§ 24-1. Definitions.

The following terms, whenever used in this chapter, except as otherwise specifically indicated, shall have the meanings set forth in this section, and any such term used in the singular number shall be held to include the plural.

Alley means any lane or other passageway so designated by the official map of the county.

Authorized emergency vehicle means vehicles of the fire division, fire patrol, sheriff's department vehicles and such ambulances and emergency vehicles as are designated or authorized by the state commissioner of safety or the sheriff.

Bicycle means every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is more than 20 inches in diameter.

Bus means every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten passengers and used for the transportation of persons; and every motor vehicle, other than a taxicab, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation.

Chauffeur means every person who is employed by another for the principal purpose of driving a motor vehicle and every person who drives a school bus transporting school children or any motor vehicle when in use for the transportation of persons or property for compensation.

Coach stop means a space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

Controlled-access highway means every street, highway or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the proper authorities having jurisdiction over such street, highway or roadway.

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

Curb means the lateral boundary of that portion of the street designated for the use of vehicles, whether marked with a curbstone or not.

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

Intersection means the areas embraced with 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 areas within which vehicles traveling upon different streets joining at any other angle may come in conflict. Where a street includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided street by an intersecting street shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event such intersecting street also includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of two roadways of such street shall be regarded as a separate intersection.

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

License to operate a motor vehicle means any operator's or chauffeur's license, or any other license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of the state including:

(1)

Any temporary license or instruction permit;

(2)

The privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle whether or not such person holds a valid license; and

(3)

Any nonresident's operating privilege as defined in the Tennessee Code.

Loading and unloading zone means any portion of the street designated by the county or state by official signs for the use of vehicles while actually engaged in loading or unloading freight or picking up and discharging passengers.

Metal tire means every tire the surface of which is in contact with the street is wholly or partly of metal or other hard, nonresilient material.

Motor-driven cycle means every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower, or with a motor with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimeters.

Motor vehicle means every vehicle which is self-propelled, excluding motorized bicycles, and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.

Motorcycle means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor or motorized bicycle.

Motorized bicycle means a vehicle with fully operable pedals for propulsion by human power, an automatic transmission, and a motor with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters which produces no more than two brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a maximum design speed of no more than 30 miles per hour on level ground. The operator of a motorized bicycle shall be in possession of a valid operator's or chauffeur's license, and shall be subject to all applicable and practical rules of the road. A motorized bicycle shall not be operated on a highway of the interstate and defense highway system, any similar limited-access multilane divided highway, or upon sidewalks.

Off-street parking facility means any unenclosed lot, building or space used for the parking of automobiles or other motor vehicles where charges are made for the parking or storage of automobiles or other motor vehicles thereon.

Officer means any person authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations, including sheriff's deputies.

Official traffic control devices means all signs, markings, signals and devices not inconsistent with this chapter, placed or erected by authority of the county or state for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.

Operator means every person, other than a chauffeur, who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle.

Owner means any person in whose name any vehicle shall be registered under the laws of the state, or of any other political subdivision where such owner may be domiciled.

Parking means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, upon a street otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, receiving or discharging passengers, or loading or unloading merchandise, or in obedience to traffic regulations or traffic signs or signals.

Pedestrian means any person afoot.

Pneumatic tire means every tire in which compressed air is designed to support the load.

Private road or driveway means every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons.

Railroad means a carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails.

Railroad sign or signal means any sign, electrically or manually operated signal or other device erected by authority of the proper officials of the county or state or by a railroad and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train.

Railroad train means a steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails, except streetcars.

Right-of-way means the privilege of the immediate use of the roadway.

Roadway means that portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. 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.

Safety zone means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the 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.

School bus means every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency and operated for the transportation of children to or from school or privately owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school.

Semitrailer means every vehicle, with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.

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

Solid tire means every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon compressed air for the support of the load.

Stop, when required, means complete cessation from movement.

Stopping, standing or parking, when prohibited, means any stopping or standing or parking of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of an officer or traffic control sign or signal.

Street means the entire width between right-of-way lines of every way, except designated alleys, publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for the purpose of vehicular travel.

Taxicab means any vehicle, other than a bus, used in the carrying or transporting of persons or property for hire.

Taxicab stand means any portion of the street assigned or allotted to any person for the exclusive purpose of parking one or more taxicabs.

Tractor means any self-propelled vehicle designed or used as a traveling power plant or for drawing other vehicles, but having no provision for carrying loads independently.

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 sign or device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed, or otherwise controlled.

Trailer means every vehicle, with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.

Truck means every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

Vehicle means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a street, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

Walkway means an area which is intended for the use of pedestrians, other than an area defined as a "sidewalk" in this section, located on the site of a shopping center, shopping mall, business center, office park, industrial park, or like commercial or industrial property.

(Code 1992, § 20-1; Ord. No. 90, § 1, 8-5-1991; Ord. No. 99, § 2, 3-9-1992)