CHAPTER 18 TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES*

Transcription

1 CHAPTER 18 TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES* *Cross reference(s)--police department, et seq.; municipal court, et seq.; motor vehicle routes for transportation of explosives, blasting agents, flammable or hazardous chemicals, etc., 7-62; fire lanes shall be established by the city manager, 7-63; license and regulation of taxicabs, et seq.; junked vehicles, et seq.; abandoned motor vehicles, et seq.; streets and sidewalks, ch. 16; obstructions in any street, alley or other public thoroughfare restricted, et seq.; obstructing fire hydrants prohibited, Page Art. I In General, Art. II Administration, Art. III Traffic Control Devices, Art. IV Specific Street Regulations, Art. V Rules of the Road, Art. VI Stopping, Standing, Parking, ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL Sec Definitions. The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall for the purpose of this chapter have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except when the context otherwise requires. Χη. Πγ. 1

2 Whenever any words and phrases used herein are not defined herein but are defined in the state laws regulating the operation of vehicles, any such definition therein shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein, except when the context otherwise requires. (1) Business District shall mean the right-of-way of State Highway 35 over its entire course through the City; Brazos Avenue over its entire course through the City; 17th Street from and including its intersection with Brazos Avenue and continuing in a Southerly direction until it reaches the City limits; FM 1301 over its entire course through the City; and State Highway 36 over its entire course through the City. Business District includes not only the rights-of-way of the foregoing streets and highways, but also any and all sidewalks immediately adjacent to those rights-of-way. (2) Commercial vehicle shall mean every vehicle designed, maintained, or used primarily for the transportation of property. (3) Curb loading zone shall mean a space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials. (4) Freight curb loading zone shall mean a space adjacent to a curb for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials. (5) Official time standard. Whenever certain hours are named herein they shall mean standard time or daylight-saving time as may be in current use in the city. (6) Passenger curb loading zone shall mean a place adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers. (7) Police officer shall mean every officer of the municipal police department or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations. (8) Traffic division shall mean the traffic division of the police department of this city, or in the event a traffic division is not established, the police department of this city. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-1), ) Χη. Πγ. 2

3 Cross reference(s)--definitions and rules of construction generally, 1-2. Χη. Πγ. 3

4 Sec Required obedience. It is unlawful for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-8), ) Sec Obedience to police department officials. No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a police officer. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-9), ) Secs Reserved. ARTICLE II. ADMINISTRATION* *Cross reference(s)--administration, Ch Sec Authority of police and fire department officials. (a) It shall be the duty of the officers of the police department or such officers as are assigned by the chief of police to enforce all street traffic laws of this city and all of the state vehicle laws. (b) 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 traffic laws. In the event of a 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 the traffic laws. (c) Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-7), ) Χη. Πγ. 4

5 Cross reference(s)--police department, et seq.; fire marshal, 7-26 et seq. Sec Emergency and experimental regulations. (a) The chief of police, by and with the approval of the city manager, is hereby empowered to make regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of the traffic ordinances of this city and to make and enforce temporary or experimental regulations to cover emergencies or special conditions. No such temporary or experimental regulation shall remain in effect for more than ninety (90) days. (b) The city manager may test traffic control devices under actual conditions of traffic. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-6), ) Sec Certain nonmotorized traffic to obey traffic regulations. Every person propelling any push cart upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter and by the rules of the road portion of the state vehicle code, except those provisions which by their very nature have no application. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-10), ) Sec Public employees to obey traffic regulations. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the United States, this state, or any county, town, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, subject to such specific exceptions as are set forth in this chapter or in the state vehicle code. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-11), ) Sec Authorized emergency vehicles. (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 park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter. (b) The foregoing provision shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to park or stand with due regard for the safety of all Χη. Πγ. 5

6 persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-12), ) Sec Application to persons riding bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-50), ) Sec Bicycle parking. No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a building or at the curb, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-51), ) Sec Riding bicycles on sidewalks. district. (a) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business (b) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-52), ) Cross reference(s)--streets and sidewalks, ch. 16. Sec Pedestrian crossing at right angles. Except where otherwise indicated by a crosswalk or other official traffic control devices, a pedestrian shall cross a roadway at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb. Χη. Πγ. 6

