TOWN ORDINANCE
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
(Cont’d)
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
SECTION 1. DEFINITION OF WORDS AND PHRASES. The following words and phrases when used in this Chapter shall for the purpose of this Chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this Article except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
(a) AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Vehicles of the Fire Department, Police vehicles and such ambulances designated or authorized by the Chief of Police.
(b) BLOCK. A portion of any street located between two intersections next adjacent to each other.
(c) BUSINESS DISTRICT. The territory contiguous to a highway when fifty percent (50%) or more frontage thereon for a distance of 300 feet or more is occupied by buildings in use for business.
(d) CROSSWALK. That portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections. Any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for a pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.
(e) DRIVER. Every person who drives or is actual physical control of a vehicle.
(f) INTERSECTION. The area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral curb lines or if none, then the lateral boundary lines of two or more highways which join one another at an angle whether or not one such highway crosses the other.
(g) 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.
(h) OFFICIAL TIME STANDARD. Whenever certain hours are named herein, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving(s?) time as may be in the current use in this town.
(i) OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES. All signs, signals, markings, and devices not inconsistent with this ordinance placed or erected by authority of the governing body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.
(j) OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGNALS. Any device, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.
(k) PARK. The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading and unloading.
(l) PEDESTRIAN. Any person afoot.
(m) PERSON. Every natural person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation.
(n) POLICE OFFICER. Every officer of the municipal police department or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violation of traffic regulations.
(o) PRIVATE ROAD OR DRIVEWAY. Every road or driveway not open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
(p) PUBLIC CONVEYANCE. Any vehicle other than a taxicab or railroad train for transporting for fare.
(q) RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The territory contiguous to highway not comprising a business district when the frontage of such highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is mainly occupied by dwellings or by dwellings and buildings in use for business.
(r) RIGHT-OF-WAY. The privilege of the immediate use of the roadway.
(s) ROADWAY. That portion of the street improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
(t) SAFETY ZONE. The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for 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.
(u) 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.
(v) STANDING. Any stopping of a vehicle, whether occupied or not.
(w) STOP. When required, means complete cessation of movement.
(x) STOP OR STOPPING. When prohibited, means any stopping of a vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.
(y) 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 purpose of vehicular traffic.
(z) TRAFFIC. Pedestrian, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, and other conveyances either singly or together while using any street for purposes of travel.
(aa) 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; provided, that for the purpose of this ordinance, a bicycle o a ridden animal shall be deemed a vehicle.
SECTION 2. REQUIRED OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC ORDINANCE. It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden, or fail to perform any act required, in this chapter.
SECTION 3. OBEDIENCE TO POLICE. No person shall willfully fail, or refuse, to comply with any lawful order, or direction, by a police officer.
SECTION 4. AUTHORITY OF POLICE IN SPECIAL CASES. In the event of fire or other emergency, or when necessary to expedite traffic or safeguard pedestrians, police officers may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter.
SECTION 5. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TO OBEY TRAFFIC REGULATIONS. The provisions of this ordinance shall apply to the driver of fany vehicle owned by, or used in the service of, the United States Government, this State, county, or town, and it shall be unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this ordinance, except as otherwise permitted in this ordinance, or by State Statute.
SECTION 6. EXEMPTIONS TO AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
(a) The provisions of this ordinance regulating the operation, parking, and standing of vehicles shall apply to authorized emergency vehicles as defined in this ordinance, except as follows:
A driver when operating such vehicle in any emergency, except when otherwise directed by a police officer, may:
(1) Park or stand, notwithstanding the provisions of this ordinance.
(2) Proceed past a red or stop signal, or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.
(3) Exceed the prima facie speed limits so long as he does not endanger life or property.
(4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement, or turning, in specified directions so long as he does not endanger life or property.
(b) The foregoing exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any such vehicle from consequences of his reckless disregard of the safety of others.
SECTION 7. PERSONS PROPELLING PUSH CARTS, OR RIDING BICYCLES OR ANIMALS, TO OBEY TRAFFIC REGULATIONS. Every person propelling any push cart, or riding a bicycle or an animal, upon a roadway, and every person driving any animal-drawn vehicle, shall be subject to the provisions of this ordinance applicable to the driver of any vehicle except those provisions of this Chapter which, by their very nature, can have no application.
