The city police chief, an annual reporting of new traffic-control signs, signals and devices will be presented to the city council, shall place and maintain traffic-control signs, signals and devices when and as required under this chapter to make effective the provisions of this chapter, and may place and maintain such additional traffic-control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic under this chapter or state law or to guide or warn traffic. It shall be the duty of the city police chief to supervise the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control devices.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-206; 2004 Code, sec. 12.401; Ordinance 1392 adopted 4/1/2025)
All signs and signals required under the provisions of this chapter for a particular purpose shall, so far as practical, be uniform as to type and location throughout the city.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-207; 2004 Code, sec. 12.402)
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 manual and specifications adopted by the state transportation commission as provided in V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, section 544.001. All signs, signals and markings erected or used by the city must conform to the manual and specifications adopted under V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, section 544.001. All existing traffic-control devices and those erected in the future by the city being consistent with the manual and specifications, state law and this section shall be official traffic-control devices.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-208; 2004 Code, sec. 12.403; Ordinance adopting 2019 Code)
The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto, placed in accordance with this article and other traffic ordinances of the city, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-209; 2004 Code, sec. 12.404)
No provision of this chapter for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation the official traffic-control device or sign is not in reasonable position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-210; 2004 Code, sec. 12.405)
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 railroad sign or signal or any inscription or shield or insignia thereon, or any part thereof.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-211; 2004 Code, sec. 12.406)
(a) 
No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, 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 an official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal.
(b) 
No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
(c) 
No person shall place or maintain a flashing light or flashing electric sign of any kind or color within one thousand (1,000) feet of any intersection, unless a permit is granted by the state transportation commission for such flashing light or electric sign.
(d) 
This section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to highways of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.
(e) 
Every such prohibited sign, signal, light 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 removed without notice.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-212; 2004 Code, sec. 12.407)
All traffic-control signs, signals, devices and markings placed or erected prior to the adoption of this code 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.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-213; 2004 Code, sec. 12.408)
(a) 
Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
(1) 
Flashing red (stop) signal.
When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(2) 
Flashing yellow (caution signal).
When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through an intersection or past such signal only with caution.
(b) 
This section shall not apply at railroad grade crossings.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-215; 2004 Code, sec. 12.410)
(a) 
Traffic rules.
Whenever a traffic signal is out of order, the driver of a vehicle approaching the area of control by the signal shall approach such area at a slow speed, and stop if necessary, and shall not proceed until reasonably certain that it is safe to do so.
(b) 
Report to police department.
It shall be the duty of all persons knowing of any traffic-control signal or device that is out of order, altered, defaced, removed or otherwise inoperative to report such condition to the police department.
(1975 Code, sec. 30-216; 2004 Code, sec. 12.411)