabled person
(including a person in a wheelchair), stranded motorist or passenger,
highway construction or maintenance worker, tow truck operator, or
utility worker in the roadway;
A person on horseback or operating a horse-driven conveyance,
in the roadway;
A person operating a bicycle (including an electric bicycle),
hand cycle, or other human-powered wheeled vehicle in the roadway;
or
A person operating a moped, motor-driven cycle, or motor-assisted
scooter, as those terms are defined in sections 541.201 and 551.351
of the Texas Transportation Code, as applicable.
(b)
Action required.
An operator of a motor vehicle or motorcycle
shall:
(1)
When passing a vulnerable road user on a highway or street;
(2)
When making a turn at an intersection (including an intersection
with an alley or private road or driveway), yield the right-of-way
to a vulnerable road user who is approaching from the opposite direction
and is in the intersection, or is in such proximity to the intersection
as to be an immediate hazard.
(c)
Prohibited action.
An occupant of a motor vehicle may
not:
(1)
Knowingly throw or project any object or substance at or against
a vulnerable road user, or the user’s animal, equipment, vehicle
or conveyance;
(2)
Overtake a vulnerable road user traveling in the same direction and
subsequently make a turn in front of the vulnerable road user unless
the operator is safely clear of the vulnerable road user, taking into
account the speed at which the vulnerable road user is traveling and
the braking requirements of the motor vehicle making the right-hand
turn; or
(3)
Maneuver the vehicle in a manner that is intended to cause intimidation
or harassment to a vulnerable road user or threatens a vulnerable
road user.
(d)
Affirmative defense.
It is an affirmative defense to
prosecution under this section that, at the time of the offense, the
vulnerable road user was acting in violation of any applicable traffic
law.
(e)
Offenses.
The penalty for any violation of this section
shall be a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars and no cents ($500.00).
(Ordinance 6047 adopted 8/7/17)
