Whenever in this chapter the following terms are used, they
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
Alley.
Any street having no regular or official name other than “alley”
and being twenty (20) feet or less in width.
Authorized emergency vehicles.
Vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol), police vehicles,
public and private ambulances for which permits have been issued by
the state board of health, and emergency vehicles of municipal departments
or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by
the city council, and private vehicles operated by volunteer firemen
while answering a fire alarm.
Bus.
Every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten (10)
passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and every motor
vehicle other than taxicabs designed and used for the transportation
of persons for compensation.
Business district.
The territory contiguous to and including a roadway when
within six hundred (600) feet along such roadway there are buildings
in use for business or industrial purposes, including but not limited
to hotels, banks or office buildings, railroad stations and public
buildings, which occupy at least three hundred (300) feet of frontage
on one side or three hundred (300) feet collectively on both sides
of the roadway, or any other area so classified by the city zoning
ordinance.
Bus stop.
A section of the roadway along the edge thereof marked by
signs reading “bus stop” as a place for the sole use and
convenience of the general public to board and depart from any bus.
Controlled-access or limited-access highway.
Every highway as to which owners or occupants of abutting
lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the
same except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined
by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway.
Crosswalk.
That part of a roadway at any intersection included within
the connection of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides
of the street, whether marked or not, measured from the curbs or,
in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway.
The word “crosswalk” also includes any portion of a roadway
at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian
crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.
Curb.
The edge of a street, roadway or highway.
Curb loading zone.
A space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use
of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers, freight,
merchandise or other material.
Digging out.
The practice of starting any motor vehicle from a standing
position by applying a sudden burst of power, recognized by spinning
rear wheels and noise of tires on the surface of the roadway.
Double parking.
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, upon
a street or roadway in the rear of an angle-parked vehicle at the
curb of such street or alongside a vehicle parked parallel with the
curb of such street.
Driver.
Every person who drives or is in actual physical control
of the movements of a vehicle.
Driveway, private.
Any entrance or exit over the sidewalk or sidewalk area of
any street affording a means of ingress or egress for vehicles to
or from any public property.
Intersection.
The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of
the lateral curblines or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines
of the roadways of two (2) streets or highways which join one another
at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles
traveling upon different streets or highways joining at any other
angle may come in conflict. Where a highway includes two (2) roadways
thirty (30) feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway
of such divided street or highway by an intersecting highway shall
be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event such intersecting
street or highway also includes two (2) roadways thirty (30) feet
or more apart, then every crossing of the two (2) roadways of such
highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
Laned street.
A street which is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked
lanes for vehicular traffic.
Light commercial vehicle.
Every vehicle designed, maintained or used primarily for
the transportation of property with a weight of less than fifteen
hundred (1,500) pounds.
Limit lines.
Boundaries of parking areas, loading zones, or safety or
danger zones, and lines marked for the purpose of excluding traffic
or parking.
Map, official traffic-control.
An engineering drawing of such dimensions and scale as to
show clearly all streets, alleys, speed limits, traffic movement regulations
and prohibitions, types of traffic-control devices, right-of-way dimensions
and names of all streets within the boundaries of the city.
Motor-assisted bicycle.
A bicycle which may be propelled by human power or a motor,
or by both, with a motor of a capacity of less than sixty (60) cubic
centimeters piston displacement, which is capable of a maximum speed
of not more than twenty (20) miles per hour on a flat surface with
not more than one percent (1%) grade in any direction when the motor
is engaged.
Motorcycle.
Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider
and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact
with the ground but excluding a tractor or motor-assisted bicycle.
Motor vehicle.
Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which
is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires,
but not operated upon rails.
Negligence.
The failure to use that degree of care that a reasonable
and prudent person would use under the same or similar circumstances.
No-parking zone.
A space or area on the roadway adjacent to the curb, whether
marked by official signs or not, in which no vehicle may be parked.
Official traffic-control devices.
All signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent
with this chapter placed or erected by authority of a public body
or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning
or guiding traffic.
One-way street.
A street on which all vehicular traffic is required to move
in the same general direction as indicated by direction signs.
Parking stall or parking space.
That portion or section of a roadway adjacent to the curbing
or edge, set apart, marked and bounded by lines painted or marked
upon the surface of the roadway and extending into the roadway for
the use of parking vehicles; or that portion of any alley marked by
official signs showing such space to be a parking zone.
Park or parking.
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise
than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in
loading or unloading materials or passengers.
Passenger.
Any person in or on a vehicle other than the driver, whether
or not the vehicle is moving.
Police officer.
Every officer of the municipality authorized to direct or
regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.
Private road or driveway.
Every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular
travel by the owner and those having expressed or implied permission
from the owner but not by other persons.
