(a)
The city traffic engineer, subject to the approval of 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 traffic engineer to supervise the installation and proper
timing and maintenance of traffic-control devices.
(b)
The chief of police may authorize the temporary placement of official
traffic-control devices when required by an emergency or special condition.
The chief of police shall notify the city traffic engineer of any
such action as soon thereafter as is practicable. No such temporary
regulation shall remain in effect for more than ninety (90) days.
(c)
An emergency shall be defined as a traffic situation which, due to
reasonably unforeseeable factors, necessitates the placement of temporary
traffic-control devices, which may include the rerouting of traffic,
in order to maintain a safe traffic flow.
(d)
A special condition shall mean an event or gathering which, due to
considerations in place at the time the decision is made, necessitates
the rerouting of traffic or the placement of temporary traffic-control
devices, in order to maintain a safe traffic flow.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-62; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-121; 2013 Code, sec. 56-100; Ordinance 2017-12-12 adopted 12/19/17)
All signs and signals required under the provisions of this
article for a particular purpose shall, so far as practical, be uniform
as to type and location throughout the city.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-63; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-122; 2013 Code, sec. 56-101)
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 chapter or state law.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-64; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-123; 2013 Code, sec. 56-102)
The traffic engineer is hereby authorized:
(1)
To designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks or lines
upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at any intersection where,
in his opinion, there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing
the roadway, and at such other places as he may deem necessary.
(2)
To establish safety zones, quiet zones, play zones and others of
such kind and character and at such places as he may deem necessary
for the protection of the public.
(3)
To mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at such places as he
may deem advisable, consistent with this chapter and other traffic
ordinances of this city.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-65; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-124; 2013 Code, sec. 56-103)
All traffic-control devices, including signs, signals and markings,
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 (hereinafter
called the manual), and Texas Transportation Code chapter 541 et seq.
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.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-66; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-125; 2013 Code, sec. 56-104)
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
in any minute order directive by the city council 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 permitted by
this article.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-67; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-126; 2013 Code, sec. 56-105)
(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 herein 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 the driver of any said vehicle in motion sounds
audible signal by bell, siren or exhaust whistle, as may be reasonably
necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted
lamp displaying a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions
from a distance of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle, except that
an authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle need
not be equipped with or display a red light visible from in front
of the vehicle.
(d)
The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of an
authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard
for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the
driver from the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety
of others.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-68; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-127; 2013 Code, sec. 56-106)
(a)
No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any
highway, street or alley 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 any official control device
or any railroad sign or signal.
(b)
This section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private
property adjacent to highways, streets or alleys of signs giving useful
directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for
official signs.
(c)
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 removed without notice.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-69; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-128; 2013 Code, sec. 56-107)
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.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-70; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-129; 2013 Code, sec. 56-108)
In any prosecution for any violation of this chapter, it shall
not be necessary for the state [the city] to prove the installation
or authority therefor of any traffic-control device or signal.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-71; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-130; 2013 Code, sec. 56-109)
Any person charged with violation of this chapter shall have
the right to prove the sign, signal or device was not so installed
or authorized as a defense.
(1976 Code, sec. 31-71.1; 1998 Code,
sec. 126-131; 2013 Code, sec. 56-110)
