Chapter 9.24
TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES
Sections:
9.24.010 Authority to install.
9.24.030 Required for enforcement—When.
9.24.040 Presumption of legality.
9.24.050 Display of unauthorized signs, signals, markings.
9.24.060 Interference with official devices, railroad signs, signals.
9.24.070 Authority to establish play streets.
9.24.080 Play street regulations.
9.24.090 Designating crosswalks—Establishing safety zones.
9.24.110 Leaving roadway to avoid traffic or traffic control devices.
9.24.010 Authority to install.
The city utilities superintendent shall place and maintain traffic control signs, signals, and devices when and as required under the traffic ordinances of this town to make effective the provisions of the ordinances. He may place and maintain such additional traffic control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic under the traffic ordinances of this town or under state law, or to guide or warn traffic. (Ord. 651 § 13, 1967)
9.24.020 Design.
All traffic control signals, signs and traffic control devices to be erected or maintained upon any town street designated as forming a part of the route of a primary state highway or secondary state highway must be approved by the state highway commission prior to their installation; provided, however, in cities or towns having a population in excess of fifteen thousand according to the latest federal census, traffic control signals, signs, and traffic control devices are subject to approval of the state highway commission for installation and type only. All signs and signals required hereunder for a particular purpose shall so far as practicable be uniform as to type and location throughout the town. All traffic control devices so erected and not inconsistent with the provisions of state law or this title shall be official traffic control devices. (Ord. 651 § 14, 1967)
9.24.030 Required for enforcement—When.
No provision of this title for which official traffic control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at the time and place of the alleged violation, an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that signs are required, such section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place. (Ord. 651 § 15, 1967)
9.24.040 Presumption of legality.
(a) Whenever official traffic control devices are placed in position approximately conforming to the requirements of this title, such devices shall be presumed to have been so placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.
(b) Any official traffic control device placed pursuant to the provisions of this title, and purporting to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such devices shall be presumed to comply with the requirements of this title unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence. (Ord. 651 § 15.1, 1967)
9.24.050 Display of unauthorized signs, signals, markings.
(a) No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal.
(b) No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway any traffic signal or sign bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
(c) This section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to highways, of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.
(d) Every such prohibited sign, signal, or marking is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and the authority having jurisdiction over the highway is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice. (Ord. 651 § 16, 1967)
9.24.060 Interference with official devices, railroad signs, signals.
No person shall, without lawful authority, attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon, or any part thereof. (Ord. 651 § 17, 1967)
9.24.070 Authority to establish play streets.
The town utilities superintendent shall have authority to declare any street or part thereof a play street and to place appropriate signs or devices in the roadway indicating and helping to protect the same. (Ord. 651 § 18, 1967)
9.24.080 Play street regulations.
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating any street or part thereof as a play street, no person shall drive a vehicle upon such street or portion thereof except operators of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area. The operator shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any such street or portion thereof. (Ord. 651 § 19, 1967)
9.24.090 Designating crosswalks— Establishing safety zones.
The town utilities superintendent is hereby authorized:
(1) To designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks, or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where, in his opinion, there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at such other places as he may deem necessary.
(2) To establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians. (Ord. 651 § 20, 1967)
9.24.100 Traffic lanes.
(a) The city utilities superintendent is authorized to mark traffic lanes upon the roadway of any street or highway where a regular alignment of traffic is necessary.
(b) Where such traffic lanes have been marked, it is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to fail or refuse to keep such vehicles within the boundaries of any such lane except when lawfully passing another vehicle or preparatory to making a lawful turning movement. (Ord. 651 § 21, 1967)
9.24.110 Leaving roadway to avoid traffic or traffic control devices.
(1) No driver of a vehicle shall, with intent to avoid turning at a controlled intersection, to avoid any traffic control device or sign, or for purposes of entering or reentering a highway ahead of other traffic, leave the traveled portion of one highway and momentarily enter a parking lot, vacant land or other private or public property, in order to enter or re-enter the traveled portion of another or the same highway.
(2) Penalty. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of having committed a traffic infraction and shall be punished by a penalty equal to the amount set forth in Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction rule 6.2 for unlisted infractions, including statutory assessments, unless otherwise specified by ordinance. (Ord. 1640 § 1, 2014: Ord. 833 §§ 1, 2, 1982)