For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings herein ascribed to them in this section:
Alley
means a public way in the city extending either partly or through any city block in the rear of city lots and in a direction generally from avenue to avenue, not more than twenty (20) feet in width and capable of being traversed by a vehicle.
Authorized emergency vehicle
means vehicles of the fire department, police vehicles, public and private ambulances for which permits have been issued by the state, emergency vehicles of the city or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by the governing body of an incorporated city, 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.
Bicycle
means every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels, either of which is more than fourteen (14) inches in diameter.
Bus
means 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.
Bus stop
means a section of the roadway along the edge thereof, authorized by the city council, marked by signs reading “bus stop,” as a place for the sole use and convenience of the general public to board and depart from any bus.
Business district
means the territory contiguous to and including a highway when, within any six hundred (600) feet along such highway, 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 at least three hundred (300) feet of frontage on one side or three hundred (300) feet collectively on both sides of the highway.
Crosswalk
means that part of a roadway at any intersection included within the connection of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the street, whether marked or not, 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.
Digging out
means the practice of starting any motor vehicle from a standing position by applying a sudden burst of power, recognized by spinning rear wheels and the noise of tires on the surface of the roadway.
Driver
means that person who drives or is in actual physical control of the movements of a vehicle.
Driveway, private
means any entrance or exit over the sidewalk or sidewalk area of any street affording a means of ingress or egress for vehicles to or from any private property, or the entrance or exit of any private garage into or from any alley.
Driveway, public
means any entrance or exit over the sidewalk or sidewalk area of any street affording a means of ingress or egress for vehicles to or from any public property.
Intersection
means:
(1) 
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) highways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict.
(2) 
Where a highway includes two (2) roadways thirty (30) feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided street by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event such intersecting highway also includes two (2) roadways thirty (30) feet or more apart, then every crossing of two (2) roadways of such highways shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
(3) 
The junction of an alley with a street or highway shall not constitute an intersection.
(4) 
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), the state and city may, in matters of highway and traffic engineering design, consider the separate intersections of divided highways with medians thirty (30) feet wide or wider, as defined in subsection (2), as components of a single intersection.
Laned roadway
means a roadway that is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
Limited-access or controlled-access highway
means every highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting property or lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway.
Loading zone
means that portion of any roadway set apart, marked and numbered for the sole use of the public as a place for loading or unloading passengers, merchandise or other cargo.
Motor vehicle
means 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.
Motorcycle
means every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor or motor-assisted bicycle.
No parking zone
means a space on the roadway adjacent to the curb, whether marked by official signs or not, in which no vehicle may be parked.
Official traffic-control devices
means all signs, signals, markings, and devices not inconsistent with this chapter, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
Park or parking
means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
Parking stall or parking space
means that portion or section of a roadway adjacent to the curbing or edge, set apart, marked and bounded by lines painted or marked upon the surface of the roadway and extending into the roadway for the use of parking vehicles; or that portion of any alley marked by official signs showing such space to be a parking zone.
Pedestrian
means any person afoot.
Policeman or police officer
means any member of the police department of the city authorized by law to make arrests in traffic offenses.
Railroad
means a carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails.
Railroad train
means a steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon stationary rails.
Residence district
means 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.
Right-of-way
means the right of one 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.
Roadway
means that portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. In the event 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.
Safety zone
means 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.
Sidewalk
means 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.
Stand or standing
means 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.
Stop
means complete cessation of movement.
Street or highway
means 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.
Traffic
means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any street for purposes of travel.
Traffic-control signal
means any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.
Truck
means a motor vehicle designed primarily for the transportation of cargo.
U-turn
means the turning or causing the turning of a vehicle, so that when such turn is completed such vehicle will be headed in the opposite direction from that in which it was headed before such turning was begun, whether or not such vehicle is pulled into a driveway or any space beyond the curbline of the street.
Vehicle
means any device in, upon or by which any person or property may be or is transported upon any street within the corporate limits of the city, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-1; 1998 Code, sec. 10.101)
The purpose of the regulations prescribed by this chapter is to insure to the people the maximum use and benefit of the public streets of the city and yet retain the maximum degree of safety to prevent injury to person and property.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-2; 1998 Code, sec. 10.102)
Officers of the police department, or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police, are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance with this chapter and other traffic laws. In the event of fire or other emergency, or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter and other traffic laws.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-3; 1998 Code, sec. 10.103)
No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a police officer or fire department official given to direct or control traffic as authorized in this chapter.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-5; 1998 Code, sec. 10.105)
Unless specifically made applicable by this code or state law, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to persons, teams, motor vehicles and other equipment while actually engaged in work upon the surface of a highway, but shall apply to such persons and vehicles when traveling to or from such work.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-7; 1998 Code, sec. 10.107(a))
(a) 
The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, 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 chapter.
(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 maximum 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 such vehicle is making use of audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of state law, 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. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle that is used for law enforcement purposes may operate without using the emergency warning devices required by this subsection only when the driver is responding to an emergency call or when he or she is in pursuit of a suspected violator of the law and he or she has probable cause to believe that:
(1) 
Knowledge of his or her presence will cause the suspect to destroy or lose evidence of a suspected felony;
(2) 
Knowledge of his or her presence will cause the suspect to cease a suspected continuing felony before the driver has acquired sufficient evidence to establish grounds for arrest.
