Loading...
(A) General. No driver of a two- or three-wheel motor vehicle or bicycle shall carry any other person on, upon or within such vehicle on any street or highway in the city, except as hereinafter provided; provided, however, that, if any two- or three-wheel motor vehicle with a wheel diameter of 12 inches or greater or any bicycle shall have either a double seating device with double foot rests or a side car attachment for each person riding therein so that such person shall be seated entirely within the body of said side car, then it shall be permissible for an operator who has attained the age of 16 years of age or older to carry a passenger. A demonstration ride by a licensed dealer or his or her employee is excepted from the provisions hereof. No motorcycle, bicycle or motor scooter shall be ridden upon any sidewalk of the city. No rider of a motorcycle, bicycle or motor scooter shall hold to any moving vehicle for the purpose of being propelled.
(B) Required equipment for motorcycles and motor scooters and motor driven cycles.
(1) Windshield. All vehicles covered under this section shall be equipped with a windshield of sufficient quality, size and thickness to protect the operator from foreign objects; except that, in lieu of such windshield the operator may wear goggles or face shield of material and design to protect him or her from foreign objects.
(2) Brakes. All vehicles covered under this section shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of same and to stop and hold such vehicle, including two separate means of applying the brakes. One means shall be effective to apply the brakes to the front wheel and one means shall be effective to apply the brakes to the rear wheels.
(3) Headgear. No person shall operate or ride upon any motorcycle, motorbike or motor scooter within the city unless such person is equipped with and wearing on the head a safety helmet with a secured chin strap and suspension lining, which said helmet shall conform to the type and design manufactured for the use of the operators and riders of such motor vehicles.
(4) Lights. All vehicles covered under this section shall carry at least one lighted headlamp capable of showing a white light visible at least 300 feet in the direction in which the same is proceeding, and one taillamp mounted on the rear which, when lighted, shall emit a red light plainly visible from at least 300 feet to the rear, and such lights required by this section shall be burning whenever such vehicles are in motion during the period from one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the streets are not clearly discernible at a distance of at least 500 feet ahead; provided that, a bicycle, in lieu of the red light in the rear, may carry a red or ruby glass reflector.
(5) Mufflers. Muffler cutouts are prohibited. No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any road, street or highway unless such vehicle is equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.
(6) Crash bars. No person shall operate a motorcycle or motor scooter on any road, street or highway in the city unless such motor vehicle is equipped with crash bars.
(C) Special speed limitation on motorcycles and motor scooters. No person shall operate any motorcycle or any motor scooter at a speed greater than the speed limit posted; provided, however, in no event and at no time may an operator under the age of 16 operate a motorcycle or motor scooter at a speed greater than 25 mph.
(D) Penalty. Anyone violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a civil offense and shall be punishable under the general penalty clause for this code; provided further that, if any parent or guardian knowingly permits a minor to operate a motorcycle or motor driven cycle in violation of this section, such parent or guardian shall be guilty of a civil offense and shall be punishable under the general penalty clause for this code.
(1994 Code, § 15-121) (Ord. 494, passed 9-2-1993; Ord. 674, passed 6-26-2007) Penalty, see § 71.99
It shall be a civil offense for any owner, driver or other person in charge of any commercial carrier truck to drive within 300 feet of another truck to drive in any lane other than the left-hand lane at all times or to pass another vehicle within the corporate limits.
(1994 Code, § 15-122) (Ord. 494, passed 9-2-1993; Ord. 674, passed 6-26-2007; Ord. 745, passed 11-25-2013) Penalty, see § 71.99
Pedestrians shall not cross streets, except at street intersections or designated crossings and then at right angles only.
(1994 Code, § 15-123) (Ord. 674, passed 6-26-2007) Penalty, see § 71.99
(A) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADULT. Any person 18 years of age or older.
AUTOMOBILE. Any motor driven automobile, car, truck, tractor, motorcycle, motor driven cycle, motorized bicycle or vehicle driven by mechanical power.
CUSTODY. The control of the actual, physical care of the juvenile, and includes the right and responsibility to provide for the physical, mental, moral and emotional well being of the juvenile. CUSTODY, as herein defined, relates to those rights and responsibilities as exercised either by the juvenile’s parent or parents or a person granted custody by a court of competent jurisdiction.
DRIVER’S LICENSE. A license issued by the State Department of Safety to an individual, which authorizes the individual to operate a motor vehicle on the highways.
JUVENILE. A person less than 18 years of age. No exception shall be made for a JUVENILE who has been emancipated by marriage or otherwise.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any adult to deliver the possession of or the control of any automobile or other motor vehicle to any person, whether an adult or a juvenile, who does not have in his or her possession a valid driver’s license issued by the Department of Safety of the state, or for any adult to permit any person, whether an adult or a juvenile, to drive any motor vehicle upon the streets, highways, roads, avenues, parkways, alleys or public thoroughfares in the city unless such person has a valid driver’s license as issued by the Department of Safety of the state.
(C) It shall be unlawful for any parent or person having custody of a juvenile to permit any such juvenile to drive a motor vehicle upon the streets, highways, roads, parkways, avenues or public ways in the city in a reckless, careless or unlawful manner, or in such a manner as to violate the ordinances of the city.
(1994 Code, § 15-124) (Ord. 674, passed 6-26-2007) Penalty, see § 71.99
(A) Every vehicle operated within the corporate limits must be in compliance with the financial responsibility law.
