Sec. 19-52. Procedure upon approach of authorized emergency vehicle.

(a)   Upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle giving audible signal by bell, siren or exhaust whistle, the driver of every other vehicle shall immediately drive the vehicle to a position as near as possible and parallel to the righthand edge or curb of the street, clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position, unless otherwise directed by a police or traffic officer, until the emergency vehicle has passed.

(b)   Violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4.

(Code 1965, § 28-43; Ord. No. 4910, § 2, 11-9-21)

State law reference(s)—Similar provisions, G.S. 20-157(a).

Sec. 19-53. Following fire apparatus or driving near scene of fire.

(a)   The driver of any vehicle, other than one on official business, shall not follow any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm closer than 500 feet or drive into the block where fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.

(b)   Violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4.

(Code 1965, § 28-44; Ord. No. 4910, § 2, 11-9-21)

State law reference(s)—Similar provisions, G.S. 20-157(b).

Sec. 19-54. Driving over fire hose.

(a)   It shall be unlawful to drive a motor vehicle over a fire hose or any other equipment that is being used at a fire at any time or to block a firefighting apparatus or any other equipment from its source of supply regardless of its distance from the fire.

(b)   Violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4.

(Code 1965, § 28-45; Ord. No. 4910, § 2, 11-9-21)

State law reference(s)—Similar provisions, G.S. 20-157(d).

Sec. 19-55. Limitations on turning around.

(a)   The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street in a 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.

(b)   Violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4.

(Code 1965, § 28-46; Ord. No. 4910, § 2, 11-9-21)

Sec. 19-56. Limitations on backing.

(a)   The driver of a vehicle shall not back the vehicle into an intersection or over a crosswalk or otherwise back the vehicle unless such movement can be made in safety.

(b)   Violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4.

(Code 1965, § 28-47; Ord. No. 4910, § 2, 11-9-21)

Sec. 19-57. Driving through safety zone or on sidewalks.

(a)   The driver of a vehicle shall not at any time drive through or over a safety zone.

(b)   No person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or temporary driveway.

(c)   Violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4.

(Code 1965, § 28-48; Ord. No. 4910, § 2, 11-9-21)

State law reference(s)—Similar provisions, G.S. 20-160.

Sec. 19-58. Driving on play streets.

(a)   The traffic engineer may declare any street or part thereof a play street and place appropriate signs in the roadway indicating the play street. When so declared and indicated, no person shall drive a vehicle upon any such street or portion thereof, except drivers of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area and then any such driver shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any such street or portion thereof.

(b)   On those days when conditions are suitable for coasting on snow or ice, no person shall drive a vehicle upon any street or parts of streets when signs are erected giving notice thereof. This subsection shall not prevent the use of any streets by drivers of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such reserved areas, but any such driver shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any such street or portion thereof at any such time.

(c)   Violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4.

(Code 1965, § 28-50; Ord. No. 4910, § 2, 11-9-21)

Sec. 19-59. Parking oversize vehicles on streets.

(a)   It shall be unlawful to park a vehicle as described in subsection (b) of this section on any city system streets within the city.

(b)   A vehicle to which this section shall be applicable shall be a truck, tractor, trailer, semitrailer or bus which has a gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds or which has a length in excess of 270 inches overall or a width in excess of 96 inches.

(c)   The city manager or his designee is hereby authorized to permit temporary parking of vehicles as described in subsection (b) of this section on city system streets as he may deem appropriate in connection with construction-related activities.

(d)   This section shall not be applicable to the following vehicles:

(1)   A vehicle in the process of being loaded, unloaded or in the performance of service to or for property located on or adjacent to the public street.

(2)   A vehicle temporarily rendered inoperable by mechanical difficulty for such time necessary to effect necessary repairs, but in no event to exceed three hours.

(e)   Violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4.

(Code 1965, § 28-51; Ord. No. 1697, § 1, 6-28-88; Ord. No. 4910, § 2, 11-9-21)