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.
Freight loading zone.
See “curb loading zone.”
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.
Passenger loading zone.
See “curb loading zone.”
Pedestrian.
Any person afoot.
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.
Tunnel or underpass.
A complete enclosure through which passes a street, roadway or walkway.
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) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to start and accelerate a motor vehicle on a public street or highway in the city from a stopped position in such manner as to cause the driving wheels to spin and thereby create a loud, screeching noise.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person while driving a motor vehicle on any street or highway in the city to accelerate or turn said motor vehicle while it is moving in such manner as to cause the driving wheels to spin and thereby create a loud, screeching noise.
(c) 
It shall be unlawful for any person while driving a motor vehicle on a street or highway in the city to cause the rear portion of the motor vehicle to sway or swing from side to side.
(2000 Code, sec. 24-274)
(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)
(a) 
The city council may authorize the designation of areas in the city park system where motorcycles, minibikes or other vehicles may be operated.
(b) 
All designated areas will be properly signed indicating areas where motorcycles, minibikes or other motor vehicles may be operated. It shall be unlawful for a person to operate an unregistered and unlicensed motorcycle or minibike in any city park, other than in the designated areas.
(c) 
Only properly registered and licensed motor vehicles may be operated upon designated public roadways or parking areas within the city park system.
(2000 Code, sec. 24-286)
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)