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.
(1986 Code, ch. 9, sec. 2(A); 1993
Code, sec. 10.201; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)
(a)
Prohibited.
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 traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal.
(b)
Commercial advertising prohibited.
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
advertisement of any nature.
(c)
Removal.
Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking
is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and the mayor is hereby
empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.
(d)
Signs on private property exempt.
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,
when erected in accordance with applicable city sign regulations.
(1986 Code, ch. 9, sec. 2(B); 1993
Code, sec. 10.202)
No person shall, without lawful authority, attempt to or in
fact alter, deface, injure, mark upon, discolor, knock down or remove
any official traffic-control device, sign or signal or any railroad
sign or signal or any inscription, shield or insignia thereof, or
any street name sign or any part thereof, or any other sign erected
by the city, within the city limits.
(1986 Code, ch. 9, sec. 2(C); 1993
Code, sec. 10.203)
(a)
Authorization; list; review by council.
The mayor, upon
the recommendation of the chief of police, may install or remove traffic-control
devices. The city administrator shall maintain a list of traffic-control
devices that have been installed within the corporate city limits.
The city council shall review and validate the location and nature
of all traffic-control devices through the approval or modification
of the traffic schedules adopted by the city. The review and validation
of traffic-control devices shall be conducted annually, or sooner
if necessary. The mayor or city administrator shall have the duty
of erecting, removing or installing upon, over, along or beside any
highway, street or alley, traffic-control devices that are necessary
to enforce ordinances, or causing the same to be erected, installed
or placed, in accordance with this chapter and the manual on uniform
traffic-control devices. If the traffic-control device has been installed
in accordance with this chapter, then it shall be deemed lawful when
so installed.
(b)
Record of installation.
Whenever the city has erected
or installed any official traffic-control device, sign, or signal
pursuant to this section, the modification shall be entered into the
official record of traffic-control devices, and there will also be
created a map showing the location and type of traffic-control devices
authorized under the provisions of this section. This map shall be
kept by the city secretary and shall be available for public inspection.
This map, however, is meant for informational purposes and will not
determine the official status of any traffic-control device.
(Ordinance 315-91 adopted 12/17/91; 1993 Code, sec. 10.204; Ordinance 448-00 adopted 1/18/00; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)
It being unlawful for any person other than the mayor, 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 chapter 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 mayor pursuant to the authority of this chapter and of the
ordinance directing the installation of such device, signal or marking.
(1986 Code, ch. 9, sec. 2(E); 1993
Code, sec. 10.205)
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 chapter,
unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, subject to
the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle
as provided for in the state motor vehicle laws.
(1986 Code, ch. 9, sec. 2(F); 1993
Code, sec. 10.206)
The mayor is hereby empowered to install or erect temporary
traffic-control devices to protect the public in case of emergencies
and special situations.
(1986 Code, ch. 9, sec. 2(G); 1993
Code, sec. 10.207)
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 vehicles or pedestrian 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.
(1986 Code, ch. 9, sec. 2(H); 1993
Code, sec. 10.208)