7 (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-53), ) Sec Skates and Skate Boarding. It shall be unlawful for any person to use, ride, or operate a skate board, roller skates, inline skates, or any other manually propelled transportation device with wheels (expressly excluding bicycles) on, along, over or across any of the following areas: (a) (b) (c) Any sidewalk within the Business District of the City; Any highway or road within the Business District of the City; and/or Any sidewalk adjoining or adjacent to any public building within the City. (Ord. No. 454, 1, 1997, sec. added) Sec Impoundment Any person, sixteen years of age or under, who violates Sections or of this Chapter shall be, for the first offense, reprimanded in writing by the Police Department, addressed to the parents or guardian of the offender, stating the nature of the violation and a warning that repetition of the violation or commission of any other violation of Sections and/or of this Chapter will result in the impoundment of the offender's bicycle, skate board, skates, or transportation device with wheels (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the transportation device") for a period of one week. On the second offense, the offender will be summoned to appear the Municipal Court of the City of West Columbia with the transportation device in question and accompanied by a parent or guardian with the punishment for the second offense including impoundment of the transportation device in question for a period of up to one week. Third and subsequent offenses may result in impoundment of the transportation device in question for a period of up to one month and/or forfeiture of the transportation device. (Ord. No. 454, 1, 1997, sec. added) Sec Violation Over 16 Years of Age Any violation by a person more than sixteen years of age of Sections and of this Chapter of the Code shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by Χη. Πγ. 7

8 a fine of not to exceed $ (Ord. No. 454, 1, 1997, sec. added) Secs Reserved. ARTICLE III. TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES* *Cross reference(s)--streets and sidewalks, ch Sec Authority to install. The director of public works shall place and maintain official traffic control devices when and as required under the traffic ordinances as directed by the city manager to make effective the provisions of the traffic regulations, and may place and maintain such additional official traffic control devices as the city manager may deem necessary to regulate, warn or guide traffic under the traffic ordinances of this city or the state traffic code. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-15), ) Sec Manual and specifications. All traffic control signs, signals and devices shall conform to the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, volumes 1 and 2, and specifications approved by the council. All signs and signals required hereunder for a particular purpose shall so far as practicable be uniform as to type and location throughout the city. All traffic control devices so erected and not inconsistent with the provisions of state law or this chapter shall be official traffic control devices. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-16), ) Sec Obedience generally. The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any traffic control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exceptions granted Χη. Πγ. 8

9 the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-17), ) Sec When official devices required for enforcement purposes. No provisions of this chapter for which official traffic control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that official traffic control devices are required, such section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-18), ) Sec Presumption of legality. (a) Whenever official traffic control devices are placed in position approximately conforming to the requirements of this chapter, such devices shall be presumed to have been so placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence. (b) Any official traffic control device placed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and purporting to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such devices shall be presumed to comply with the requirements of this chapter, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-19), ) Sec Designation of crosswalks. The city manager is hereby authorized to designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks, or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where in his opinion there is no particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at such other places as he may deem necessary. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-20), ) Sec Traffic lanes. Χη. Πγ. 9

10 The city manager is hereby authorized to mark traffic lanes upon the roadway of any street or highway where a regular alignment of traffic is necessary. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-21), ) Sec Sign inventory. An inventory of all traffic control signs installed shall be maintained by the city. The inventory shall show the location of each sign, date of installation, and other pertinent information applicable to each sign. Future installations, removals or maintenance of the traffic control devices shall be entered in the inventory as they occur. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-22), ) Sec Altering normal course of turns. The city manager is authorized to place official traffic control devices within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at such intersections, and such course to be traveled as so indicated may conform to or be other than as prescribed by law. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-34), ) Sec Restricted turn signs. The city manager is hereby authorized to determine those intersections at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right, left, or U-turn, and shall place proper signs at such intersections. The making of such turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours, in which event the same shall be plainly indicated on the signs. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-35), ) Sec Obedience to no-turn signs. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right, left or U- turn is permitted, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of any such sign. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-36), ) Χη. Πγ. 10

11 Sec Limitations on turning around. The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street in business district and shall not upon any other street so turn a vehicle unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-37), ) Χη. Πγ. 11

12 Sec One-way streets and alleys. Whenever any ordinance of this city designates any one-way street or alley the director of public works at the direction of the city manager shall place and maintain signs giving notice thereof. No such regulation shall be effective unless such signs are in place. Signs indicating the direction of lawful traffic movement shall be placed at every intersection where movement of traffic in the opposite direction is prohibited. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-38), )( see also 18-99) Sec Signs required at through streets. Whenever any ordinance of this city designates and describes a through street, it shall be the duty of the director of public works at the direction of the city manager to place and maintain a stop sign, or on a basis of an engineering and traffic investigation at any intersection a yield sign, on each and every street intersecting such through street unless traffic at any such intersection is controlled at all times by traffic control signals. At the intersection of two (2) such through streets or at the intersection of a through street and a heavy traffic street not so designated, stop signs shall be erected at the approaches of either of such streets as may be determined by the city manager upon the basis of an engineering and traffic study. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-41), ) Sec Other intersections where stop or yield required. The city hereby designates certain intersections where a particular hazard exists to be controlled by stop or yield signs. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-42), ) Secs Reserved. ARTICLE IV. SPECIFIC STREET REGULATIONS* *Cross reference(s)--motor vehicle routes for transportation of explosives, blasting Χη. Πγ. 12

