The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
A public thoroughfare which ordinarily affords only a second
means of access to abutting property.
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, emergency vehicles of municipal departments
or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by
the city council, private vehicles operated by volunteer firemen or
certified emergency medical services volunteers while answering a
fire alarm or responding to a medical emergency, and vehicles operated
by blood banks or tissue banks, accredited or approved under the laws
of this state or the United States, while making emergency deliveries
of blood, drugs or medicines or organs.
Every device propelled by human power upon which any person
may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels either which is more than fourteen
(14) inches in diameter.
Every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten (10)
passengers and used for the transportation of persons; and every motor
vehicle, other than a taxicab, designed and used for the transportation
of persons for compensation.
The territory contiguous to and including a street when,
within any six hundred (600) feet along such street, there are buildings
in use for business or industrial purposes, including but not limited
to hotels, banks, or office buildings, railroad stations and public
buildings, which occupy three hundred (300) feet of frontage on one
(1) side or three hundred (300) feet collectively on both sides of
the street.
Any motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, designed for the
transportation of property, including any vehicle used for delivery
purposes.
That part of a roadway at any intersection included within
the connection of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides
of the highway, 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 crossing by lines or other markings
on the surface.
A space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use
of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
Every person who drives or is in actual physical control
of a vehicle.
A space adjacent to a curb for the exclusive use of vehicles
during the loading or unloading of freight.
The weight of a vehicle without load plus the weight of any
load thereon.
The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of
the lateral curblines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines,
of the roadways of two (2) streets which join one another at, or approximately
at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon
different streets joining at any other angle may come in conflict.
Where a street includes two (2) roadways thirty (30) feet or more
apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided street
by an intersecting street shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
If such intersecting street also includes two (2) roadways thirty
(30) feet or more apart, then every crossing of two (2) roadways of
such streets shall be regarded as a separate intersection. The junction
of an alley with a street or highway shall not constitute an intersection.
A roadway which is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked
lanes for vehicular traffic.
Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider
and designed to propel itself with not more than three (3) wheels
in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.
Every motorcycle with a motor which has an engine piston
displacement of not more than one hundred twenty-five (125) cc.
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 law placed or erected by authority of a public body or official
having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding
traffic.
A person, other than a lienholder, having the property in
or title to a vehicle. The term includes a person entitled to the
use and possession of a vehicle subject to a security interest in
another person, but excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as
security.
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise
than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in
loading or unloading passengers or merchandise, except an involuntary
stopping of such vehicle by reason of mechanical failure or direction
of a policeman.
Every motor vehicle, except motorcycles and motor-driven
cycles, designed for carrying ten (10) passengers or less and used
for the transportation of persons.
Any person afoot.
Every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by
another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach
or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle,
and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads
such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of
sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.
Any member of the police department of the city authorized
by law to direct or regulate traffic or make arrests in traffic offenses.
Every way or place in private ownership ordinarily used for
vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied
permission from the owner but not by other persons.
A carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars,
operated upon stationary rails.
The territory contiguous to and including a street not comprising
a business district, when the property on such street for a distance
of three hundred (300) feet or more is, in the main, improved with
residences or residences and buildings in use for business.
The right of one (1) vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in
a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching
under such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give
rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
Every motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles
and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon either independently
or any part of the weight of a vehicle or load so drawn.
That portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily
used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. If a
street includes two (2) or more separate roadways, the term “roadway”
shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways
collectively.
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.
Streets or roads adjacent to any portion of the school grounds,
and shall extend in every direction along the streets for a radius
of six hundred (600) feet from the nearest portion of the school premises.
The portion of a street that is:
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.
The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise
than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in
receiving or discharging passengers.
When required, means complete cessation from 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.
Every highway or 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 right-of-way to vehicles on such through highway in obedience
to a stop sign, yield sign or other official traffic-control device,
when such signs or devices are erected as provided by law.
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other
conveyances, either singly or together, while using any street for
purposes of travel.
Any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically
operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to
proceed.
Every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a
pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being
drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight
rests upon the towing vehicle.
Every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily
for the transportation of property.
Every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing
other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than
a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.
Any device in, upon or by which any person or property may
be or is transported upon a street, except devices moved by human
power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. The term
shall not include manufactured housing as defined by the Texas Manufactured
Housing Standards Act (V.T.C.A., Occupations Code, ch. 1201).
(1987 Code, sec. 22-1; Ordinance
adopting Code)
The provisions of this chapter relating to the operation of
vehicles refer exclusively to the operation of vehicles upon streets
except:
(1)
Where a different place is specifically referred to in a given section;
(2)
Where otherwise provided by law.
(1987 Code, sec. 22-2)
It is unlawful for any person to do any act forbidden or fail
to perform any act required in this chapter.
(1987 Code, sec. 22-3)
No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any
lawful order or direction of a police officer, or in the case of fire
or other emergency any fire department official, given to direct or
control traffic as authorized in this chapter.
(1987 Code, sec. 22-4)
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the owner
of real property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel
by permission of the owner and not as a matter of right from prohibiting
such use, or from requiring other or different or additional conditions
than those specified in this chapter, or otherwise regulating such
use as may seem best to such owner.
(1987 Code, sec. 22-7)
The conviction of a person upon a charge of violating any provision
of this chapter or other traffic regulation less than a felony shall
not affect or impair the credibility of such person as a witness in
any civil or criminal proceeding.
(1987 Code, sec. 22-16)
