For the purpose of this title, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE. A motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider, designed to propel itself with three or more tires in contact with the ground, designed by the manufacturer for off-highway use.
ALLEY. A public way in the city extending either partly or through any city block in the rear of city lots and in a direction generally from avenue to avenue not more than 20 feet in width and capable of being traversed by a vehicle.
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Vehicles of the Fire Department (fire patrol), police vehicles, public and private ambulances for which permits have been issued by the State Board of Health, emergency vehicles of city departments or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by the City Council and private vehicles operated by volunteer firefighters while answering a fire alarm.
BUSINESS DISTRICT. The territory contiguous to and including a roadway when, within any 600 feet along such roadway, there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes which occupy 300 feet of frontage on one side or 300 feet collectively on both sides of the roadway.
BUS. A commercial vehicle carrying passengers for hire and operating over and along a fixed route.
BUS STOP. A section of the roadway along the edge thereof, authorized by order of the City Council, marked by signs reading “bus stop” as a place for the sole use and convenience of the general public to board and depart from any bus.
CROSSWALK. That part of a roadway at any intersection included within the connection of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the street, whether marked or not, measured from the curbs or in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway. The word CROSSWALK also includes any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.
DRIVEWAY, PRIVATE. Any entrance or exit over the sidewalk or sidewalk area of any street affording a means of ingress or egress for vehicles to or from any private property or the entrance or exit of any private garage into or from any alley.
DRIVEWAY, PUBLIC. Any entrance or exit over the sidewalk or sidewalk area of any street affording a means of ingress or egress for vehicles to or from any public property.
DRIVER. That person who drives or is in actual physical control of the movements of a vehicle.
DIGGING OUT. The practice of starting any motor vehicle from a standing position by applying a sudden burst of power, recognized by spinning rear wheels and noise of tires on the surface of the roadway.
INTERSECTION. 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 streets which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different streets joining at any other angle may come in conflict. Where a street includes two roadways, 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided street by an intersecting street shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event such intersecting street also includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of two roadways of such streets shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
LANED ROADWAY. A roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
LIMITED-ACCESS OR CONTROL-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 such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway.
LOADING ZONE. That portion of any roadway set apart, marked and numbered for the sole use of the public as a place for loading or unloading passengers, merchandise or other cargo.
MOTORCYCLE. Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground but excluding a tractor.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES. All signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with this chapter placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
NO PARKING ZONE. A space on the roadway adjacent to the curb, whether marked by official signs or not, in which no vehicle may be parked.
PARK or PARKING. The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than a temporary stopping of such vehicle for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers, merchandise or other cargo, except an involuntary stopping of such vehicle by reason of mechanical failure or direction of a police officer.
PARKING STALL or PARKING SPACE. That portion or section of a roadway adjacent to the curbing or edge, set apart, marked and bounded by lines painted or marked upon the surface of the roadway and extending into the roadway for the use of parking vehicles; or that portion of any alley marked by official signs showing such space to be a parking zone.
PEDESTRIAN. Any person afoot.
POLICE OFFICER. Any member of the Police Department of the city authorized by law to make arrests in traffic offenses.
PUBLIC PROPERTY. Property owned or leased by the city or political subdivision of the city.
RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The territory contiguous to and including a street not comprising a business district, when the property on such street for a distance of 300 feet or more is, in the main, improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for business.
RIGHT-OF-WAY. The privilege of immediate use of the roadway.
ROADWAY. That portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. In the event a street includes two or more separate roadways, the term ROADWAY shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
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.
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 prohibited, 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.
TRAFFIC. Pedestrians, ridden or herded 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.
TRUCK. A motor vehicle designed primarily for the transportation of cargo.
U-TURN. The turning or causing the turning of a vehicle, so that when such turn is completed that such vehicle will be headed in the opposite direction from that in which it was headed before such turning was begun, whether or not such vehicle is pulled into a driveway or any space beyond the curb line of the street.
VEHICLE. Any device in, upon or by which any person or property may be or is transported upon any street within the corporate limits of the city, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(`87 Code, § 17-151)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat., Art. 6701d, §§ 1-20;
Uniform Traffic Act, see Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat., Art. 6701d