Whenever the following terms are used in this chapter, they
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
Any street having no regular or official name other than
“alley” and being twenty (20) feet or less in width.
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.
Every motor vehicle designated 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.
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.
Every vehicle designed, maintained or used primarily for
the transportation of property with a weight in excess of fifteen
hundred (1,500) pounds.
Every highway 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.
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
crossings by lines or other markings on the surface.
The edge of a street, roadway or highway.
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.
Every person who drives or is in actual physical control
of the movements of a vehicle.
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 private property, or the entrance or exit of any private
garage into or from any alley.
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.
See “Curb loading zone.”
The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of
the lateral curblines or, if none, 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.
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.
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.
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.
A street on which all vehicular traffic is required to move
in the same general direction as indicated by direction signs.
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, except an involuntary
stopping of such vehicle by reason of mechanical failure or at the
direction of a police officer.
Any person in or on a vehicle other than the driver, whether
or not the vehicle is moving.
See “Curb loading zone.”
Any person afoot.
Every officer of the municipal police department or any officer
authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations
of traffic regulations.
Every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular
travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission
from the owner, but not by other persons.
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.
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.
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.
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 destined [designated] either
all or in part for the use of the public as a street or roadway.
That portion of a street or highway improved, designed for
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 in this chapter shall
refer to any such roadway separately, but not to all such roadways
collectively.
A street on which signs are erected giving notice thereof
that certain types of vehicles may or may not be operated.
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.
Every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency
or a private person or agency and operated for the transportation
of children to or from school.
That portion of a street between the curblines or the lateral
lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines intended for the
use of pedestrians.
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.
When pertaining to a physical object or marking, any official traffic-control
device.
The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise
than for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or
discharging passengers.
When required, means complete cessation of movement.
When prohibited, means any stopping or standing 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.
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.
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 either a stop sign, caution sign or yield sign when
such signs are erected as provided in this chapter.
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars
and other conveyances either singly or together while using any street
for purposes of travel.
See “Commercial vehicle.”
A complete enclosure through which passes a street, roadway
or walkway.
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.
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.
Areas in public ways designed for limited or specialized
use.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-1; 2004 Code,
sec. 12.101; Ordinance adopting 2019 Code)
(a)
Police officers.
Officers of the police department,
or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police, are hereby
authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance
with traffic laws. In the event of a fire or other emergency, or to
expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police
department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding
the provisions of the traffic laws.
(b)
Officers of fire department.
Members of the city fire
department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the
police in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity when
requested by a police officer to do so.
(c)
Temporary traffic-control officers.
Under unusual conditions
the chief of police may appoint temporary traffic-control officers
until such unusual conditions cease to exist. Such temporary officers
shall have the same authority as regular officers of the police department,
unless they are specifically limited by the chief of police.
(1975 Code, secs. 30-41–30-43; 2004 Code, secs. 12.126–12.128)
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or otherwise propel
any motor vehicle within the city unless such person shall have in
his possession a current, valid driver’s license issued by the
state of his residency.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-2; 2004 Code,
sec. 12.102)
No person upon roller skates or riding in or by means of any
coaster, skateboard, toy vehicle, whether motorized or not, or other
similar device shall go upon any roadway, except while crossing a
street on a crosswalk, and when so crossing such person shall be granted
all the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable
to pedestrians. Such provision shall not apply upon any street while
set aside as a play street.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-8; 2004 Code,
sec. 12.108)
It shall be unlawful for any person traveling upon any motorcycle,
coaster, sled, roller skates or any toy vehicle to cling to or attach
himself or his vehicle to any moving vehicle upon any roadway.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-9; 2004 Code,
sec. 12.109)
(a)
No vehicle shall be driven within the city unless all side doors
are securely closed.
(b)
No person shall open the door of a parked or stopped vehicle on the
side adjacent to moving traffic until it is reasonably safe to do
so.
(c)
No person shall leave a vehicle door open and unattended on the side
adjacent to moving traffic.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-10; 2004 Code,
sec. 12.110)
Ordinances pertaining to specific streets and locations are
not included in this code, but such ordinances are on file in the
city secretary’s office and are specifically saved from repeal
upon adoption of the Code of Ordinances.
(Ordinance adopting 2019 Code)