Procession or parade.
A group of pedestrians or vehicles standing or moving on
a street and occupying more than six hundred (600) feet of the street
and having a common destination, purpose or direction.
Public place.
A place where people are assembled or to which people commonly
resort for purposes of business, amusement, recreation or other lawful
purposes, and for the purpose of this chapter shall include all streets
and alleys within the boundaries of the city.
Railroad.
A carrier of persons or materials upon cars operated upon
stationary rails, including a motorized locomotive with or without
cars coupled thereto operated upon rails.
Residence district.
The territory contiguous to and including a street or highway
not comprising a business district when the property on such street
or highway for a distance of three hundred (300) feet or more is,
in the main, improved with residences, or residences and buildings
in use for business, or any area so classified by the city zoning
ordinance.
Right-of-way.
When pertaining to traffic, the privilege of the immediate
use of the roadway. When pertaining to land, that portion of land
that is publicly owned and primarily designated either all or in part
for the use of the public as a street or roadway.
Roadway.
That portion of a street or highway improved, designed or
ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.
In the event a highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways,
the term “roadway” as used herein shall refer to any such
roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
Route.
A street on which signs are erected giving notice thereof
that certain types of vehicles may or may not be operated.
Safety zone.
The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for
the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or is so marked
or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times
while set apart as a safety zone.
School bus.
Every motor vehicle that complies with the color and identification
requirements set forth in the standards produced and sponsored by
the National Commission on Safety Education of the National Education
Association, Washington, D.C., and is being used to transport children
to or from school or in connection with school activities, but not
including buses operated by common carriers in urban transportation
of schoolchildren.
Sidewalk.
That portion of a street between the curblines or the lateral
lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property line, intended for the
use of pedestrians.
Signs and signals.
(1)
When pertaining to drivers of vehicles, the position of a driver’s
hand or arm to indicate to the drivers of other vehicles that he intends
to stop, start or change his direction of travel.
(2)
When pertaining to a physical object or marking, any official
traffic-control device.
Stand or standing.
The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise
than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in
receiving or discharging passengers.
Stop.
When required, means complete cessation of movement.
Stop, stopping or standing.
When prohibited, means any halting, even momentarily, of
a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid
conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of
a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal.
Street or highway.
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way
publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the
public for purposes of vehicular travel.
Through street or highway.
A street or highway, or a portion thereof, on which vehicular
traffic is given preferential right-of-way, and at the entrances to
which vehicular traffic from intersecting highways is required by
law to yield the right-of-way to vehicles on such through highway
in obedience to a stop sign, yield sign or other official traffic-control
device, when such signs or devices are erected as provided in this
chapter.
Tractor.
A motor vehicle other than a truck which is designed, maintained
or used primarily for the pulling, pushing or dragging of other objects.
Traffic.
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars
and other conveyances either singly or together while using any street
for purposes of travel.
U-turn.
The turning or causing the turning of a vehicle, so that
when such turn is completed such vehicle will be headed in the opposite
direction from that in which it was headed before such turning was
begun, whether or not such vehicle is pulled into a driveway or any
space beyond the curbline of the street.
Vehicle.
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, except devices
moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or
tracks.
Walks.
Areas in public ways designed primarily for pedestrian use.
Zones.
Areas in public ways designed for limited or specialized
use.
(2000 Code, sec. 24-1)
It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or
fail to perform any act required in this chapter.
(2000 Code, sec. 24-41)
No person upon roller skates or by riding in or by means of
any coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device, shall go upon any roadway
except while crossing a street on a crosswalk. When so crossing, such
person shall be granted all rights and shall be subject to all duties
as applies to pedestrians.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a city employee,
to remove or damage any
barriers, either closing a street or for the purpose of warning
traffic of an obstruction in the street, erected under the direction
of the chief of police or street superintendent.
(2000 Code, sec. 24-5)
(a) No wall, fence or other structure, or any hedge, tree, shrub, or
other growth shall be erected or maintained in any location so as
to cause an obstruction of the view of an official traffic-control
device from the adjacent street.
(b) Any obstruction prohibited by this section is declared a public nuisance.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
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.
(2000 Code, sec. 24-276)
When markers, signs, or signal indicators are placed within
an intersection by authorized persons of the city within an intersection
indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning, no driver
of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of such indications.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride on any vehicle upon
any portion thereof not designated or intended for the use of passengers
when the vehicle is in motion. This provision shall not apply to an
employee engaged in the necessary discharge of duty, or to persons
riding within truck bodies in space intended for merchandise.
(2000 Code, sec. 24-290)
It shall be unlawful for any person to board or alight from
any vehicle while such vehicle is in motion.
(2000 Code, sec. 24-291)