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 the Fire Department, police vehicles and 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 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.
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. The terms “driver” and “operator” and their cognates are synonymous.
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. The area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral curblines 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 such highway crosses the other. 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 that 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.
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)h.
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 Savings Time as may be in current use in the city.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE. Any sign, signal, marking or device, not inconsistent with this title, placed or erected by authority of the Board by a designated official having jurisdiction through authority given by the Board, for the purpose of regulating, warning, prohibiting or guiding traffic upon the public streets and thoroughfares of the city.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGNALS. Any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, whereby traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed, 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 individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, governmental agency, or combination thereof of whatsoever form or character.
POLICE OFFICER. Every peace officer of the city, including every employee of the city 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, means the complete cessation of movement of any vehicle.
STOP or STOPPING. When prohibited, means any stopping of any vehicle, except when the stopping means that it shall be necessary to stop the vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with direction of any police officer of the city 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. The terms HIGHWAY and STREET and their cognates are synonymous.
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 city.
TRAFFIC SCHEDULE. The official list or schedule of the regulations compiled in accordance with G.S. 160A-77, maintained in the office of the City Clerk:
(1) Designating the location of traffic control devices;
(2) Designating areas or zones where regulations are applied to parking, loading, bus stops, or taxicab stands;
(3) Establishing speed limits;
(4) Restricting or regulating traffic at certain times on certain streets, or to certain types, weights or sizes of vehicles;
(5) Designating the location of through streets, stop intersections, yield-right-of-way intersections, waiting lanes, one-way streets, or truck traffic routes; and
(6) Establishing regulations upon vehicle turns at designated locations.
TRUCK. A vehicle that has any of the following characteristics:
(1) Gross vehicle weight (GVW) rating of 10,000 pounds or more.
(2) Tandem axle or tri-axle vehicle.
(3) Tractor and tandem vehicles when pulling semitrailers or tandem semitrailers.
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 fixed rails or tracks; provided, that for the purposes of this chapter bicycles shall be deemed vehicles and every rider of a bicycle upon a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle except those which by their nature can have no application. This term 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, or who uses the device for mobility enhancement, is suitable for use both inside and outside a building, including on sidewalks, and is limited by design to 15 miles per hour when the device is being operated by a person with a mobility impairment, or who uses the device for mobility
enhancement. This term shall not include an electric personal assistive mobility device as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(7b).
(`84 Code, § 7-1001) (Am. Ord. 2009-O-06, passed 7-13-09)
Statutory reference:
Motor vehicles, see G.S. Chapter 20
Municipal authority to regulate traffic generally, see G.S. § 160A-300
Similar and additional definitions, see G.S. § 20-4.01