The city hereby adopts the usage of the recommended signs and devices, including those international symbols as recommended by the state and federal authorities, in order for the city to bring its traffic-control system and street signs up to certain state and federal traffic-control device standards, and to participate in the governor's sign replacement program.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-111; Ordinance 279 adopted 2/25/1975; 1997 Code, sec. 70.40)
The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control devices applicable thereto which have been placed in accordance with this article and other traffic ordinances of the city, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exception granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-113; 1997 Code, sec. 70.41)
No provisions of this article which require the placing of signs shall be enforced against an alleged violation if an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that signs are required, such sections shall be effective even though no signs are erected or in place.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-114; 1997 Code, sec. 70.42)
All traffic-control signs, signals, devices and marking placed and erected prior to the adoption of this article and in use for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic are hereby affirmed, ratified and declared to be official traffic-control devices, provided such traffic-control devices are not inconsistent with the provisions of this article or state law.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-115; 1997 Code, sec. 70.43)
(a) 
Prohibition.
No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any road, street or highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be, 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 signal or sign, and no person shall place or maintain, nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway or street, any traffic signal or sign bearing thereon any commercial advertising. This shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to streets or highways of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.
(b) 
Flashing lights or signs.
A person may not place or maintain a flashing light or flashing electric sign within 1,000 feet of an intersection except under a permit issued by the state transportation commission.
(c) 
Removal.
Every such prohibited sign, signal, marking or device is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and the city is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-116; 1997 Code, sec. 70.44)
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 inscription, shield or insignia thereon, or any part thereof.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-117; 1997 Code, sec. 70.45)
(a) 
When traffic is controlled by a traffic-control signal exhibiting the word "Go," "Caution," or "Stop," by exhibiting different colored lights successively one at a time, or with arrows, the following colors only shall be used. The following terms and lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and to pedestrians:
(1) 
Green light.
(A) 
Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn, 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 in 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 light when shown following the green 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 signals are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway, and any pedestrian then starting to cross shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles.
(3) 
Red light.
(A) 
Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain until the green light is shown alone; provided that, after stopping and yielding to all pedestrians and vehicles, the driver of the vehicle may enter the intersection for the purpose of making a right turn only, if no sign is in place indicating that such turn cannot be legally made.
(B) 
No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he or she can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
(4) 
Red light with green arrow.
(A) 
Vehicular traffic facing such signal may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, but shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian lawfully within the crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(B) 
No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he or she can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
(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 are 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 signs or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-118; 1997 Code, sec. 70.46)
Whenever flashing red or yellow signals are used, they shall require the obedience of vehicular traffic as follows:
(1) 
Flashing red (stop signal).
When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at the limit line, when marked, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at any 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 pass such signal only with caution.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-119; 1997 Code, sec. 70.47)
Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words "Walk" and "Don't Walk" are in place, such signals shall indicate the following:
(1) 
"Walk" signal.
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 driver of all vehicles.
(2) 
"Don't walk" signal.
No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed crossing on the "walk" signal may proceed to the sidewalk or safety zone while the "don't walk" signal is showing.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-120; 1997 Code, sec. 70.48)
(a) 
The city street superintendent, with the approval of the city council, may designate any street intersection as a "Stop" intersection and designate the streets upon which vehicles shall stop before entering such intersections. Whenever any intersection has been so designated, the street superintendent shall cause the same to be identified by the erection of stop signs indicating which vehicles approaching such intersection shall stop.
(b) 
It shall be the duty of the driver of any vehicle approaching such sign to bring such vehicle to a complete stop at such sign or at a nearby marked stop line before entering the intersection, except when directed to proceed by a police officer or a traffic-control signal. After having so stopped, such driver shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles which have entered the intersection or which are approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard. Such driver, after having so yielded, may proceed, and the drivers of all other vehicles approaching on the intersecting street shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle so proceeding into or across the intersection.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-121; 1997 Code, sec. 70.49)
It shall be unlawful for any person driving or operating any automobile, truck, motorcycle any other vehicle, approaching any such stop sign, to cross over or by any stop sign without first bringing such vehicle to a complete stop, and any person violating this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-122; Ordinance adopted 7/6/1927; Ordinance adopted 8/10/1927; Ordinance 52 adopted 6/15/1937; 1997 Code, sec. 70.50)
(a) 
The street superintendent, as authorized from time to time by the city council, may install and maintain "Yield" right-of-way signs at intersections where a special hazard may exist or any place vehicles shall be required to yield the right-of-way.
(b) 
The driver of a vehicle approaching a "Yield" right-of-way sign shall, in obedience to such sign, slow down to a speed not in excess of 15 miles per hour, or shall stop if necessary, and yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing the roadway being traveled or to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching so closely on another street as to constitute an immediate hazard.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-124; 1997 Code, sec. 70.51)
The street superintendent is hereby authorized to:
(1) 
Designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at any intersection where, in his or her opinion, there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway and at such other places as the street superintendent may deem necessary.
(2) 
Establish safety, quiet, play and other zones of such kind and character and at such places as may be deemed necessary for the protection of the public.
(3) 
Mark lanes for traffic on street pavement at such places as may be deemed advisable and which are consistent with the provisions of this article and other traffic ordinances of the city.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-125; 1997 Code, sec. 70.52)
(a) 
Authority for placement.
The street superintendent, with the approval of the city council, is authorized to place markers, buttons or signs within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at such intersections, and such course to be traveled as so indicated may conform to but not be limited to those locations prescribed by any provision of this chapter, state law, or city ordinances, rules or regulations.
(b) 
Compliance required.
When authorized markers, buttons, or other indicators are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning thereat, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the direction of such indicators.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-236; 1997 Code, sec. 70.53)
(a) 
The city council is hereby authorized to determine by resolution those portions of any highway in the city where overtaking and passing or driving on the left side of the roadway would be expressly hazardous and may, by appropriate signs or markings on the roadway, indicate the beginning and end of such zones.
(b) 
When such signs or markings are in place and clearly visible to any ordinarily observant person, every driver of a vehicle shall obey the directions thereof.
(1984 Code, sec. 20-237; 1997 Code, sec. 70.54)