§ 70-31. 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:

Motor vehicle means any vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, but not including any bicycle or moped.

Obstruction or obstruction of traffic means any vegetation, impassible area or object, including all motor vehicles, that prevents the passage of another motor vehicle, including authorized emergency vehicles, within the right-of-way or that restricts the pavement area or driving surface to an area of less than 12 feet in width and 30 feet in length. Where two or more motor vehicles are parked on a street in such a manner that constitutes an obstruction of traffic, each vehicle shall be deemed an obstruction of traffic.

Operator means any person who is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon the highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle.

Owner means a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle or, in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement, and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then such conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this article.

Park or parking means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers, as may be permitted by law under this chapter.

Parkage shall mean that space between the private property line or survey line of the property owner and the paved or graded portion of the public street adjacent thereto, including that area between a sidewalk and street.

Police officer means any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations, including state highway patrol officers, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and municipal police officers.

Roadway means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. If a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" as used herein refers to any such roadway separately, but not to all such roadways collectively.

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

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

Stand or standing means the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers, as may be permitted by law under this chapter.

Stop, when required, means complete cessation of movement.

Stop or stopping, when prohibited, means any halting, even momentarily, of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or to comply with the directions of a law enforcement officer or traffic control sign or signal.

Street or highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic; or any area such as a runway, taxiway, ramp, clear zone or parking lot within the boundary of any airport owned by the state, a county, a municipality or a political subdivision, which area is used for vehicular traffic, but which is not open for vehicular operation by the general public.

(Code 1981, § 19-25; Ord. No. 2001-36, § 1, 6-26-01; Ord. No. 2008-42, § 1, 1-20-09)

Cross reference

Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.