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.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 1; 1994 Code, sec. 70.15; Ordinance adopting 2016 Code)
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to disobey the instruction of any official traffic sign or signal placed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise directed by a police officer. Refer to V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, section 544.004.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 3; 1994 Code, sec. 70.16)
The city council shall, by resolution, designate the location of traffic-control signs, signals and devices within the city, and the chief of police shall place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, all the traffic signs, signals and devices so designated.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 2; 1994 Code, sec. 70.17)
(a) 
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting the words “Go,” “Caution,” or “Stop,” or exhibiting different colored lights successively, one at a time, or with arrows, the following colors only shall be used and the terms and lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
(1) 
Green alone, or “Go”:
(A) 
Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at the place prohibits either turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
(B) 
Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(2) 
Yellow alone, or “Caution,” when shown following the green or “Go” signal:
(A) 
Vehicular traffic facing the signal is thereby warned that the red or “Stop” signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter and the vehicular traffic shall not enter or be crossing the intersection when the red or “Stop” signal is exhibited.
(B) 
No pedestrian facing the signal shall enter the roadway until green or “Go” is shown alone, unless authorized so to do by a signal indicating walking is permissible.
(3) 
Red alone or “Stop”:
(A) 
Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then before entering the intersection; and shall remain standing until green or “Go” is shown alone; provided, however, that, after making the stop, the driver of a vehicle may proceed to make a right turn on the red or stop signal at intersections where signs permit the turns, as authorized by resolution of the council, if the turn can be made in safety without interfering with other traffic.
(B) 
No pedestrian facing the signal shall enter the roadway until green or “Go” is shown alone, unless authorized so to do by a signal indicating that walking is permissible.
(4) 
Red with green arrow:
(A) 
Vehicular traffic facing the signal may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the move indicated by the arrow but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(B) 
No pedestrian facing the signal shall enter the roadway until green or “Go” is shown alone, unless authorized so to do by a signal indicating that walking is permissible.
(b) 
In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this article shall be applicable except as to those provisions which, by their nature, can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but, in the absence of any sign or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 5; 1994 Code, sec. 70.18)
(a) 
The chief of police is hereby authorized to establish and to designate and maintain, or cause to be maintained, by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where, in his opinion, there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at the other places as he may deem necessary.
(b) 
The chief of police is hereby empowered to establish, mark and maintain safety zones of the kind and character and at the places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians.
(c) 
The chief of police is authorized to mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at places as he may deem advisable consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 8–10; 1994 Code, sec. 70.19)
The chief of police shall install and maintain electric traffic-control signals or lights at the intersections and other places as may be designated by resolution of the city council.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 4; 1994 Code, sec. 70.20)
Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting words indicating that it is permissible to walk or that pedestrians should wait are in place, the signals shall indicate as follows:
(1) 
Signals indicating walking is permissible.
Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.
(2) 
Signals indicating it is necessary to wait.
No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the wait signal is showing. Refer to V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, sections 552.002 and 552.009.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 6; 1994 Code, sec. 70.21)
Whenever flashing red or yellow signals are used they shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
(1) 
When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a limit line when marked, or, if none, then 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) 
When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past the signal only with caution. Refer to V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, section 544.008.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 7; 1994 Code, sec. 70.22)
In addition to the other traffic-control devices as the traffic engineer may deem necessary under the traffic laws of the city, he is expressly authorized and empowered to install “rumble strips,” in accordance with the plans and specifications approved by the state department of transportation, to extend not more than one inch above the surface of the pavement, at the locations in the city as he shall deem necessary in order to direct the attention of the motorist to a reduction in the prima facie speed limit on account of school zones, public parks or playgrounds, or other special conditions.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. V, sec. 3-A; 1994 Code, sec. 70.23)
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 sign herein required is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinary observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that signs are required, the section shall be effective without signs being erected to give notice thereof. Refer to V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, section 542.203.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 11; 1994 Code, sec. 70.24)
It shall be unlawful for any person to place or to display upon or in view of any street any unofficial sign, signal or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic 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 sign or signal. Every prohibited sign, signal or device 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.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 12; 1994 Code, sec. 70.25)
It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully deface, injure, move, obstruct, or interfere with any official traffic sign or signal.
(1966 Code, ch. 20.2, art. III, sec. 13; 1994 Code, sec. 70.26)