All traffic-control devices, including signs, signals and markings
(pavement and/or curb), installed or used for the purpose of directing
and controlling traffic within the city shall conform with the Texas
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways,
Volumes I and II (hereafter called the “manual”). Article
6701d Vernon’s Civil Statutes states: all signs, signals and
markings erected or used by the city shall be uniform and be located
so far as practicable according to the directions shown in the manual
throughout the city. All existing traffic-control devices and those
erected in the future by the city being consistent with the manual,
state law and this article shall be official traffic-control devices.
(Ordinance TS2012, sec. 1, adopted 11/19/12)
The driver of any vehicle, motor vehicle or animal shall obey
the instructions of any official traffic-control device, sign, signal
or marking applicable thereto placed in accordance with this article,
the manual and any ordinance directing that such traffic-control device,
sign or signal shall be installed or erected, unless otherwise directed
by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver
of an authorized emergency vehicle as permitted by this article.
(Ordinance TS2012, sec. 2, adopted 11/19/12)
(a) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, as the term “authorized
emergency vehicle” is defined by state law, when responding
to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected
violator of the law, or when responding to but not upon returning
from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section,
but subject to the conditions therein stated.
(b) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may:
(1) Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this article or
any ordinance;
(2) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing
down as may be necessary for safe operation;
(3) Exceed the prima facie speed limits so long as he does not endanger
life or property;
(4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning
in specified directions.
(c) The exemptions herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle
shall apply only when such vehicle is making use of audible and visual
signals meeting the requirements of V.T.C.A., Transportation Code,
chapter 547 except that an authorized emergency vehicle operated as
a police vehicle need not be equipped with or display a red light
visible from the front of the vehicle.
(d) The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized
emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety
of all persons, not shall such provisions protect the driver from
the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others.
(e) Provisions of this article applicable to drivers upon the highways
shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the
United States, the state, or any county, city, town, district or any
other political subdivision of the state, subject to such specific
exceptions as are set forth in this article reference to authorized
emergency vehicles.
(Ordinance TS2012, sec. 3, adopted 11/19/12)
(a) No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any
highway, street or alley any unauthorized signs, 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 control
device or any railroad sign or signal.
(b) No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority
permit upon any highway, street or alley any traffic sign or signal
bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
(c) This section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private
property adjacent to highways, streets of alleys of signs giving useful
directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for
official signs.
(d) Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby declared
to be a public nuisance, and the chief of police is hereby empowered
to remove the same or cause it to be moved without notice.
(Ordinance TS2012, sec. 4, adopted 11/19/12)
No person shall without lawful authority attempt to or in fact
alter, deface, injure, knock down or remove any official traffic-control
device, sign or signal or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription,
shield, or insignia thereon, or any part thereof.
(Ordinance TS2012, sec. 5, adopted 11/19/12)
(a) The city council shall by ordinance direct that the public works
supervisor shall have the duty of erecting or installing upon, over,
along, or beside any highway, street or alley signs, signals and markings
or causing the same to be erected, installed or placed in accordance
with this article and consistent with the manual. Said traffic-control
devices shall be installed immediately, or as soon as such specific
device, sign or signal can be procured.
(b) Whenever the public works supervisor has erected and installed any
official traffic-control device, signal or sign at any location in
the city or has caused the same to be done under his direction, in
obedience to this article and the manual, he shall thereafter file
a report with the city administrator in writing and signed officially
by the public works supervisor, stating the type of traffic-control
device, sign or signal, and when and where the same was erected and
installed. The city administrator shall file and maintain such report
of the public works supervisor among the official papers of the office
of the city administrator.
(Ordinance TS2012, sec. 6, adopted 11/19/12)
It being unlawful for any person other than the public works
supervisor, acting pursuant to an ordinance of the city, to install
or cause to be installed any signal, sign or device purporting to
direct the use of the streets or the activities on those streets of
pedestrians, vehicles, motor vehicles, or animals, proof, in any prosecution
for a violation of this article or any traffic ordinance of the of
the city, that any traffic-control device, sign, signal or marking
was actually in place on any street shall constitute prima facie evidence
that the same was installed by the public works supervisor pursuant
to the authority of this article and of the ordinance directing the
installation of such device, signal or marking.
(Ordinance TS2012, sec. 7, adopted 11/19/12)
Any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this article shall be punished by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section
1.01.009.
(Ordinance TS2012, sec. 11, adopted 11/19/12; Ordinance adopting Code)