This chapter may be cited as the town traffic ordinance and
complies with the laws of the state as stated in Vernon’s Texas
Codes Annotated, Transportation Code.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
In addition to the words, phrases and abbreviations listed herein,
those cited in the 2003 Texas Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices
for Streets and Highways apply. (
www.txdot.state.tx.us/trf/mutcd.htm).
Alley.
A narrow street herein defined having no legal or official
name other than “alley”.
Approved abbreviations.
The following approved abbreviations may be used in connection
with issuing traffic tickets, citations, and complaints for violation
of the town traffic ordinance: “Street” may be abbreviated
as “St.”; “Avenue” may be abbreviated as “Ave.”
or “Av.”; “Freeway” may be abbreviated as “Frwy.”
or “Fwy.”; “Lane” may be abbreviated as “Ln.”; “Drive”
may be abbreviated as “Dr.”; “Road” may be
abbreviated as “Rd.”; “Boulevard” may be abbreviated
as “Blvd.”; “Expressway” may be abbreviated
as “Exp.”, “Ewy.” or “Expwy.”; “Place”
may be abbreviated as “Pl.”; “Court” may be
abbreviated as “Ct.”; “Parkway” may be abbreviated
as “Pkwy.”; “Circle” may be abbreviated as “Cir.”; “Highway”
may be abbreviated as “Hwy.”; “Plaza” may
be abbreviated as “Plz.”; “Square” may be
abbreviated as “Sq.”; and “Terrace” maybe
abbreviated as “Ter.”
In all cases where the word is abbreviated it shall be understood
to mean the same as though fully written out.
Curb.
The lateral lines of a roadway, whether constructed above
grade or not, which are not intended for vehicular travel.
Fire department.
The fire department authorized by the mayor or town council
to respond to fire calls or accidents.
Limit lines.
Boundaries of parking areas, loading zones, safety or danger
zones, crosswalks, and lines marked for the purpose of excluding traffic
and parking.
Loading zone.
A space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use
of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers, animals
or materials.
Operator.
Any person in control of a vehicle or vehicle being towed.
Parking ban.
Certain hours during the day at which time standing, parking,
or stopping of a vehicle is prohibited along the curb of designated
streets as indicated by signs authorized by the Mayor or his designee.
Parkway.
That portion of a street or highway between the curb lines
or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines,
not intended for the use of pedestrians; also, the intervening space
between the roadways of a divided street or highway or any island
or area, whether or not clearly defined by curbs or markings, which
divides any portion of any street, highway, or intersection into separate
lanes for vehicular traffic.
Peace officer.
A police officer, sheriff, or other person as authorized
by the mayor or town council to enforce the traffic laws of the town
and the state vehicle laws applicable to traffic in the town.
Time standard (official).
Whenever certain hours are named, they shall mean Central
Standard Time or Central Daylight-Saving Time as may be in current
use in the town.
All other words used in this chapter shall have the meanings
assigned to them by the state vehicle laws or their ordinary and commonly
accepted meanings as set forth in Webster’s New International
Dictionary (Unabridged), latest edition.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) A peace officer is authorized to remove or cause to be removed a
vehicle or other property of any description from a street to a place
designated by the town when:
(1) The vehicle or property is left unattended upon a bridge or viaduct
or in a tunnel or underpass.
(2) The vehicle is illegally parked so as to block the entrance to any
driveway.
(3) The vehicle is found upon a street, and a report has previously been
made that the vehicle has been stolen, or a complaint has been filed
and a warrant issued charging that the vehicle has been stolen.
(4) The officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle has
been abandoned.
(5) A vehicle upon a street is so disabled that its normal operation
is impossible or impractical and the person or persons in charge of
the vehicle are incapacitated by reason of physical injury or other
reason to such an extent as to be unable to provide for its removal
or custody, or are not in the immediate vicinity of the disabled vehicle.
(6) An officer arrests any person driving or in control of a vehicle
for an alleged offense and the officer is by law required to take
the person arrested immediately before a magistrate.
(7) The vehicle is standing, parked, or stopped in any portion of a street
and the officer has reason to believe that the vehicle constitutes
a hazard, interferes with the normal function of a governmental agency,
or the safety of the vehicle is imperiled.
(8) The vehicle is standing, parked, or stopped in violation of the parking
ban regulations.
(9) The vehicle is standing, parked, or stopped in violation of any provision
of this chapter.
(b) A vehicle removed pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be kept at the place designated by the town until application for redemption is made by the owner or his authorized agent, who will be entitled to possession of the vehicle upon payment of costs of removal and storage. The town shall charge a fee of not less than five dollars ($5.00) per day for storage costs. The town shall not charge removal costs to a person whose vehicle has been impounded under section
12.01.003(a)(3) of this chapter. The storage fee of a vehicle of an arrested person begins on the day following notice to the owner of the vehicle that he may claim the vehicle. If an impounded vehicle is not redeemed within five (5) days, it may be disposed of in a manner prescribed by law.
(c) A person commits an offense if he removes or attempts to remove a
vehicle from a place designated by the town without first paying the
towage and storage fees which have accrued on the vehicle.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
Upon payment of all towage and storage fees, a vehicle impounded
by the town pursuant to the enforcement of the provisions of this
chapter may be released to the lien holder, or his authorized agent,
holding a valid and existing mortgage lien on the vehicle impounded;
provided, the mortgage lien holder complies with the following requirements:
(1) Furnish to the town, for its inspection:
(A) The mortgage lien contract, or a certified copy thereof, specifying
that upon default of the mortgagor the mortgagee is entitled to possession
of such vehicle.
(B) The certificate of title with the lien appearing thereon.
(2) Furnish to the town an affidavit stating that he holds a lien on
the vehicle impounded; that the mortgagor has defaulted; that the
mortgage lien holder desires possession and is entitled to possession
of such vehicle; and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the town
and its employees upon delivery to him of the vehicle.
(Ordinance adopting Code)