The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this title, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates 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 2 tandem wheels, either of which is over 20 inches in diameter.
BLOCK. A portion of any street located between any 2 intersections of any 2 streets or public alleyways next adjacent to each other.
COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE. A motor vehicle designed or used to transport passengers or property as defined in G.S. § 20-4.01(3)(d).
CROSSWALK. That 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.
(1) The area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral curblines; or, if none, then the lateral edge of roadway lines of 2 or more highways which join one another at any angle, whether or not one highway crosses the other.
(2) Where a highway includes 2 roadways 30 feet or more apart, every crossing of each roadway of the divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate INTERSECTION. If the intersecting highway also includes 2 roadways 30 feet or more apart, every crossing of 2 roadways of the highways shall be regarded as a separate INTERSECTION.
LANED ROADWAY. A roadway which is divided into 2 or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle designed to run upon the streets which is pulled by a self-propelled vehicle. This shall not include mopeds as defined in G.S. § 20-4.01(27)(d)(1).
MOTORCYCLE. A vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than 3 wheels in contact with the ground, including motor scooters and motor-driven bicycles, but excluding tractors and utility vehicles equipped with an additional form of device designed to transport property, 3-wheeled vehicles while being used by law enforcement agencies, and mopeds as defined in G.S. § 20-4.01(27)(d)(1).
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL. 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.
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 a 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.
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 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. That portion of a street or highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the shoulder. In the event a highway includes 2 or more separate ROADWAYS, the term ROADWAY shall refer to any ROADWAYS separately but not to all ROADWAYS collectively.
SIDEWALK. That portion of a street between the curblines, 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, 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 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. The terms STREET and HIGHWAY 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, the loading or unloading, or the parking of any vehicle upon any of the public streets of the town.
VEHICLE. Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon streets excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon fixed rails or tracks. 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 chapter applicable to the driver of a VEHICLE except those which by their very 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, is suitable for use both inside and outside a building, and whose maximum speed does not exceed 12 mph when the device is being operated by a person with a mobility impairment.