The city traffic engineer shall cause to be placed and maintained
traffic-control signs, signals, and devices when and as required under
the traffic ordinances of this city to effect and enforce the provisions
of said ordinances, and may place and maintain such additional traffic-control
devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic under the traffic
ordinances of this city or under state law, or to guide or warn traffic.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.601)
(a)
The city traffic engineer shall determine the necessity for installation
and maintenance of traffic-control devices on the public streets and
highway within the corporate limits of the city based upon a traffic
and engineering study. It shall be the duty of the traffic engineer
to install or cause to be installed all such traffic-control devices
determined by him to be necessary on the basis of such traffic and
engineering studies. Whenever the traffic engineer has erected and
installed such traffic-control devices, it shall be his further duty
to file a report with the city secretary stating the type of any such
traffic-control devices that were so installed and the date when and
location where such devices were installed.
(b)
It shall further be the duty of the city traffic engineer, and he
is hereby authorized, to remove any and all traffic-control devices
which he determines in a like manner to be no longer necessary.
(c)
It shall also be the duty of the traffic engineer to maintain any
other existing traffic-control devices and any and all existing traffic-control
devices previously installed within the corporate limits of the city
shall be deemed to be properly installed in accordance with the provisions
of this article until such time as they are removed or caused to be
removed by the city traffic engineer pursuant to the terms of this
article.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.602)
(a)
All signs and signals required hereunder for a particular purpose
shall as far as practicable be uniform as to type and location throughout
the city. All traffic-control devices so erected and not inconsistent
with the provisions of state law or this chapter shall be official
traffic-control devices.
(b)
Any traffic-control device installed pursuant to the authority of
this article shall be in conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices, Volumes 1 and 2, promulgated by the state department
of transportation pursuant to article 6701d, section 29 and any other
applicable state law.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.603)
The driver of any motor vehicle shall obey the instructions
of any traffic-control device applicable to such vehicle installed
in accordance with the provisions of this article, unless otherwise
directed by a peace officer, subject to the exceptions granted to
the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle in accordance with
applicable state law.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.604)
No provision of this chapter for which signs are required shall
be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of
the alleged violation an official sign or other traffic-control device
is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an
ordinarily observant person.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.605)
(a)
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting
the word “GO,” “CAUTION,” or “STOP”
arrows, the following colors only shall be used and said terms and
lights indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as
follows:
(1)
Green alone or “GO.”
(A)
Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through
or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either
such turns. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right
or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians
lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time
such signal is exhibited.
(B)
Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within
any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(2)
Yellow alone or “CAUTION” when shown following the green
or “GO” signal.
(A)
Vehicular traffic facing the signal is thereby warned that the red
or “STOP” signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter
and such vehicular traffic shall not enter or be crossing the intersection
when the red or “STOP” signal is exhibited.
(B)
Pedestrians facing such signal are thereby advised that there is
insufficient time to cross the roadway, and pedestrians then starting
to cross shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles.
(3)
Red alone or “STOP.”
(b)
In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained
at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this article
shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature
can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign
or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made,
but in the absence of any such sign or marking, the stop shall be
made at the signal.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.606)
Whenever special pedestrian control signals exhibiting the word “WALK”
or “WAIT” are in place, such signals shall indicate as
follows:
(1)
Walk.
Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across
the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the
right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.
(2)
Wait.
No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway
in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially
completed his crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk
or safety zone while the “WAIT” signal is showing.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.607)
Whenever flashing red or yellow signals are used they shall
require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
(1)
Flashing red (stop signal).
When a red lens is illuminated
with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before
entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, and the right to
proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop
at a stop sign.
(2)
Flashing yellow (caution signal).
When a yellow lens
is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles
may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with
caution.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.608)
(a)
No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any
highways, roads, streets, boulevards, parkways, and alleyways any
unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be
or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic-control device
or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement
of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness
of any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal,
and no person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority
permit upon any highways, roads, streets, boulevards, pathways, and
alleyways any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial
advertising. This shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon
private property adjacent to highways, roads, streets, boulevards,
pathways, and alleyways of signs giving useful directional information
and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.
(b)
Every such prohibited sign, signal, or marking is hereby declared
to be a public nuisance, and the authority having jurisdiction over
the highways, roads, streets, boulevards, pathways, and alleyways
is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without
notice.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.609)
No person shall without lawful authority attempt to or in fact
alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official traffic-control
device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield,
or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.610)
The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized:
(1)
To designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks, or lines
upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where
in his opinion there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing
the roadway, and at such other places as he may deem necessary.
(2)
To establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such
places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians.
(3)
To mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at such places as he
may deem advisable, consistent with the traffic ordinances of this
city.
(1996 Code, sec. 10.611)
(a)
The chief of police shall have authority to establish and designate
and to cause appropriate signage or other appropriate traffic-control
devices or markings to be erected or placed, that establish zones
in which construction or maintenance of streets, utilities or other
facilities in city streets or rights-of-way is being conducted, and
in which fines for motor vehicles shall be twice the maximum amount
when workers are present, as provided in section 542.404, Texas Transportation
Code.
(b)
The chief of police shall have authority to reduce the prima facie
speed limit on a street within a construction or maintenance zone
that has been established when, in the opinion of the chief, a special
hazard exists that justifies the reduced speed limit.
(c)
In the event that the chief of police has reason to believe that
the speed limit in a construction or maintenance zone should be altered,
but no special hazard exists, he or she shall have authority to conduct
or obtain an engineering and traffic investigation to determine if
the speed limit should be altered.
(Ordinance 840-07 adopted 3/22/07)