13 agents, flammable or hazardous chemicals, etc., Sec Speed restrictions--generally. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate a motor vehicle upon any street, roadway or highway in the city limits, at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing, having regard to the actual and potential hazards when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade or crossings, when approaching and going around curves, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. In every event, speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle, or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-23), ) Sec Same--State speed laws applicable. (a) The state traffic laws regulating the speed of vehicles shall be applicable upon all streets within this city, except as this chapter, as authorized by state law, hereby declares and determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that certain speed regulations shall be applicable upon specified streets or in certain areas, in which event it shall be unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of any speed so declared in this chapter when signs are in place giving notice thereof. (b) All specific street speed limits adopted pursuant to Transportation Code, Section and , et seq. adopted pursuant to Sections , et seq. and , et seq., are on file in the City Secretary's office. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-24), ) Sec School zones. The designated school zones on certain streets are on file in the City Secretary's office. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-25), ) Sec One-way streets and alleys. Χη. Πγ. 13

14 Those streets and parts of streets and alleys designated for vehicular traffic to move only in the indicated direction are on file in the city secretary's office and when signs indicating the direction of traffic are erected and maintained at such intersection movement in the opposite direction is prohibited. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-39), )(see also 18-68) Cross reference(s)--streets and sidewalks, ch. 16. Sec Through streets designated. Those streets and parts of streets designated as through streets are on file in the city secretary's office. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-40), ) Cross reference(s)--streets and sidewalks, ch. 16. Sec Stop streets. The intersections to be controlled by stop signs are on file in the city secretary's office and are hereby declared to be stop intersections for the purpose of this section. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-43), 2/12/79; (Ord. No. 412, 1, 9/14/92, adds fine amount of up to $500); (Ord. No. 430, 2, 1/9/94, deletes amount of fine in Ord. 412 and replaces it with $1-$200 fine.; Ord. No. 419, 2, 8/9/93, deletes $1-$200 fine amount and replaces the amount with $500.) Cross reference(s)--streets and sidewalks, ch. 16. Sec Yield right-of-way streets. The intersections to be controlled with yield signs are on file in the city secretary's office. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-70), ) Cross reference(s)--streets and sidewalks, ch. 16. Χη. Πγ. 14

15 Sec Stop when traffic obstructed. No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-45), ) Secs Reserved. ARTICLE V. RULES OF THE ROAD Sec Unlawful riding. 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 an employee engaged in the necessary discharge of a duty, or to persons riding within truck bodies in space intended for merchandise. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-48), ) Sec Drivers in a procession. Each driver in a funeral or other procession shall drive as near the righthand edge of the roadway as practicable and shall follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practicable and safe. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-47), ) Sec Parade permit required, information; designating route. (a) No procession or parade of any number of persons, delegation or association of persons, or any company, circus or group shall march, drill, parade on foot or in vehicles or on animals upon any public street, alley, highway or right-of-way without first having obtained a written permit from the city manager. The applicant for a permit must provide the following information to the city manager two (2) days prior to the parade: The name of the sponsor and persons organizing the parade; the streets, avenues, alleys and throughfares on which it is proposed that such parade will travel; Χη. Πγ. 15

16 the time the parade is expected to depart and the time it is expected to stop; and the place of termination of the parade. The city manager shall have the right to finally decide and designate the route of any parade, the starting point and the ending point thereof, the time that such parade may start and the time that it must stop. (b) Funeral processions, the United States military forces and the military forces of this state are exempt from acquiring this permit. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-49), ) Cross reference(s)--streets and sidewalks, ch. 16. Secs Reserved. ARTICLE VI. STOPPING, STANDING, PARKING* *Cross reference(s)--fire lanes shall be established by the city manager, 7-63; parking of taxicabs restricted, ; parking a mobile home outside of licensed park restricted, et seq.; parking permit required for mobile homes, manufactured houses or travel trailers in mobile home parks, Sec Application of article. The provisions of this article prohibiting the standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times herein specified or as indicated on official signs except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-65), ) Sec Signs or markings indicating angle parking. (a) The city manager shall determine upon what streets angle parking shall be permitted and shall mark or sign such streets but such angle parking shall not be indicated upon any federal aid or state highway within this city unless the state Χη. Πγ. 16

