Whenever in this title the following terms are used, they shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
ALLEY: A public way within a block generally giving access to the rear of lots or buildings, and not used for general traffic circulation.
BICYCLE: Every device propelled by human power, upon which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels, either of which is more than twenty inches (20") in diameter.
CROSSWALK: That portion of the roadway included within the prolongation of the sidewalk lines at street intersections.
DRIVER: Every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
EMERGENCY VEHICLES: Police vehicles, vehicles of the Fire Department, ambulances, vehicles carrying a State, County or Municipal officer or employee in response to an emergency call, and emergency vehicles of public service corporations on an emergency call.
EXPLOSIVE: Any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing any explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities, or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion, or by a detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructible effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb.
FLAMMABLE LIQUID: Any liquid which has a flashpoint of seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70°F) or less, as determined by tagliabue or equivalent closed cup test device.
IMPROVED HIGHWAY: A roadway of concrete, brick, asphalt, macadam or gravel.
INTERSECTION:
A. The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or if none, then the lateral boundary lines, of the roadways of two (2) highways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different roadways joining at any other angle may come in conflict.
B. Where a highway includes two (2) roadways forty feet (40') or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
LANED ROADWAY: A street, the roadway of which is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
LOADING ZONE: The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
MERGING TRAFFIC: A maneuver executed by the drivers of vehicles on converging roadways to permit simultaneous or alternate entry into the junction thereof, wherein the driver of each vehicle involved is required to adjust his vehicular speed and lateral position so as to avoid a collision with any other vehicle.
METAL TIRES: Every tire, the surface of which in contact with the roadway is wholly or partially of metal or other hard, nonresilient material.
MOTOR VEHICLE: Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead wires, but not operated upon rails.
MOTORCYCLE: Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.
PARK: To stand a vehicle, whether occupied or not, for a period of time greater than is reasonably necessary for the actual loading or unloading of persons.
PEDESTRIAN: Any person afoot.
PNEUMATIC TIRE: Every tire in which compressed air is designed to support the load.
PROPERTY LINE: The line marking the boundary between any street and the lots or property abutting thereon.
PUBLIC BUILDING: A building used by the city, the county, any park district, school district, the state of Illinois, or the United States government.
RESIDENCE DISTRICT: The territory of the city contiguous to and including a highway not comprising a business district when the property on such highway for a distance of three hundred feet (300') or more is in the main improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for business.
RIGHT OF WAY: The privilege of the immediate use of the roadway.
ROAD TRACTOR: Every motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon either independently or any part of the weight of a vehicle or load so drawn.
SAFETY ZONE: The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or is so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.
SCHOOL BUS: Every motor vehicle of the second division operated by or for a public or governmental agency or by or for a private or religious organization solely for the transportation of pupils in connection with school activities.
SEMITRAILER: Every vehicle without motive power designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.
SIDEWALK: That portion of a street between the curb line or roadway and the adjacent property line designated for pedestrian use.
SOLID TIRE: Every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon compressed air for the support of the load.
STREET OR HIGHWAY: The entire width between property 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 purpose of vehicular traffic.
THROUGH HIGHWAY: Every highway or portion thereof at the entrance to which vehicular traffic from intersecting 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 and other conveyances, whether singly or together while using any highway for the purpose of travel.
TRAILER: Every vehicle without motive power designed for carrying passengers or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
TRUCK-TRACTOR: Every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.
URBAN DISTRICT: The territory contiguous to and including any street which is built up with structures devoted to business, industry or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than one hundred feet (100') for a distance of one-fourth (1/4) mile or more.
VEHICLE: Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
YIELD RIGHT OF WAY: When required by an official sign, means the act of granting the privilege of the immediate use of the intersecting roadway to traffic within the intersection and to vehicles approaching from the right or left; provided, that when the roadway is clear, the vehicle may proceed into the intersection. (1977 Code §§ 10.04.010 - 10.04.380; amd. 2013 Code)