The following words and phrases, when used in this Title, shall, for the purpose of this Title, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this Section.
Whenever any words and phrases used herein are not defined herein, but are defined in the State laws regulating the operation of such vehicles, any such definition therein shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein.
ALLEY OR ALLEYWAY: A public way within a block, generally giving access to the rear of lots or buildings and not used for general traffic circulation.
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE: Vehicles of the Fire Department, police vehicles and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of Municipal departments or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by the Chief of Police.
BICYCLE: Every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels, either of which is more than sixteen inches (16") in diameter.
BUSINESS DISTRICT: The territory of any city, village or incorporated town contiguous to and including a highway when within any six hundred feet (600') along such highway there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes, including but not limited to hotels, banks or office buildings, railroad stations and public buildings which occupy at least three hundred feet (300') of frontage on one side or three hundred feet (300') collectively on both sides of the highway.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE: Every vehicle designed, maintained or used primarily for the transportation of property.
CONTROLLED-ACCESS HIGHWAY: Every highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway.
CROSSWALK: A. That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs, or in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway.
B. Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.
CURB LOADING ZONE: A space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
DRIVER: Every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
EXPLOSIVES: Any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities, or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructible effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb.
FARM TRACTOR: Every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines and other implements of husbandry.
FLAMMABLE LIQUID: Any liquid which has a flash point of seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70°F) or less, as determined by a tagliabue or equivalent closed cup test device.
FREIGHT CURB, LOADING ZONE: A space adjacent to a curb for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of freight.
HIGHWAY: The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
INTERSECTION: A. The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two (2) highways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within such vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict.
B. Where a highway includes two (2) roadways thirty feet (30') or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event that such intersecting highway also includes two (2) roadways thirty feet (30') or more apart, then every crossing of two (2) roadways of such highways shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
LANED ROADWAY: A roadway which is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
METAL TIRE: Every tire the surface of which is in contact with the roadway is wholly or partly of metal or other hard, nonresilient material.
MOTOR VEHICLE: Every vehicle which is self-propelled.
MOTORCYCLE: Every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.
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.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES: All signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with this Title placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL: Any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed.
OWNER: A person who holds the legal title of a vehicle or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then such conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this Title.
PARK OR 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.
PASSENGER CURB-LOADING ZONE: A place adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.
PEDESTRIAN: Any person afoot.
PERSON: Every natural person, firm, co-partnership, association or corporation.
PNEUMATIC TIRE: Every tire in which compressed air is designed to support the load.
POLICE OFFICER: 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.
PRIVATE ROAD OR DRIVEWAY: Every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons.
PROPERTY LINE: The line marking the boundary between any street and the lots or property abutting thereon.
PUBLIC BUILDING: A building used by the City, school district, the State of Illinois or the United States government.
RAILROAD: A carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails.
RAILROAD TRAIN: A steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails, except streetcars.
RESIDENCE DISTRICT: The territory contiguous to and including a highway not comprising a business district when the property on such highway, for a distance of three hundred feet (300') or more, is in the main improved with residence or residences and buildings in use for the business.
RIGHT OF WAY: The right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision, unless one grants precedence to the other.
ROAD TRACTOR: Every motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon, either independently or any part of the weight of a vehicle or load so drawn.
ROADWAY: That portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately, but not to all such roadways collectively.
SAFETY ZONE: The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or is so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.
SCHOOL BUS: Every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency, or by or for a private or religious organization, and operated for the transportation of children to or from school or privately-owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school or in connection with any school activity.
SEMI-TRAILER: Every vehicle without motive power designated for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.
SIDEWALK: That portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines, intended for use of pedestrians.
SOLID TIRE: Every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon compressed air for the support of the load.
STAND OR STANDING: The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.
STOP: When required, means complete cessation from movement.
STOP OR STOPPING: When prohibited, means any halting even momentarily of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal.
STREET OR HIGHWAY: The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
SUBURBAN DISTRICT: That portion of the City other than the business and residence districts as defined herein.
THROUGH HIGHWAY: Every highway or portion thereof on which vehicular traffic is given preferential right of way, and at the entrances to which vehicular traffic from intersecting highways is required by law to yield right of way to vehicles on such through highway in obedience to either a stop sign or a yield sign, when such signs are erected as provided in this Title.
THROUGH TRUCK TRAFFIC: The operation of vehicles for the primary purpose of transporting property from a place of origin not within the City to a point of destination beyond the limits of the City and through the City. The words "through truck traffic", shall not include the operation of vehicles making delivery of property within the City.
TRAFFIC: Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any highway for purposes of travel.
TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL: Any device, whether manually, electronically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed.
TRAFFIC DIVISION: The traffic division of the Police Department of the City, or in the event a traffic division is not established, then such term, whenever used herein, shall be deemed to refer to the Police Department of the City.
TRAILER: Every vehicle without motive power designed for carrying passengers or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
TRUCK TRACTOR: Every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicles and load so drawn.
VEHICLE: Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. (1972 Code § 70.001; amd. Ord. 84-38, 11-19-1984)