17 highway commission has determined by resolution or order entered in its minutes that the roadway is of sufficient width to permit angle parking without interfering with the free movement of traffic. (b) Angle parking shall not be indicated or permitted at any place where passing traffic would thereby be caused or required to drive upon the left side of the street. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-54), ) Sec Obedience to angle parking signs or markings. On those streets which have been signed or marked by the city for angle parking, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such signs or markings. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-55), ) Sec Designation of curb loading zones. The city manager is hereby authorized to determine the location of passenger and freight curb loading zones and shall place and maintain appropriate signs indicating the same and stating the hours during which the provisions of this section are applicable. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-56), ) Cross reference(s)--city manager, et seq. Sec Standing in passenger curb loading zone stand. No person shall stop, park or stand a vehicle for any purpose or period of time other than for the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers in any place marked as a passenger curb loading zone during hours when the regulations applicable to such curb loading zone are effective, and then only for a period not to exceed three (3) minutes. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-57), ) Sec Standing in freight curb loading zone. Χη. Πγ. 17

18 No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose or length of time other than for the expeditious unloading and delivery or pick-up and loading of materials in any place marked as a freight curb loading zone during hours when the provisions applicable to such zones are in effect. In no case shall he stop for loading and unloading of materials exceed thirty (30) minutes. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-58), ) Χη. Πγ. 18

19 Sec Parking not to obstruct traffic. No person shall park any vehicle upon a street, other than an alley, in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten (10) feet of the width of the roadway for free movements of vehicular traffic. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-59), ) Sec Parking in alleys. No person shall park a vehicle within an alley in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten (10) feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic, and no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within an alley in such a position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-60), ) Cross reference(s)--streets and sidewalks, ch. 16. Sec Parking for certain purposes prohibited. purpose of: No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal (a) Displaying such vehicle sale. (b) Washing, greasing or repairing such vehicle except repairs necessitated by an emergency. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-61), ) Sec Parking adjacent to schools. The city manager is hereby authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon either or both sides of any street adjacent to any school property when such parking would interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-62), ) Χη. Πγ. 19

20 Sec No stopping, standing or parking near hazardous or congested places. (a) The city manager is hereby authorized to determine and designate proper signs at places not exceeding one hundred (100) feet in length in which the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles would create an especially hazardous condition or would cause unusual delay to traffic. (b) When official signs are erected at hazardous or congested places authorized herein, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any such designated place. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-63), ) Sec Where no signs required. No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places: (1) On a sidewalk. (2) In front of a public or private driveway. (3) Within an intersection. (4) Within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant. (5) On a crosswalk. (6) Within ten (10) feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. (7) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic. (8) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-64), ) Sec Regulations not exclusive. Χη. Πγ. 20

21 The provisions of this article imposing a time limit on parking shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions prohibiting or limiting the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-66), ) Sec No-Parking Areas The following areas are hereby designated as no-parking areas: (1) Both sides of 15 th Street from Brazos to Bernard. (2) South side of Bernard from 14 th Street to 15 th Street. (3) East side Loggins from South 16 th Street to Texaco. (4) North side Roughneck Drive from Loggins to South 16 th Street. (5) South side West Texaco from Loggins Drive West for 300 feet. (6) East side of South Street from Texaco to Gulf Drive. (7) South side of Lamar Street between its intersection with 13 th Street on the East and its intersection with Fisher Street on the West. (8) Both sides of E. Brazos, also known as Highway 35, starting at the intersection of Shady Lane to the Eastern City Limits. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-67), ; Ord. No.417, 1, 11/9/92, delete previous language and substituted current wording.) Sec Parking time limited on certain streets. When signs are erected in each block giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle for longer than two (2) hours at any time between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. of any day except Sundays and public holidays upon any of the streets in the schedule on file in the city secretary's office. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-68), ) Χη. Πγ. 21

22 Sec Parking signs required. Whenever by this article or any other ordinance of this city any parking time limit is imposed or parking is prohibited on designated streets, it shall be the duty of the city manager to have appropriate signs erected giving notice thereof. No such regulations shall be effective unless the signs are erected and in place at the time of any alleged offense. (Ord. No. 269, 1(18-69), ) Χη. Πγ. 22