SECTION 8. OBEDIENCE TO OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES.
(a) The driver of any vehicle shall obey the directions of any official traffic control device applicable thereto and placed in accordance with the traffic ordinances of this Town unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle.
(b) No provision of this Chapter for which signs are required, shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at the time and place of the alleged violation, an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that signs are required, such section shall be effective without signs being placed to give notice thereof.
SECTION 9. OBEDIENCE TO NO-TURN SIGNS AND TURNING MARKERS. Whenever authorized signs are placed, erected, or installed indicating that no right or left or “U” turn is permitted, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of any such sign, and when authorized markers, buttons, or other indications are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles traversing, or turning thereat, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of such indications.
SECTION 10. OBEDIENCE TO NO-PARKING ZONE AND SAFETY ZONE MARKERS. Whenever authorized signs or markings are placed,erected, or installed indicating no parking zones, n driver of a vehicle shall disobey the regulations in connection therewith.
SECTION 11. TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL LEGEND. Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting the words “Go,” “Caution,” or “Stop,” or exhibiting differently colored lights, successively, one at a time, the following colors only shall be used,and said terms and lights shall indicate as follows:
(a) Green alone, or “Go.”
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through, or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn But vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other such vehicles and to pedestrians, lawfully within the intersection at the time such signal is exhibited.
(2) Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(b) Yellow alone, or “Caution,” when shown following the green or “Go” signal.
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection, but if such stop cannot be made in safety, a vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection.
(2) Pedestrians facing such signal are hereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross a roadway, and any pedestrian then starting to cross shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles.
(c) Red alone, or “Stop.”
(1) Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at such other point as may be indicated by a clearly visible line, and shall remain standing until green or “Go” is shown alone.
(2) No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
SECTION 12. FLASHING SIGNALS. Whenever flashing red or yellow signals are used they shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
(a) FLASHING RED (STOP SIGNAL). When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at a limit line applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(b) FLASHING YELLOW (CAUTION SIGNAL). When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
SECTION 13. VEHICLES NOT TO STOP IN STREETS. (EXCEPTIONS). No vehicle shall stop in any street except for the purpose of parking as prescribed in this Chapter, unless such stop is made necessary by the approach of fire apparatus, by the approach of a funeral or other procession which is given the right-of-way by the stopping of public conveyance, by the lowering of railway gates, by the giving of traffic signals, by the passing of some other vehicle or pedestrian, or by some emergency; and in any case covered by these exceptions said vehicles shall stop so as not to obstruct any footway, pedestrian aisle, safety zone, crossing or street intersection if such can be avoided.
SECTION 14. VEHICLES NOT TO OBSTRUCT PASSING OF OTHER VEHICLES. No vehicle shall so stand on any street as to interrupt, or interfere with the passage of public conveyances or other vehicles.
SECTION 15. PARKING PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES IN DESIGNATED PLACES. When signs are placed, erected, or installed, giving notice thereof, or the curbing has been painted yellow in lieu of such signs, no person shall park a vehicle at any time upon any of the streets described. Schedule IV.
SECTION 16. PARKING PARALLEL TO CURB, UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED. Where not otherwise indicated by this Article, and where the street is not marked to show how vehicles shall park, all vehicles shall park parallel to the curb and not more than twelve inches therefrom.
SECTION 17. LEFT SIDE TO CURB NOT PERMITTED IN BUSINESS DISTRICT. No vehicle shall stop with its left side to the curb in the business district, except that on one-way streets vehicles shall stop in the direction of traffic.
SECTION 18. PARKING WITHIN LINES WHERE PROVIDED. On any street which is marked off with lines indicating the parking spaces for cars, the same shall be parked between said lines.
SECTION 19. UNLAWFUL PARKING. No person shall stand, or park a vehicle upon any street for the principal purposes of:
(a) Displaying it for sale.
(b) Washing, greasing, or repairing such vehicle, except repairs necessitated by an emergency.
