Chapter 10.10
TRAFFIC CONTROL
Sections:
10.10.020 Obedience to traffic regulations.
10.10.030 Traffic-control devices.
10.10.040 Authority to designate crosswalks, establish safety zones and mark traffic lanes.
10.10.050 Authority to place and obedience to turning markers.
10.10.060 Authority to place and obedience to restricted turn signs.
10.10.065 Limitation on turning.
10.10.070 One-way streets and alleys.
10.10.080 Regulation of traffic at intersections.
10.10.090 Drivers to obey signs.
10.10.120 Yield to emergency vehicle.
10.10.130 Use of portable wireless communication device while driving.
10.10.010 Directing traffic.
A. The police department is hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal.
B. Officers of the fire department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the police department directing thereat or in the immediate vicinity. [Code 1983 § 10-2-1.]
10.10.020 Obedience to traffic regulations.
It shall be unlawful for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required by this title. It shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a police officer or of any fire department official. [Code 1983 § 10-2-2.]
10.10.030 Traffic-control devices.
A. The police chief, with the approval of the council, shall place and maintain traffic-control devices, signs and signals when and as required under the traffic regulations of the town to make effective the provisions of said regulations, and may place and maintain such additional traffic-control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic under the traffic laws of the town or under state law or to guide or warn traffic.
B. The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the traffic regulations of the town, unless otherwise directed by the police chief, subject to the exceptions granted in this chapter or by state law. [Code 1983 § 10-2-3.]
10.10.040 Authority to designate crosswalks, establish safety zones and mark traffic lanes.
The police chief is hereby authorized, on approval by the council:
A. 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 place as he may deem necessary.
B. To establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians.
C. To mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at such places as he may deem advisable, consistent with the traffic laws of the town. [Code 1983 § 10-2-4.]
10.10.050 Authority to place and obedience to turning markers.
A. The police chief is authorized to place markers, buttons or signs within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled as so indicated may conform to or be other than as prescribed by law.
B. When authorized markers, buttons, or other indications are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning thereat, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of such indications. [Code 1983 § 10-2-5.]
10.10.060 Authority to place and obedience to restricted turn signs.
A. The police chief, on approval by the council, is hereby authorized to determine those intersections at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right-, left- or U-turn, and shall place proper signs at such intersections. The making of such turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at others, in which event the same shall be plainly indicated on the signs or such signs may be removed when such turns are permitted.
B. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right- or left- or U-turn is permitted, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of any such sign. [Code 1983 § 10-2-6.]
10.10.065 Limitation on turning.
The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic. [Code 1983 § 10-2-7.]
10.10.070 One-way streets and alleys.
A. The council shall by resolution designate any streets or alleys which are to be limited to one-way traffic.
B. When any resolution of the council designates any one-way street or alley, the police chief shall place and maintain signs giving notice thereof, and no such regulation shall be effective unless such signs are placed in every intersection where movement of traffic in the opposite direction of lawful traffic movement is prohibited. [Code 1983 § 10-2-8.]
10.10.080 Regulation of traffic at intersections.
A. The council shall by resolution designate through streets, intersections where stops are required, and intersections where vehicles shall yield the right-of-way.
B. When any resolution of the council shall designate any through street or intersection where vehicles are to stop or yield the right-of-way, the police chief shall erect and maintain the appropriate signs at every location where a vehicle must stop or yield the right-of-way. [Code 1983 § 10-2-9.]
10.10.090 Drivers to obey signs.
Whenever traffic signs are erected as provided in this chapter, every driver of a vehicle shall obey such signs unless directed to proceed by the police chief or a traffic-control signal. No driver shall drive upon or through any private property such as an oil station, vacant lot, or similar property to avoid disobedience to any regulation included in this title. [Code 1983 § 10-2-10.]
10.10.100 Processions.
A. No procession or parade, except funeral processions, shall be held without first securing a permit from the police chief, and all such requests for permits shall state the time, place of formation, proposed line of march, destination and such other regulations as the police chief may set forth therein.
B. A funeral procession composed of a procession of vehicles shall be identified by such methods as may be determined and designated as the police chief may set forth therein.
C. No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the vehicles comprising a funeral or other authorized procession while they are in motion and when such vehicles are conspicuously designated. This provision shall not apply at intersections where traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals or the police officer.
