For the purpose of this title, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALLEY. Any roadway set apart for public travel, but not named on the official map as a street.
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Vehicles of the Fire Department (fire patrol), police vehicles, public and private ambulances for which permits have been issued by the State Board of Health, such emergency vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by the City Council, private vehicles operated by volunteer firefighters or certified Emergency Medical Services employees or volunteers while answering a fire alarm or responding to a medical emergency, industrial ambulances and other industrial emergency response vehicles when operating in an emergency situation provided the vehicle is also operated with criteria established by the state Industrial Fire Training Board of the state Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association as the criteria are in effect on September 1, 1989, and vehicles operated by blood banks or tissue banks, accredited or approved under federal or state laws, while making emergency deliveries of blood, drugs or medicine, or organs.
BUSINESS DISTRICT. The territory contiguous to and including a roadway when, within any 600 feet along such roadway, there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes which occupy 300 feet of frontage on one side or 300 feet collectively on both sides of the roadway.
CROSSWALK. 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. The word “crosswalk” also includes any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.
FREIGHT CURB LOADING ZONE. A space adjacent to a curb for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of freight or passengers.
HAND SIGNALS. All signa]s made by the operator by use of the hand and forearm for the purpose of indicating his intention of turning, stopping, or changing the course of the vehicle.
INTERSECTION. The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines or, if none, when the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways which join one another at or approximately at right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict. Where a highway includes two roadways 30 feet 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 such intersecting highway also includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of two roadways of such highways shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
LEGAL HOLIDAYS. New Year's Day, Memorial Day, U.S. Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and Martin Luther King Day.
LOADING ZONE. A space or section of the curb and adjacent street set aside far exclusive use of loading or unloading of persons, merchandise, supplies and materials.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.
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 guiding, directing, warning or regulating traffic.
OPERATOR or DRIVER. Any person who is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
PARKING. The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, upon a roadway, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading, or in obedience of traffic regulations or traffic signs and signals.
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.
POLICE OFFICER. Every officer of the Police Department of the city 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.
RIGHT-OF-WAY. The privilege of the immediate use of the street or highway.
ROADWAY. That portion of a street or highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term “roadway” shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
SIDEWALK. That portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.
STREET or HIGHWAY. The entire width between the boundary lines of every public way pub-licly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
TRAFFIC. Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any street for purposes of travel.
TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL. Any device, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop or to proceed.
VEHICLE. Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
('68 Code, § 27-1) (Ord. 3-1978-12, passed 3-14-78; Am. Ord. 12-1983-47, passed 12-13-83)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat., Art. 6701d, §§ 1 through 20H