(c) Storage thereof by garages, dealers or other persons when such storage is not incident to the bona-fide use and operation of such automobile or other vehicles.
(d) Storage of any detached trailer, or van, when the towing unit has been disconnected, or for the purpose of transferring merchandise, or freight, from on vehicle to another.
SECTION 20. PARKING VEHICLES FOR PURPOSE OF ADVERTISING PROHIBITED. No person shall stand, or park on any street any vehicle for the primary purpose(,) of advertising.
SECTION 21. STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED IN SPECIFIED PLACES. No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device in any of the following places:
(a) On the sidewalk.
(b) On a crosswalk.
(c) Within thirty feet of any flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a street or roadway.
(d) Alongside or opposite a street excavation or obstruction, when such stopping, or standing, or parking would obstruct traffic.
(e) Upon any bridge or other elevated structure or within any underpass structure.
(f) Within fifteen feet in either direction of the entrance to a hotel, theatre, hospital, sanatorium, or any public building.
(g) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, standing, or parked at the edge or curb of a street.
SECTION 22. MOVING OF VEHICLES OF OTHER OPERATORS INTO RESTRICTED AREAS PROHIBITED. No person shall move a vehicle not owned by such person into any prohibited area, or sufficiently away from curb to make such a distance unlawful.
SECTION 23. STOP BEFORE ENTERING A THROUGH STREET.
(a) Those streets designated by signs demanding stopping before entering thereunto are hereby declared to be through streets for the purpose of this section.
(b) When stop signs are placed, erected, or installed upon highways intersecting through a street at the entrance thereto, or at the entrance to any intersection, every driver of a vehicle, or streetcar, shall stop in obedience to such signs before entering the intersection and shall not proceed into, or across, the through street until he has first determined that no conflict with traffic will be involved. See Schedule II.
SECTION 24. STOP WHEN TRAFFIC OBSTRUCTED. No driver shall enter an intersection, or a marked crosswalk, unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk, to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles, or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed.
SECTION 25. ONE-WAY STREETS. Upon those streets, and parts of streets described in Chapter ___, vehicular traffic shall move only in the indicated direction when signs indicating the direction of traffic are erected, and maintained, at every intersection where movement in the opposite direction is prohibited.
SECTION 26. DRIVING THROUGH FUNERAL PROCESSIONS. No vehicle shall be driven through a funeral procession, except fire department vehicles, police patrols and ambulances, when the same are responding to calls.
SECTION 27. LIMITATIONS ON TURNING AROUND. No driver shall turn any vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction in the business district, except at the street intersections, in the streets, or portions of the streets, described in Schedule I.
SECTION 28. LIMITATIONS ON BACKING. The driver of a vehicle shall not back the same into any intersection, or over a crosswalk, and shall not in any event, or at any place, back a vehicle unless such movement can be made in safety, and he shall have given ample warning to those who may be behind, by hand and horn or other signal.
SECTION 29. EMERGING FROM ALLEY OR PRIVATE DRIVEWAY. The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, driveway, or building shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk, or into the sidewalk areas extending across any alleyway, and upon entering the roadway he shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway.
SECTION 30. VEHICLES DRIVEN ON SIDEWALKS PROHIBITED. The driver of a vehicle shall not drive within any sidewalk area.
SECTION 31. CLINGING TO MOVING VEHICLES. Any person riding upon any bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, sled, roller-skates, or any toy vehicle, shall not attach the same, or himself, to any public conveyance, or moving vehicle upon any roadway.
SECTION 32. RIDING ON HANDLEBARS PROHIBITED. The operator of a motorcycle, or bicycle, when upon a street, shall not carry any person upon the handle-bar frame, or tank of any such vehicle, nor shall any person so ride upon any such vehicle.
SECTION 33. USE OF COASTER, ROLLER-SKATES, AND SIMILAR DEVICES RESTRICTED. No person upon roller-skates, or riding in, or by means of, any coaster, toy-vehicle, or similar device, shall go upon any roadway, unless it be while crossing a street at a crosswalk or intersection; except upon streets set aside as play streets.