(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.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-7(b)–(e); 1998 Code, sec. 10.107)
The provisions of this chapter applicable to the drivers of vehicles upon the highways shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the United States, this state or any county, city, town, district or any other political subdivision of the state, subject to such specific exceptions as are set forth in this chapter with reference to authorized emergency vehicles.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-7; 1998 Code, sec. 10.107(f))
(a) 
Any person who violates his written promise to appear, given to an officer upon an arrest for any traffic violation, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor regardless of the disposition of the charge on which he was originally arrested.
(b) 
Any driver of a motor vehicle who unlawfully neglects to answer to the charges set forth in a written notice affixed to such motor vehicle by a police officer shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor regardless of the disposition of the charge for which said notice was originally given.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-23; 1998 Code, sec. 10.118)
(a) 
Any person who has received any notice to appear in answer to a traffic charge under this chapter may, within the time specified in the notice, appear at the office of the municipal judge at city hall and answer the charge set forth in such notice by paying a prescribed fine and, in writing, pleading guilty to the charge, waiving a hearing in court and giving power of attorney to the municipal judge to make such a plea and pay such fine in court.
(b) 
Any person who has been guilty of three (3) or more traffic violations within the preceding twelve (12) months shall not be permitted to pay a fine as above provided, and he must make statutory bail for appearance in court.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-24; 1998 Code, sec. 10.119)
All fines or forfeitures collected upon conviction or upon the forfeiture of bail of any person charged with a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be paid into the city treasury and deposited in the general fund.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-25; 1998 Code, sec. 10.120)
No person shall ride on any vehicle upon any portion thereof not designated or intended for the use of passengers. This provision shall not apply to any employee engaged in the necessary discharge of a duty, or to persons riding within truck bodies in space intended for merchandise.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-9; 1998 Code, sec. 10.108)
A person operating a motorcycle shall, at all times while so operating the same, wear a crash helmet approved by the state department of public safety, and shall not ride other than upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto or carry any other person, nor shall any other person ride upon such motorcycle, other than upon a firmly attached seat to the rear or the side of the operator.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-10; 1998 Code, sec. 10.109)
No person riding upon any bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, sled, roller skates or any toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any moving vehicle upon any roadway.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-12; 1998 Code, sec. 10.111)
(a) 
Light and reflector.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or ride a bicycle on the streets of the city after sundown and before sunrise unless such bicycle is equipped with lights as required by statute.
(b) 
Riding or parking on sidewalk in business district.
It shall be unlawful to ride a bicycle on the sidewalks in the business district or to park a bicycle on the sidewalks in the business district.
(1984 Code, secs. 12-13, 12-14; 1998 Code, sec. 10.112)
(a) 
No person shall throw or deposit upon any street or alley any glass bottle, glass, nails, tacks, wire, cans or any other substance likely to injure any person, animal or vehicle upon such street or alley.
(b) 
Any person who drops or permits to be dropped or thrown upon any street or alley any destructive or injurious material shall immediately remove the same or cause it to be removed.
(c) 
Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from any street or alley shall remove any glass or other injurious substance dropped upon such street or alley from the vehicle.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-16; 1998 Code, sec. 10.113)
Whenever the load upon any vehicle extends to the rear four (4) feet or more beyond the bed or body of such vehicle there shall be displayed at the extreme rear end of the load, at the times specified in section 547.302(a) V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, two (2) red lamps visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the rear, two (2) red reflectors visible at night from all distances within six hundred (600) feet to one hundred (100) feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps and located so as to indicate maximum width, and on each side one red lamp visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the side and located so as to indicate maximum overhang. There shall be displayed at all other times on any vehicle having a load which extends beyond its sides, or more than four (4) feet beyond its rear, red flags, not less than twelve (12) inches square, marking the extremities of such load, at each point where a lamp would otherwise be required by this section.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-17; 1998 Code, sec. 10.114)
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a city employee, to remove or damage any barriers erected under the direction of city officers either closing a street or for the purpose of warning traffic of an obstruction in the street.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-18; 1998 Code, sec. 10.115)
(a) 
Maintenance of crossings.
All railroads having their main lines, sidetracks, spurs and switches, or other tracks upon and in any of the streets of the city shall keep the same in good repair and in such condition as not to interfere with the use of said streets for the purpose of traffic; and at all street crossings the same shall be kept in good repair and the rails shall be kept on a level with the street; and between and alongside said rails shall be filled with gravel, cinders or other such substance as will keep said crossing in as good condition as before said rails were laid.
(b) 
Compliance with law.
All railroad companies operating a line of railway within and through the corporate limits of the city and maintaining such main tracks, sidetracks, switches, spurs or other tracks shall operate and maintain the same according to law and ordinances of the city.
(1984 Code, secs. 12-19, 12-20; 1998 Code, sec. 10.116)
No person shall open the door of or step from a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and will not impede traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a motor vehicle available to traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
(1984 Code, sec. 12-22; 1998 Code, sec. 10.117)