(A) General rule. Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, or ordinary and usual sense. However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION or MUNICIPALITY. The City of Mansfield, Texas.
CITY SECRETARY, CHIEF OF POLICE, OR OTHER CITY OFFICERS OR DEPARTMENTS. The words "City Secretary," "Chief of Police," or words designating any other city officers or departments shall be construed to mean the City Secretary, Chief of Police or such other municipal officers or departments, respectively, of the City of Mansfield, Texas.
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CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This municipal code as modified by
amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
COUNCIL. The City Council of the City of Mansfield, Texas.
COUNTY. Tarrant County, Texas.
HIGHWAY. Any street, alley, highway, avenue or public place or square, bridge, viaduct, tunnel, underpass, overpass and causeway in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use.
('78 Code, § 1-5 (part))
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH. An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words SWEAR and SWORN shall be equivalent to the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED.
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OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office,
employee, commission or department of this municipality unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
OWNER. Applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the whole or of a part of such building or land, except as otherwise defined in this code.
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PERSON. Any individual, corporation, company, firm, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association and any other group or combination of individuals or business entity or legal entity.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Every species of property, except real property, as defined in this section.
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PROPERTY. Real and personal property, and "mixed" if the sense used so indicates.
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REAL PROPERTY. Includes land, tenements, and hereditaments.
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ROADWAY. That portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic and that portion of a street used for drainage.
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SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of the street between the curb or the lateral line of the roadway and the adjacent property line, all or a part of which is intended for the use of pedestrians.
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SIDEWALK AREA. The space between the lateral line of the roadway and the boundary separating the public right-of-way and the adjacent private property, or adjacent public property not constituting an area usable as a sidewalk.
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SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when a person cannot write.
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STATE. The State of Texas.
STREET. Any highway, alley, street, avenue or public place or square, bridge, viaduct, underpass, overpass, tunnel, causeway, or other public way in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use.
('78 Code, § 1-5 (part))
SUBCHAPTER. A division of a chapter, designated in this code by a heading in the chapter
analysis and a capitalized heading in the body of the chapter, setting apart a group of sections related by the subject matter of the heading. Not all chapters have subchapters.
WRITTEN or IN WRITING. Any representation, other than oral, of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
('78 Code, § 1-5 (part))
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed; equivalent to the words YEAR OF OUR LORD.