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.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
The driver of any vehicle, motor vehicle, or animal shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device, sign or signal applicable thereto placed in accordance with this article and the ordinance directing that such traffic-control device, sign or signal shall be installed and erected, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle permitted by this article.
(1990 Code, sec. 23-77)
(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;
(2) 
Proceed past a red or stop signal, 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 such vehicle in motion sounds an audible signal by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one (1) lighted lamp displaying a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front on 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 foregoing provisions 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.
(1990 Code, sec. 23-78)
(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) 
No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway, street or alley any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
(c) 
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.
(d) 
Every such prohibited sign, signal, or marking is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and the officer in charge is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.
(1990 Code, sec. 23-79)
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.
(1990 Code, sec. 23-80)
(a) 
Whenever the city commissioners shall by ordinance direct that a specific official traffic-control device, sign or signal shall be erected and installed upon, over, along or beside any highway, street or alley at a specific location, it shall be the duty of the officer in charge to cause the same to be erected and installed in accordance with the direction in such ordinance immediately, or soon as the specific device, sign or signal can be procured.
(b) 
Whenever the officer in charge has erected and installed any official traffic-control device, signal or sign at any location in the city or has caused the same to be done under his direction, in obedience to this article and the ordinance directing the erection of such device, signal or sign, he shall thereafter file a report with the city secretary in writing and signed officially by the officer in charge, stating the type of traffic-control device, sign or signal, and when and where the same was erected and installed. The city secretary shall file and maintain such report of the officer in charge among the official papers of the office of the city secretary.
(1990 Code, sec. 23-81)
The city waives its right to erect passive warning devices at all railway crossings within the corporate limits of the city, in favor of the state department of transportation erecting such devices.
(1990 Code, sec. 23-82)
It being unlawful for any person other than the officer in charge, acting pursuant to an ordinance of the city, to install or cause to be installed any signal, sign or device purporting to direct the use of the streets or the activities on those streets of pedestrians, vehicles, motor vehicles, or animals, [proof] in any prosecution for a violation of this article or any traffic ordinance of the city that any traffic-control device, sign, signal or marking was actually in place on any street shall constitute prima facie evidence that the same was installed by the officer in charge pursuant to the authority of this article and of the ordinance directing the installation of such device, signal or marking.
(1990 Code, sec. 23-83)