In this chapter:
Alley.
Any narrow street used primarily for vehicular service access to the back or the side of properties otherwise abutting on a street and having no legal or official name other than "alley."
Bus.
Every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten passengers and used for the commercial transportation of persons.
Camper trailer.
A folding or collapsible vehicular structure, without its own power, designed as temporary living quarters for travel, camping, recreation, and vacation use which is licensed and registered for highway use.
Commercial motor vehicle.
Any motor vehicle designed or used for the transportation of property, not including a passenger bus, passenger automobile, motorcycle, or pickup truck, but including any other type truck, tractor, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer or any combination thereof which has a gross registered carrying capacity of more than 4,000 pounds.
Curb.
The lateral lines of a roadway, whether constructed above grade or not, which are not intended for vehicular travel.
Divided roadway or highway.
A roadway or highway divided into two roadways by leaving an intervening space or by a physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing section between the two roadways.
Electric bicycle.
Any bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals; an electric motor of fewer than 750 watts; and with a top assisted speed of 28 miles per hour or less. Pursuant to Chapter 664 of the Texas Transportation Code, as amended, an electric bicycle may be classified as either a Class 1 electric bicycle, a Class 2 electric bicycle, or a Class 3 electric bicycle. A "Class 1 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that assists the rider only when the rider is pedaling and with a top assisted speed of 20 miles per hour or less. A "Class 2 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used to propel the bicycle without the pedaling of the rider and with a top assisted speed of 20 miles per hour or less. A "Class 3 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that assists the rider only when the rider is pedaling and with a top assisted speed of more than 20 but less than 28 miles per hour. For purposes of this definition, "top assisted speed" means the speed at which the bicycle's motor ceases propelling the bicycle or assisting the rider. A label or decal on an electric bicycle identifying it as a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 electric bicycle shall be prima facie evidence of same.
Horse or stock trailer.
A vehicular structure without its own motive power designed primarily for the transportation of horses or stock which, in combination with the towing vehicle, is currently licensed and registered for highway use.
Improved or paved surface.
A surface that consists of materials other than dirt or grass such as, but not limited to, concrete, asphalt, rock, pavestone, etc. and must be attached to the ground surface.
Loading zone.
A space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
Median strip.
That area or portion of a divided street, road, or highway within the town separating the two roadways of said street, road, or highway and shall be held to include the curb, if any, at the outer edge of said area.
Mobile home.
Living quarters equipped or used for sleeping and eating which may be moved from one location to another over a public street by being pulled behind a motor vehicle.
Motor home.
A vehicular unit built on or as part of a self propelled motor vehicle chassis, primarily designed to provide temporary living quarters for travel, camping, recreation, and vacation use, and is licensed and registered for highway use. Conversion vans are exempted.
Operator.
Any person in control of a vehicle, including a railroad train or vehicle being towed.
Park and parking.
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 ban.
Certain hours during the day at which times standing, parking, or stopping of a vehicle is prohibited along the curb of designated streets as indicated by signs authorized by the Traffic Administrator.
Public view.
Vehicular unit that is visible at any time of the year from a public place or public right-of-way.
Residential area.
Any tract of land that is used for residential purposes and/or the portion of a street and/or right-of-way directly abutting said tract of land.
School traffic zone.
An area of a public street or highway within the town and in the vicinity of a public or private school and upon which children of school age walk or cross at certain times of the day on school days.
Screened from public view.
Fully concealed from public view.
Traffic Administrator.
The person, or his authorized representative, designated by the Town cOuncil to exercise the powers and duties conferred upon him by this chapter as well as by the laws of the state vesting powers in local traffic authorities.
Trailer.
Horse or stock trailer, utility trailer, camper trailer, and/or watercraft trailer.
Travel trailer.
A rigid structure, without its own motive power, designed as a temporary dwelling for travel, camping recreation and vacation use, which is licensed and registered for highway use and which when equipped for the road has a body width of not more than eight feet.
Truck camper.
A portable structure, without its own motive power, designed to be mounted on a power vehicle as a temporary dwelling for travel, camping, recreation and vacation use, and which in combination with the carrying vehicle is licensed and registered for highway use.
Utility trailer.
A vehicular structure without its own motive power designed and/or used for the transportation of all manner of vehicles, livestock, goods and materials and is currently licensed or registered for highway use.
Vehicle or motor vehicle.
A device that can be used or is intended to be used to transport or draw persons and/or property on a highway or street, including but not limited to a car, truck, trailer, truck-tractor, semitruck, tractor-trailer, electric bicycle or motorcycle.
Watercraft.
A boat or any device used or capable of being used for navigation on water.
Watercraft trailer.
A vehicular structure without its own motive power, specifically designed to transport watercraft for recreation and vacation use and which is currently licensed and registered for highway use.
(Ordinance 11-038, § 2, adopted 4/12/2011; Ordinance 2025-14 adopted 4/8/2025)
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction in the municipal court of the town, shall be fined in an amount as provided in § 1.01.009 of this Code for each offense, and each day shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ordinance 85-19, § 12, adopted 9/13/1985)
(a) 
Definitions.
For purposes of this section, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
Engine brake.
Any device used to slow a vehicle by slowing the engine, which is also commonly called, among other names, engine brake, compression brake, jake brake and dynamic brake, regardless of the manufacturer.
