§ 50-1. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Authorized emergency vehicle means:

(1)

A fire department or police vehicle;

(2)

A public or private ambulance operated by a person who has been issued a license by the state department of health;

(3)

A municipal department or public service corporation emergency vehicle that has been designated or authorized by the governing body of a municipality;

(4)

A private vehicle of a volunteer firefighter or a certified emergency medical services employee or volunteer when responding to a fire alarm or medical emergency;

(5)

An industrial emergency response vehicle, including an industrial ambulance, when responding to an emergency, but only if the vehicle is operated in compliance with criteria in effect September 1, 1989, and established by the predecessor of the Texas Industrial Emergency Services Board of the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas;

(6)

A vehicle of a blood bank or tissue bank, accredited or approved under the laws of this state or the United States, when making emergency deliveries of blood, drugs, medicines, or organs; or

(7)

A vehicle used for law enforcement purposes that is owned or leased by a federal governmental entity.

Bicycle means a device that a person may ride and that is propelled by human power and has two tandem wheels, at least one of which is more than 14 inches in diameter.

Crosswalk means that part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connection of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the street or highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway and any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.

Curb loading zone means a space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers of materials.

Driver means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.

Gross vehicle weight means the weight of a vehicle and the weight of its load.

Intersection means 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.

Laned street or roadway means a street or roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.

Moped means a motor-driven cycle that cannot attain a speed in one mile of more than 30 miles per hour and the engine of which cannot produce more than two-brake horsepower and, if an internal combustion engine, has a piston displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less and connects to a power drive system that does not require the operator to shift gears.

Motor vehicle means a self-propelled vehicle or a vehicle that is propelled by electric power from overhead trolley wires. The term "motor vehicle" does not include an electric bicycle or an electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined by V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 551.201.

Motorcycle means a motor vehicle, other than a tractor, that is equipped with a rider's saddle and designed to have, when propelled, not more than three wheels on the ground.

Motor-drive cycle means a motorcycle equipped with a motor that has an engine piston displacement of 250 cubic centimeters or less. The term does not include an electric bicycle.

Muffler means a device that reduces noise using a mechanical design, including a series of chambers or baffle plates, to receive exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, or turbine wheels to receive exhaust gas from a diesel engine.

Official traffic control device means all signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with this chapter or state law placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.

Operator, when used in reference to a vehicle, means a person show drives or has physical control of the vehicle.

Owner, in reference to a vehicle, means a person who has a property interest in or title to the vehicle. The term "owner" includes a person entitle to use and possess a vehicle subject to a security interest. The term "owner" does not include a lienholder or a lessee whose lease is not intended as security.

Park or parking means the standing of a vehicle, regardless of whether occupied, for purposes other than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading.

Pedestrian means any person traveling on foot.

Police officer means every officer of the city police department or any officer, including but not limited to city firefighters, authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.

Private roadway or driveway means every way or place in private ownership and 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.

Railroad sign or signal means a sign, signal, or device erected by a railroad, public body, or public officer to notify traffic of railroad tracks or an approaching railroad train.

Right-of-way means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian that is approaching from a direction, at a speed and within a proximity that would cause a collision unless one grants precedence to the other.

Safety zone means the area of space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.

School bus means a motor vehicle that was manufactured in compliance with the federal motor vehicle safety standards for school buses in effect on the date of manufacture and that is used to transport pre-primary, primary, or secondary students on a route to or from school or on a school-related activity trip other than on routes to and from school. The term "school bus" does not include a school-chartered bus or a bus operated by a mass transit authority.

School zone or school crossing zone means a reduced speed zone designated on a street to facilitate safe crossing of the street by children going to or leaving a public or private elementary or secondary school during the time the reduced speed limit applies.

Sidewalk means that portion of the street between the curblines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.

Stand or standing means to halt an occupied or unoccupied vehicle other than while temporarily receiving or discharging passengers.

Stop or stopping means:

(1)

When required, to completely cease movement; and

(2)

When prohibited, to halt, including momentarily halting, an occupied or unoccupied vehicle, unless necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to comply with the directions of a police officer or a traffic control sign or signal.

Street or highway means 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 means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any street for purposes of travel.

Traffic control signal means any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.

Truck means every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property and having a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds.

Vehicle means 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 or manufactured housing as that term is defined by state law.

(Ord. No. 628, § 1, 12-17-2001)

State law reference

Similar definitions regarding persons, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 541.001; similar definition regarding police officer, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 541.002; similar definitions regarding types of vehicles, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 541.201; similar definitions regarding vehicle equipment, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 541.203; similar definition regarding traffic, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 541.301; similar definitions regarding traffic areas, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 541.302; similar definition of intersection, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 541.303; similar definitions regarding traffic control devices, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 541.304; similar definitions regarding gross vehicle weight, parking, right-of-way, standing and stopping, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 541.401.