For the purpose of this chapter, 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 the 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.
BUSINESS DISTRICT. The territory contiguous to and including a highway when within 600 feet along the highway there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes, including but not limited to hotels, banks, or office buildings, railroad stations, and public buildings which occupy at least 300 feet of frontage on one side or 300 feet collectively on both sides of the highway.
COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE. Any of the following motor vehicles that are designed or used to transport passengers or property:
(1) A Class A motor vehicle that has a combined GVWR of at least 26,001 pounds and includes as part of the combination a towed unit that has a GVWR of at least 10,001 pounds.
(2) A Class B motor vehicle.
(3) A Class C motor vehicle that meets either of the following descriptions:
(a) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.
(b) Is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F.
(4) Any other motor vehicle included by federal regulation in the definition of commercial motor vehicle pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Appendix. § 2716.
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 points only and in the manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over the highway, street, or 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. Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markers on the surface.
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, as defined in this section. 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 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 such highway crosses the other.
(2) 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 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.
MOTORCYCLE. Vehicles having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three 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, three-wheeled vehicles while being used by law-enforcement agencies and mopeds as defined in G.S. § 105-164.3.
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.
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 this town.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES. All signs, signals, markings, and devices not inconsistent with this part placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
OPERATOR. A person in actual physical control of a vehicle which is in motion or which has the engine running. The terms OPERATOR and DRIVER and their cognates are synonymous.
PARK. When prohibited means the standing of a vehicle whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading.
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 officer of the municipal police department or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.
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.
RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The territory contig uous to and including a highway not comprising a business district when the property on the highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is in the main improved with residence or residences and buildings in use for business.
RIGHT OF WAY. The privilege of the immediate use of the roadway.
ROADWAY. That portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the shoulder. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways the term “roadway” as used herein shall refer to any roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
SAFETY ZONE. The area or 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. That 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.
STOP. When required means complete cessation of movement.
STOP, STOPPING, or STANDING. When pro hibited means any stopping or standing of a vehicle whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal.
STREET or HIGHWAY. The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
THROUGH HIGHWAY. Every street or high way 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 part.
TRAFFIC. Pedestrians, ridden 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 and to proceed.
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 Traffic Code bicycles shall be deemed vehicles and every rider of a bicycle upon a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this Traffic Code 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, 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.
('76 Code, § 7-1001)
Statutory references:
Authority to enact traffic regulations, see G.S. § 160A-296 et seq.