SECTION 34. LIGHTS ON PARKED VEHICLES. The displaying of lights upon a vehicle, when lawfully parked at night upon a street of the Town in accordance with this Article, shall not be required when there is sufficient light to reveal any person with a distance of 200 feet upon such street.
SECTION 35. MOVING CARS FROM PARKED POSITIONS. Cars parked shall move out in the direction headed, of if they are parked at an angle with the curb, they shall back out on that angle until they have cleared the other cars and shall then proceed in the direction they are most nearly headed in.
SECTION 36. SPEED LIMIT. A vehicle may be operated on any street of the Town, designated elsewhere in this Article as a business section at a rate of speed not exceeding twenty miles per hour, provided, however, that at no time shall the speed be greater that is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. The speed limit on State highways in residential sections shall be 35 miles per hour, and 25 miles per hour on all other streets.
SECTION 37. DRIVING ON ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC. All vehicles operated on any roadway which has been clearly marked with lanes for traffic, shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from any such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.
SECTION 38. DRIVING OVER FIRE HOSE. No vehicle shall be driven over any hose of the fire department when laid down on any street, or driveway, to be used at any fire, without the consent of the fire department official in command.
SECTION 39. BOARDING, OR ALIGHTING FROM, PUBLIC CONVEYANCES OR OTHER VEHICLES. No person shall board, or alight from, any public conveyance, or other vehicle, while such conveyance or vehicle, is in motion.
SECTION 40. UNLAWFUL RIDING. No person shall ride on any public conveyance, or vehicle, or any portion thereof, not designed, or intended, for the use of passengers. This provision shall not apply to any employee engaged in spaces intended for merchandise.
SECTION 41. ENTERING, JUMPING ON, OR RIDING VEHICLES WITHOUT PERMISSION. No person shall enter, jump on, or ride any automobile or other vehicle, without the consent of the owner or driver.
SECTION 42. PERSONS RIDING VEHICLES MUST STAY INSIDE OF VEHICLES. No person when riding shall allow any part of his body to protrude beyond the limits of the vehicle in which he is riding, except to give such signals as are by law required, and no person shall hang on to any vehicle whatsoever.
SECTION 43. NOT MORE THAN THREE PERSONS PERMITTED IN FRONT SEAT. It shall be unlawful for the driver, or the person in charge, of any motor vehicle to permit more than three persons (including driver) to ride in the front, or driver’s seat on a motor vehicle.
SECTION 44. CERTAIN METHODS OF OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLES PROHIBITED.
(a) METHODS OF MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION PROHIBITED. No person shall upon the streets or within the areas described in Section b of this ordinance operate a motor vehicle from a standing or parked position by rapid acceleration and/or other mechanical means of operation so as to cause the wheels of the vehicle to spin in place prior to and/or during the initial forward movement of the vehicle; or to operate a vehicle so as to cause the vehicle in its initial movement from a standing or parked position to travel at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and necessary for the normal operation of a motor vehicle according to accepted standard practices for vehicle operation or at a rate of speed or in such a manner that will endanger or likely endanger person or property, or in a heedless manner willfully disregarding the rights of others and without due causation. These methods of vehicle operation are sometimes referred to as ”scratching off.”
(b) PROHIBITED UPON PUBLIC STREETS AND AREAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No person shall operate a motor vehicle in any manner described in Section a upon any public street, highway, road, alley, drive, or other public way or upon the grounds and premises of any service station, drive-in theatre, store, restaurant or other business establishment providing parking or loading and unloading automobile space for customers, patrons or the public in the Town of Denton.
SECTION 45. PENALTY. Any person violating the provisions of this ordinance, shall upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.4 of the General Statutes of North Carolina.
SECTION 46. MOTOR VEHICLE JUNK YARDS PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to keep, store, abandon, or leave junked motor vehicles or a motor vehicle incapable of being moved under its own power on any vacant lot, public street, or any other area owned, occupied, or controlled by him within the corporate limits of the Town of Denton.
