TITLE 6
MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
SECTION:
6-1-1: Short Title; Applicability
6-1-2: Definitions
6-1-3: Maximum Load On City Streets
6-1-4: Passing And Turning Restrictions
6-1-5: Speed Limits
6-1-6: Vehicles At Scenes Of Emergency
6-1-7: Clinging To Vehicles
6-1-8: Vehicle Equipment
6-1-9: One-Way Traffic
6-1-10: Driving In Bicycle Lane
A. Title: This title shall constitute the general traffic code of the city and may be cited as such. It is enacted pursuant to the police powers of the city and comprises all general regulations relating to travel, traffic, parking and standing upon public highways, streets, alleys, and the rights, duties and restraints of persons relating thereto. This title is declared to be an exercise of the police power of the state and the city, for the public safety, and shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of that purpose.
B. Applicability: Every wagon, carriage, omnibus, sleigh, automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, by whatever force or power the same may be driven, which is or may be used for or adapted to pleasure riding or the transportation of passengers, baggage, merchandise or commodities, and every draft or riding animal, whether ridden or led upon or through the streets, alleys, highways or bridges of the city, shall be and are subject to the provisions of this title. (Ord. A-85, 12-5-1955)
The words and phrases herein used, unless the same are clearly contrary to or inconsistent with the context of the ordinance or of the section in which used, shall be construed as follows:
ARTERIAL HIGHWAY: That portion of Spokane Avenue from the south city limits to Second Street, and that portion of Second Street from Spokane Avenue to the west city limits.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: A motor vehicle or other vehicle designed for the carrying of freight or merchandise.
CROSSWALK: The area included in extension of sidewalk lines at all intersections.
CURB: The boundary of that portion of the street open to the public for the use of vehicles.
DOUBLE PARKING: The standing of a vehicle upon a street alongside of or parallel to another vehicle which is parked at the curb.
DRIVER: Applies to the rider, driver or leader of any animal or a person who pushes, draws, propels, operates or who is in charge of a vehicle.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE: Applies to fire department apparatus, police patrols or ambulances.
INDIVIDUAL PARKING SPACE: A portion of the surface of a public street or highway of sufficient length and depth from the sidewalk curb to accommodate a vehicle to be parked, and shall be specified and marked off by the street department of the city.
INTERSECTION: The space where streets or avenues or both intersect, bounded by an extension of the curb lines of the intersecting streets or avenues or both.
LIMITED PARKING ZONE OR RESTRICTED PARKING AREA: Those areas within the city, where parking is in any way restricted or prohibited to an extent greater than ordinary parking zones or areas.
MOTOR VEHICLE: Includes all vehicles propelled by any power other than muscular power, except road rollers, traction engines and railroad cars, and motor cars running upon stationary rails or tracks.
MOTORCYCLE: A motor vehicle having but two (2) wheels in contact with the ground and a saddle on which the operator sits astride, or a platform on which he stands, and bicycles having a motor attached thereto, and a driving wheel in contact with the ground in addition to the wheels of the vehicle itself, but a motorcycle may carry one or more attachments in the seat for the conveyance of a passenger.
OPERATOR: Any person who operates or drives a motor vehicle.
PARKING: Includes any standing of a vehicle upon any public highway of the city, without regard to the length of time, and whether at an angle to the curb or parallel thereto, or in the highway away from the curb, whether the engine is running or not, and whether or not someone is in the vehicle capable of moving the same.
THROUGH STREET: Any street or avenue, or any portion of any street or avenue where motor vehicles are required to come to a stop before entering such street or avenue.
TRAILER: Any vehicle which is attached to another vehicle for the purpose of being drawn or propelled by such other vehicle.
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY: Any company that provides prearranged transportation services for compensation using an on-line application or platform to connect drivers using their personal vehicles with passengers.
