For the purpose of this title, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALLEY. A thoroughfare through the middle of a block.
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Vehicles of a fire department, police vehicles, and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal department 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 tandem wheels, either of which is over 20 inches in diameter.
BLOCK. A portion of any street located between any two intersections of any two streets or public alleyways next adjacent to each other.
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 property or lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same, except at the points only and in the manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over the highway, street or roadway.
CROSSWALK. The portion of any street or roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections. Any portion of a roadway or street distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface of the street or roadway.
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. The operator of a vehicle.
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.
INTERSECTION.
(1) The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines or, if none, then the lateral edge of roadway lines of two or more highways which join one another at any angle whether or not one highway crosses the other.
(2) Where a highway includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of the divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event the intersecting highway also includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of two roadways of the highways shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
LANED ROADWAY. A roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle designed to run upon the highways which is pulled by a self-propelled vehicle. This shall not include mopeds as defined in G.S. § 20-4.01(27)d1.
MOTORCYCLE. A type of passenger vehicle as defined in G.S. § 20-4.01(27).
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 town.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICE. Any sign, signal, marking, or device not inconsistent with this title, placed or erected by authority of the governing body by any designated official having jurisdiction through authority given by the governing body, for the purpose of regulating, warning, prohibiting or guiding traffic upon the public streets and thoroughfares of the town.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGNALS. Any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, whereby traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed, or to turn, or to proceed with caution.
PARK. The standing of any vehicle, whether occupied or unoccupied, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers or cargo.
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.
POLICE OFFICER. Every peace officer of the town, including every employee of the town authorized and empowered to regulate traffic and to make arrests for any violations of the provisions of this title.
PRIVATE ROAD OR DRIVEWAY. Every road or driveway not open to the use of the public as a matter of right for the purpose of vehicular traffic.
PUBLIC CONVEYANCE. Any vehicle other than a taxicab or railroad train for transporting persons for a fare.
RIGHT-OF-WAY. The privilege of the immediate use of the street or roadway.
ROADWAY. The portion of a street or highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term ROADWAY, as used herein, shall refer to any roadways separately, but not to all roadways collectively.
SAFETY ZONE. Traffic island or other space officially set aside within a highway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is so plainly marked or indicated by proper signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.
SIDEWALK. The portion of a street between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.
STANDING. Any stopping of any vehicle, whether or not the vehicle is occupied during the period of stopping.
STOP. When required, the complete cessation of movement of any vehicle.
STOP or STOPPING. When prohibited, any stopping of any vehicle, except when STOPPING means that it shall be necessary to stop the vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of any peace officer of the town or by reason of any traffic-control sign or signal or by reason of any emergency.
STREET and HIGHWAY. The entire width between property or right-of-way lines of every way or place of whatever nature, when any part thereof is open to the use of the public as a matter of right for the purposes of vehicular traffic.
THROUGH HIGHWAY. Every street or highway or portion thereof at the entrances to which vehicular traffic from intersecting streets or highways is required by law to stop before entering or crossing the same and when stop signs are erected as provided in this title.
TRAFFIC. Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles of all kinds, conveyances, tractors, bicycles, motorcycles and the like, either singly or together, while using any street or alleyway for travel, including the operation of, the loading or unloading of or the parking of any vehicle upon any of the public streets of the town.
TRAFFIC DIVISION. The Traffic Division of the Police Department of this town, or in the event a Traffic Division is not established, then the term whenever used herein shall be deemed to refer to the Police Department of the town.
VEHICLE.
(1) Every device used 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 fixed rails or tracks; provided that, for the purposes of this title, bicycles shall be deemed vehicles and every rider of a bicycle upon a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this title applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those which by their nature can have no application.
(2) VEHICLE shall not include a device which is designed for and intended to be used as a means of transportation for a person with a mobility impairment, is suitable for use both inside and outside a building, and whose maximum speed does not exceed 12 miles per hour when the device is being operated by a person with a mobility impairment.
(Prior Code, § 70.01) (G.S. § 20-4.01)