Vehicle.
A device that can be used to transport or draw persons and/or property on a highway or street, including but not limited to a car, truck, trailer, truck-tractor, semitruck, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler or motorcycle.
(b) 
Unlawful use; offense established; nuisance established.
It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to use or operate or cause to be used or operated within the town limits, as they may presently or in the future exist, any engine brake. A person commits an offense by violating any provision of this section. The use of an engine break is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
(c) 
Signs.
The Town Manager or designee shall be responsible for installing signs and/or markings to properly notify the public that the use of engine brakes is prohibited within the town, and/or the Town Manager or designee shall cooperate with and assist the Texas Department of Transportation in installing such signs and/or markings.
(d) 
Enforcement.
The police chief, or his/her authorized representative, is authorized to issue citations to any driver or owner of a vehicle who has violated this section. The town shall not be responsible or liable for any damage to any vehicle or personal property caused by the prohibition on the use of engine brakes pursuant to this section and shall not be responsible for any damage resulting from the failure to exercise the authority granted under this section.
(e) 
Defense established.
It shall be a defense to prosecution for an offense established by this section if the use of engine brakes was necessary to avoid imminent danger to persons or property.
(Ordinance 05-05, §§ 2—6, adopted 1/25/2005; Ordinance 2024-73 adopted 11/12/2024)
(a) 
Definitions.
In this section:
Commercial passenger transportation.
A mode of transportation provided by a bus or motor coach designed to accommodate more than ten (10) passengers (including the operator) for compensation and that is powered by a primary propulsion engine, but specifically excluding the modes of railroad, light rail, or taxicabs.
Idle.
The operation of an engine in the operating mode where:
(1) 
The engine is not engaged in gear;
(2) 
The engine operates at a speed at the revolutions per minute specified by the engine or vehicle manufacturer for when the accelerator is fully released; and
(3) 
There is no load on the engine.
Mechanical operations.
The use of electrical tools or equipment in construction, maintenance, or repair of facilities.
Passenger transit operations.
A regional mode of public transportation that is funded through a portion of sales tax for the region being served.
Primary propulsion engine.
A gasoline or diesel-fueled internal combustion engine that:
(1) 
Is attached to a motor vehicle; and
(2) 
Provides the power to propel the motor vehicle into motion and maintain motion.
(b) 
Idling prohibited.
A person commits an offense if he causes, suffers, allows, or permits the primary propulsion engine of a motor vehicle to idle for more than five (5) consecutive minutes when the motor vehicle is not in motion.
(c) 
Defenses.
It is a defense to prosecution under this section that:
(1) 
The motor vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of fourteen thousand (14,000) pounds or less;
(2) 
The motor vehicle is greater than fourteen thousand (14,000) pounds and is equipped with a 2008 or subsequent model year heavy-duty diesel engine or liquefied or compressed natural gas engine that has been certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or another state environmental agency to emit no more than thirty (30) grams of nitrogen oxides emissions per hour when idling;
(3) 
The motor vehicle was forced to remain motionless because of traffic conditions over which the operator had no control;
(4) 
The motor vehicle was being used by the United States Military, National Guard, or Reserve Forces, the town or as an emergency or law enforcement motor vehicle;
(5) 
The primary propulsion engine of the motor vehicle was providing a power source necessary for a mechanical operation of the vehicle, other than propulsion or passenger compartment heating or air conditioning;
(6) 
The primary propulsion engine of a motor vehicle was being operated:
(A) 
For maintenance or diagnostic purposes;
(B) 
To defrost a windshield;
(C) 
To provide air conditioning or heating necessary for the health and safety of employees in an armored vehicle while the employee remains inside the vehicle to guard the contents or while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded;
(D) 
To provide air conditioning or heating necessary for the health and safety of an employee who is using the vehicle to perform an essential job function related to roadway construction or maintenance;
(E) 
To provide heat or air conditioning necessary for passenger comfort or safety in vehicles intended for commercial or public passenger transportation, or passenger transit operations, in which case idling up to a maximum of thirty (30) minutes is allowed.
(7) 
The person charged with the offense was the owner of a motor vehicle that had been rented or leased to the person operating the vehicle at the time of the offense, if the vehicle operator was not employed by the vehicle owner; or
(8) 
A motor vehicle when idling is necessary to power a heater or air conditioner while a driver is using the vehicle's sleeper berth for a government-mandated rest period and is not within two (2) miles of a facility offering external heating and air conditioning connections at a time when those connections are available.
(d) 
Penalties.
(1) 
An offense under this section is punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each instance of a violation of this section is a separate offense.
(2) 
Prosecution for an offense under this section does not preclude the use of other enforcement remedies or procedures that may be available to the town.
(e) 
Application of TCEQ rules.
The Town Council hereby adopts the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Idling Limitations Rule as published in the Texas Administrative Code, title 30, part 1, chapter 114, subchapter J, Operational Controls for Motor Vehicles, Division 2, Locally Enforced Motor Vehicle Idling Limitation, as amended, and the Town Council approves the adoption and implementation of the TCEQ Idling Limitation Rule by reference. The provisions of the state rules are included in the remainder of this article, but where there is a conflict between the state rule and any provision of this article, the state rules shall prevail.
(Ordinance 2024-73 adopted 11/12/2024)