(a) JUNK MOTOR VEHICLES. Any motor vehicle being or that has been dismantled, or if its required and necessary parts are being or have been removed from said motor vehicle other than the normal process of being repaired shall be considered to be a junked motor vehicle under the requirements of this ordinance.
SECTION 47. STORING WRECKED VEHICLE IN EXCESS OF 30 DAYS PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep, store, abandon, or leave any motor vehicle that has been wrecked (minor damage vehicles not included) on any vacant lot or other area owned, occupied or controlled by him within the corporate limits for a period in excess of 30 days, unless such motor vehicle is in the process of being repaired and capable of being moved under its own power.
SECTION 48. STORING VEHICLE, THAT HAS BEEN WRECKED, ON PUBLIC STREETS IN EXCESS OF 24** HOURS PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to store, keep, abandon, or leave any motor vehicle, that has been wrecked disabled, or otherwise is inoperative, on the public streets within the corporate limits for a period in excess of 48** hours.
SECTION 49. PARKING TIME LIMITED TO TEN MINUTES IN DESIGNATED PLACES. When signs are placed, erected, or installed in each block giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle for longer than ten (10) minutes at any time. See Schedule IV.
SECTION 50. PENALTY. Any person, firm, or corporation that violates the provisions of this ordinance shall upon conviction be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not exceeding $50.00 or imprisoned not exceeding 30 days. Each day that a violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
SCHEDULE I
NO COMPLETE OR “U” TURNS AT FOLLOWING INTERSECTION (See Article VI, Section 27.):
South Main Street and Salisbury Avenue
South Main Street and Peacock Avenue
SCHEDULE II
INTERSECTIONS AT WHICH “STOP” IS REQUIRED BEFORE ENTERING (See Article VI, Section 23.):
Glenn Street (109 Highway) & East Salisbury Avenue
Hoover Street at Salisbury Avenue
Borad Street at Salisbury Avenue
Spring Street at Salisbury Avenue
Garner Street at Salisbury Avenue
Ward Street at Salisbury Avenue
Jones Street at Salisbury Avenue
Bingham Street at Salisbury Avenue
School Street at Salisbury Avenue
Hulin Street at Salisbury Avenue
High Rock Road at Salisbury Avenue
Streets entering from all schools into Salisbury Avenue
Anderson Street at Salisbury Avenue
South Main Street at Salisbury Avenue
Daniel Street at Salisbury Avenue
Varner Street at Salisbury Avenue
All streets entering South Main Street
All streets entering North Main Street
All streets entering Glenn Avenue
All streets entering Carroll Avenue
Newsom Avenue entering Varner Street
Anderson Street entering Peacock Avenue
Finch Street entering Anderson Street
Noell Avenue entering Anderson Street
Carroll Avenue entering Anderson Street
Daniel Street entering Newsom Avenue
Varner Street entering Carroll Avenue
Finch Avenue entering Varner Street
Noell Avenue entering Varner Street
Finch Avenue entering Daniel Street
Noell Avenue entering Daniel Street
Daniel Street entering Carroll Avenue
Finch Avenue entering Anderson Street
Noell Avenue entering Anderson Street
Finch Avenue entering Jones Street
Bell Street entering Jones Street
Bell Street entering Bingham Street
School Street entering First Street
First Street entering Hulin
First Street entering Bingham
Second Street entering Bingham
Second Street entering Jones Street
Third Street entering Jones Street
Garner Street entering East First Street
Second Street entering Garner Street
Third Street entering Garner Street
Garner Street entering Fourth Street
Third Street entering Spring Street
Second Street entering Spring Street
Spring Street entering Fourth Street
Spring Street entering East First Street
Broad Street entering First Street
Second Street entering Broad Street
Third Street entering Hoover Street
Second Street entering Hoover Street
Hoover Street entering First Street
SCHEDULE III
PARKING LIMITED TO TEN MINUTES (See Article VI, Section 49):
Ten Minute Parking in Front of U. S. Post office as posted.
SCHEDULE IV
PARKING PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES ON THE FOLLOWING STREETS (See Article VI, Section 15):
On Newsom Avenue (on right or west side from intersection of South Main and Newsom Avenue as posted.)