(B) At the time the driver of a motor vehicle is charged with any moving violation under Tenn. Code Ann. Title 55, Ch. 8, Ch. 10, parts 1 through 5, and Ch. 50, any provision in this traffic code or at the time of an accident for which notice is required under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-106, the officer shall request evidence of financial responsibility as required by this section. In case of an accident for which notice is required under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-106, the officer shall request such evidence from all drivers involved in the accident, without regard to apparent or actual fault.
(C) For the purposes of this section, FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY means:
(1) Documentation, such as the declaration page of an insurance policy, an insurance binder or an insurance card from an insurance company authorized to do business in the state, stating that a policy of insurance meeting the requirements of the State Financial Responsibility Law of 1977, compiled in Tenn. Code Ann. Title 55, Ch. 12, has been issued;
(2) A certificate, valid for one year, issued by the Commissioner of Safety, stating that a cash deposit or bond in the amount required by the State Financial Responsibility Law of 1977, compiled in Tenn. Code Ann. Title 55, Ch. 12, has been paid or filed with the Commissioner, or has qualified as a self-insurer under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-111; or
(3) The motor vehicle being operated at the time of the violation was owned by a carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Safety or the Interstate Commerce Commission, or was owned by the United States, the state or any political subdivision thereof, and that such motor vehicle was being operated with the owner’s consent.
(1994 Code, § 15-125) (Ord. 031102.37, passed 5- -2002; Ord. 674, passed 6-26-2007) Penalty, see § 71.99
(A) (1) No person shall operate a passenger motor vehicle on any highway, as defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-101(22), in the city unless such person and all passengers four years of age or older are restrained by a safety belt at all times the vehicle is in forward motion.
(2) No person four years of age or older shall be a passenger in a passenger motor vehicle on any highway, as defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-101(22), in the city unless such person is restrained by a safety belt at all times the vehicle is in forward motion.
(B) (1) The provisions of this section shall apply only to the operator and all passengers occupying the front seat of a passenger motor vehicle.
(2) If the vehicle is equipped with a rear seat which is capable of folding, the provisions of this section shall only apply to front seat passengers and the operator if the back seat is in the fold down position.
(C) As used in this section, unless specified otherwise, PASSENGER CAR or PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE means any motor vehicle with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less, that is not used as a public or livery conveyance for passengers. “Passenger car” or “passenger motor vehicle” does not apply to motor vehicles which are not required by federal law to be equipped with safety belts.
(D) This section does not apply to:
(1) A passenger or operator with a physically disabling condition whose physical disability would prevent appropriate restraint in such safety seat or safety belt; provided that, such condition is duly certified in writing by a physician who shall state the nature of the handicap, as well as the reason such restraint is inappropriate;
(2) A passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural letter carrier;
(3) Salespersons or mechanics employed by an automobile dealer who, in the course of their employment, test-drive a motor vehicle, if such dealership customarily test-drives 50 or more motor vehicles a day, and if such test-drives occur within one mile of the location of the dealership;
(4) Utility workers, water, gas and electric meter readers in the course of their employment;
(5) A newspaper delivery motor carrier service while performing the duties of a newspaper delivery motor carrier service; provided that, this exemption shall only apply from the time of the actual first delivery to the customer until the last actual delivery to the customer;
(6) A vehicle in use in a parade if operated at less than 15 mph;
(7) A vehicle in use in a hayride if operated at less than 15 mph; or
(8) A vehicle crossing a highway from one field to another if operated at less than 15 mph.
(E) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, no person between 16 years of age and up to and through the age of 17 years of age, shall operate a passenger motor vehicle, or be a passenger therein, unless such person is restrained by a safety belt at all times the vehicle is in forward motion.
(2) Notwithstanding division (B)(1) above, the provisions of this division (E) shall apply to all occupants between 16 years of age and 18 years of age occupying any seat in a passenger motor vehicle.
(3) Notwithstanding § 71.99(C)(5)(a) of this chapter, a law enforcement officer observing a violation of this division (E) shall issue a citation to the violator, but shall not arrest or take into custody any person solely for a violation of this division (E).
(F) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (B) above, no person with a learner’s permit or an intermediate driver’s license shall operate a passenger motor vehicle in the city unless such person and all passengers between the ages of four and 17 years of age are restrained by a safety belt at all times the vehicle is in forward motion.
(G) There shall be a $5 fee from all seatbelt citation(s) fines for violators age 16 and above retained by the office of the Court Clerk for the city as set forth in Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-9-602 and 55-9-603
(1994 Code, § 15-126) (Ord. 674, passed 6-26-2007; Ord. 845, passed 9-23-2019) Penalty, see § 71.99
STOPPING AND YIELDING
Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible and/or visual signals meeting the requirements of the laws of the state, or of a police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible signal only, the driver of every other vehicle shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge of curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.
(1994 Code, § 15-501) Penalty, see § 71.99
The drivers of all vehicles emerging from alleys, parking lots, driveways or buildings shall stop such vehicles immediately prior to driving onto any sidewalk or street. They shall not proceed to drive onto the sidewalk or street until they can safely do so without colliding or interfering with approaching pedestrians or vehicles.
(1994 Code, § 15-502) Penalty, see § 71.99
Loading...