(a) Authority. The city traffic engineer, with reference to highways and streets under his jurisdiction, is hereby authorized to control vehicles at:
(1) Intersections, by erecting or installing stop signs requiring vehicles to come to a complete stop at the entrance to that portion of the intersection designated as the main traveled or through highway. Stop signs may also be erected at three or more entrances to an intersection.
(2) Appropriate places other than intersections, by erecting or installing stop signs requiring vehicles to come to a complete stop.
(3) Intersections and other appropriate places, by erecting or installing steady-beam stoplights and other traffic control devices, signs or signals. All steady-beam stoplights emitting alternate red and green lights shall be arranged so that the red light shall appear at the top of the signaling unit and the green light shall appear at the bottom of the signaling unit.
(4) Intersections and other appropriate places, by erecting or installing flashing red or yellow lights.
(b) Control of vehicles at intersections.
(1) When a stop sign has been erected or installed at an intersection, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to fail to stop in obedience thereto and yield the right-of-way to vehicles operating on the designated main-traveled or through highway. When stop signs have been erected at three or more entrances to an intersection, the driver, after stopping in obedience thereto, may proceed with caution.
(2) Vehicles facing a red light controlling traffic passing straight through an intersection from a steady or strobe beam stoplight shall not enter the intersection while the steady or strobe beam stoplight is emitting a red light controlling traffic passing straight through an intersection. Except where prohibited by an appropriate sign, vehicular traffic facing a red light controlling traffic passing straight through an intersection, after coming to a complete stop at the intersection, may enter the intersection to make a right turn, but such vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and to other traffic using the intersection. When the stoplight is emitting a steady yellow circular light on a traffic signal controlling traffic passing straight through an intersection or a steady yellow arrow light on a traffic signal controlling traffic turning at an intersection, vehicles facing the yellow light are warned that the related green light is being terminated or a red light will be immediately forthcoming. When the stoplight is emitting a steady green light, vehicles may proceed with due care through the intersection subject to the rights of pedestrians and other vehicles as may otherwise be provided by law.
(3) When a flashing red light has been erected or installed at an intersection, approaching vehicles facing the red light shall stop and yield the right-of-way to vehicles in or approaching the intersection. The right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable to making a stop at a stop sign.
(4) When a flashing yellow light has been erected or installed at an intersection, approaching vehicles facing the yellow flashing light may proceed through the intersection with caution, yielding the right-of- way to vehicles in or approaching the intersection.
(5) When a stop sign, stoplight, flashing light or other traffic control device authorized by subsection (a) of this section requires a vehicle to stop at an intersection, the driver shall stop at an appropriately marked stop line or, if none, before entering a marked crosswalk or, if none, before entering the intersection at the point nearest the intersecting street where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting street.
(c) Control of vehicles at places other than intersections.
(1) When a stop sign has been erected or installed at a place other than an intersection, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to fail to stop in obedience thereto and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other vehicles.
(2) When a stoplight has been erected or installed at a place other than an intersection and is emitting a steady red light, vehicles facing the red light shall come to a complete stop. When the stoplight is emitting a steady yellow light, vehicles facing the light shall be warned that a red light will be immediately forthcoming and that vehicles may not proceed through such a red light. When the stoplight is emitting a steady green light, vehicles may proceed subject to the rights of pedestrians and other vehicles as may otherwise be provided by law.
(3) When a flashing red light has been erected or installed at a place other than an intersection, approaching vehicles facing the light shall stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians or other vehicles.
(4) When a flashing yellow light has been erected or installed at a place other than an intersection, approaching vehicles facing the light may proceed with caution, yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians and other vehicles.
(5) When a stoplight, stop sign or other signaling device authorized by subsection (a) of this section requires a vehicle to stop at a place other than an intersection, the driver shall stop at an appropriately marked stop line or, if none, before entering a marked crosswalk or, if none, before proceeding past the signaling device.
(d) Failure to stop. No failure to stop as required by this section shall be considered negligence or contributory negligence per se in any action at law for injury to person or property, but the facts relating to such failure to stop may be considered with the other facts in the case in determining whether a party was guilty of negligence or contributory negligence.
(e) Violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-4.
(Code 1965, § 28-64; Ord. No. 4910, § 2, 11-9-21)
State law reference(s)—Similar provisions, G.S. 20-158.