D. Each driver in a funeral or other procession shall drive as near to the right-hand edge of the roadway as practical and shall follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practical and safe. [Code 1983 § 10-2-11.]
10.10.110 Speed limits.
Any speed in excess of 25 miles per hour shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable and prudent and is therefore unlawful when maintained on any public street of the town, except state highways where the posted speed limit is different and those streets designated by resolution of the council as having other speed limits. [Code 1983 § 10-2-12.]
10.10.120 Yield to emergency vehicle.
Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible a distance of 500 feet to the front of the vehicle and when the driver is giving audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle or bell, the driver of every vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to position parallel to and as close to the right-hand edge of the curb as possible and shall stop and remain in that position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
The driver of any vehicle other than one on official business shall not follow any fire apparatus or ambulance traveling in response to an alarm closer than 500 feet or drive into or park the vehicle within the block where fire apparatus or ambulance has stopped in answer to an alarm. [Code 1983 § 10-2-13.]
10.10.130 Use of portable wireless communication device while driving.
A. Unless a motor vehicle is parked or stopped pursuant to A.R.S. section 28-645(A)(3) or A.R.S. section 28-851, a person may not operate a motor vehicle on a street or highway if the person does either of the following:
1. Physically holds or supports with any part of the person’s body either of the following:
a. A portable wireless communication device, except that a person may use a portable wireless communication device with an earpiece, headphone device or device worn on a wrist to conduct a voice-based communication.
b. A standalone electronic device.
2. Writes, sends or reads any text-based communication, including a text message, instant message, email or internet data, on a portable wireless communication device or standalone electronic device. This subsection does not apply to either of the following:
a. The use of voice-based communications, including through the use of a portable wireless communication device or standalone electronic device, to direct the writing, sending, reading or other communicating of any text-based communication.
b. The use of a portable wireless communication device or standalone device when used in a hands-free manner for:
i. Navigation of the motor vehicle.
ii. Use of a global positioning system.
iii. Obtaining motor vehicle information or information related to driving a motor vehicle.
B. This section does not prohibit the operation of a motor vehicle while using a device, including a device that is accessible through an interface that is embedded in a motor vehicle, that allows communication without the use of either of the driver’s hands, except to activate or deactivate a function of the device.
C. This section does not apply to:
1. An operator of an authorized emergency, law enforcement or probation vehicle who uses a portable wireless communication device while acting in an official capacity.
2. An operator who is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission while operating a radio frequency device other than a portable wireless communication device.
3. An operator who uses a two-way radio or private land mobile radio system, within the meaning of 47 Code of Federal Regulations Part 90, while in the performance and scope of the operator’s work-related duties and who is operating a fleet vehicle or who possesses a commercial driver license.
4. An operator who uses a portable wireless communication device either:
a. To report illegal activity or summon emergency help.
b. That was permanently or temporarily affixed to the motor vehicle to relay information in the course of the operator’s occupational duties between the operator and either:
i. A dispatcher.
ii. A digital network or software application service.
D. A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty as follows:
1. At least $75.00 but not more than $149.00 for a first violation.
2. At least $150.00 but not more than $250.00 for a second or subsequent violation.
E. A peace officer who stops a motor vehicle for an alleged violation of this section may not:
1. Take possession of or otherwise inspect a portable wireless communication device in the possession of the operator unless otherwise authorized by law.
F. The enforcement and regulation of the use of portable wireless communication devices while operating a motor vehicle under this section are valid only until December 31st, 2020, pursuant to A.R.S. section 28-914(H) after which this section will be void.
G. For the purposes of this section:
1. “Portable wireless communication device”:
a. Means a cellular telephone, a portable telephone, a text-messaging device, a personal digital assistant, a standalone computer, a global positioning system receiver or a substantially similar portable wireless device that is used to initiate or receive communication, information or data.
b. Does not include a radio, citizens band radio, citizens band radio hybrid, commercial two-way radio communication device or its functional equivalent, subscription-based emergency communication device, prescribed medical device, amateur or ham radio device or in-vehicle security, navigation or remote diagnostics system.
2. “Standalone electronic device” means a portable device other than a portable wireless communication device that stores audio or video data files to be retrieved on demand by a user. [Ord. 2019-01, 2019.]