VEHICLE: Includes all carriages moving on land, whether on wheels or runners, and whether drawn or pushed or propelled by animals or humans, or propelled by motive power, excepting a baby carriage. (Ord. A-85, 12-5-1955; amd. 2003 Code; Ord. 20-09, 6-1-2020)
A. Loads Restricted: The city street commissioner shall, and he is expressly given power and authority to, at any time because of weather or climatic conditions, or for any other reason, restrict the hauling of heavy loads or the conveying of heavy loads over or upon any street, alley or other public way within the city which would result in damage or injury to the surface of such street, avenue, alley or public way, to fix the maximum load per inch of tire width that may be hauled or conveyed over or upon the street and to determine the duration of the period that such restriction upon the weight of loads hauled or conveyed over or upon the street shall be and remain in effect. Vehicles having a gross vehicle weight of twenty thousand (20,000) pounds, or greater, shall hereafter be prohibited from traveling on the following streets:
Baker Avenue between Second Street and Thirteenth Street
First Street between Baker Avenue and Spokane Avenue
Railway Street between Baker Avenue and Spokane Avenue
Spokane Avenue north of Second Street
(Ord. 99-14, 12-20-1999; amd. Ord. 04-16, 8-2-2004)
B. Signs Required: When the street commissioner places a restriction upon the load limit that may be hauled or conveyed over or upon any street, he shall immediately erect or cause to be erected at each end of the street or at each end of that portion of the street to which the limitation applies, signs of such size and design as to be plainly visible and readable by persons using such street for traffic purposes, which signs shall plainly show the street, avenue, alley or public way affected by such load limit and shall clearly and plainly state the maximum pounds per inch of tire width that may be hauled or conveyed over or upon such street, avenue, alley or public way. (Ord. 287, 2-7-1941)
C. Penalty: Any violation of the restrictions set forth in this section shall be punished as a misdemeanor, and upon conviction a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be assessed for the first violation; and a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be assessed for the second and any additional violations. Any such violation may also be treated as a municipal infraction, and the person violating the restrictions set forth in this section may be assessed a civil penalty as provided in section 1-4-4 of this code. For each separate incident, the city shall elect to treat the violation as a misdemeanor or a municipal infraction, but not both. If a violation is repeated, the city may treat the initial violation as a misdemeanor and the repeat violation as a municipal infraction, or vice versa. (Ord. 09-20, 10-19-2009)
A. General Restrictions: Every person operating or driving a vehicle of any character upon a public street, alley, highway or bridge in the city must observe the following traffic regulations:
1. Traffic must everywhere and at all times keep to the right, except as hereinafter provided. Vehicles moving in the opposite direction must pass each other by turning to the right, and must each be to the right of the centerline of the street, alley, highway or bridge. Vehicles moving in the same direction must pass by turning to the left on the part of the one passing and turning to the right on the part of the one being passed. At all turns, curves, corners, crossings and intersections, and particularly where the view is in any manner obstructed, vehicles must slow down and be under complete control, and must keep to the right so that if the width of the street, alley, highway or bridge permits, there is room on their left for the passing vehicle that may at any time suddenly or unexpectedly appear.
2. Where traffic is heavy, slow moving traffic must keep as near as possible to the curb. Vehicles turning corners to the right must keep close to the right hand curb; in turning to the left, vehicles must keep to the right and swing full around the intersection of the centerlines of the intersecting streets and avenues. The operator or driver of any vehicle desiring for any reason, either at or between intersections, to turn, must warn all oncoming and following traffic by giving the following hand and arm signal from the left side of the vehicle in the following manner: left turn, hand and arm extended horizontally; right turn, hand and arm extended upward, for a period of not less than two (2) seconds and sufficiently in advance of turning to enable any oncoming car or following car to stop and make the necessary change in course; provided, however, that if the motor vehicle operated and driven is equipped with directional turn indicators on the front and rear of the vehicle which will indicate clearly and positively the direction the operator or driver desires for any reason to turn, the warning herein described may be made by means of such directional turn indicator, provided such signal is exhibited for a period of not less than two (2) seconds prior to a change in course, and sufficiently in advance of turning to enable any person in an oncoming car or a following car to stop and to make the necessary change in course.
3. The operator of any vehicle upon any street, alley, highway or bridge within the city, upon being overtaken by another vehicle and receiving a signal or notice from the operator or driver of the vehicle in the rear, that he desires to pass, must without unnecessary delay make every reasonable effort to permit him to do so. (Ord. A-85, 12-5-1955; amd. Ord. A-216, 3-5-1973)
B. Turning Between Street Intersections: No automobile or other vehicle shall turn in the streets or avenues in the city between the street intersections except for the purpose of entering or emerging from an alley, and when making turns for the purpose of entering or emerging from an alley, the driver of such vehicle shall give notice of his intention to make such turn either by proper manual signal or by signal by directional turn indicators on the vehicle, all to be done sufficiently in advance of making the same to properly warn all traffic of his intention. (Ord. A-85, 12-5-1955)
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