Chapter 10-20
TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES AND SIGNS
Sections:
10-20-010 Avoidance of signals.
10-20-030 Play street barricades and signs.
10-20-040 Controlled-access highway restrictions.
10-20-060 Obedience to and required traffic-control devices.
10-20-070 Traffic-control signal legend.
10-20-080 Pedestrian-control signals.
10-20-090 Lane-control signals.
10-20-110 Display of unauthorized signs, signals or markings.
10-20-120 Interference with official traffic-control devices or railroad signs or signals.
10-20-130 Unlawful use or damage to highways, appurtenances and structures.
10-20-010 Avoidance of signals.
No operator of a vehicle shall attempt to avoid obedience to any traffic-control device or traffic-control signal by driving upon or through any private property, any alley or any traffic island. (Ord. 1668 § 2-4, 1964)
10-20-020 Signs.
No provision of any traffic ordinance for which signs are required shall be enforced against any alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official sign 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 signs are erected or in place. (Ord. 1668 § 2-6, 1964)
10-20-030 Play street barricades and signs.
A. During the hours that any play street is in use for purposes of recreation, the roadway thereof shall be closed to vehicular traffic by ropes or other removable barriers, and at each end of such section there shall be placed a standard or sign on which shall be printed, in letters plainly legible for a distance of one hundred (100) feet, a notice designating such street as a play street.
B. Such signs shall be kept in place until the close of the period of recreation each day that it is so used, and shall then be removed, together with the said barriers. (Ord. 1668 § 2-7, 1964)
10-20-040 Controlled-access highway restrictions.
When official signs have been erected on any controlled-access highway prohibiting the use of the roadway by pedestrians, bicycles, or other nonmotorized traffic or by any person operating any motor-driven cycle, no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such signs. (Ord. 1668 § 2-9, 1964)
10-20-050 Traffic lanes.
Where traffic lanes have been marked to preserve a regular alignment of traffic, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to fail or refuse to keep his vehicle within the designated boundaries of any such lane except when lawfully passing another vehicle. (Ord. 1668 § 2-10, 1964)
10-20-060 Obedience to and required traffic-control devices.
The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-305, as amended, are adopted as follows:
A. The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed or held in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in the Illinois Vehicle Code.
B. It is unlawful for any person to leave the roadway and travel across private property to avoid an official traffic-control device.
C. No provision of the Illinois Vehicle Code 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 official traffic-control are required, such section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place.
D. Whenever any official traffic-control device is placed or held in position approximately conforming to the requirements of the Illinois Vehicle Code and purports to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such device, such device shall be presumed to have been so placed or held by the official act or direction of lawful authority, and comply with the requirements of the Illinois Vehicle Code, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.
E. The driver of a vehicle approaching a traffic-control signal on which no signal light facing such vehicle is illuminated shall stop before entering the intersection in accordance with rules applicable in making a stop at a stop sign. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)
10-20-070 Traffic-control signal legend.
The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-306, as amended, are adopted as follows:
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights or color lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and the lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
A. Green Indication.
1. Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.
2. Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
3. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal, as provided in Section 10-20-080, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
B. Steady Yellow Indication.
1. Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
2. Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in Section 1020-080, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.
C. Steady Red Indication.
1. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of subsection C of this section, vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
2. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of subsection C of this section, vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow and, unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remaining standing until an indication permitting the movement indicated by such red arrow is shown.
3. Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn and the city by ordinance or state authorities by rule or regulation prohibit any such turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street, after stopping as required by paragraph 1 or paragraph 2 of subsection C of this section. After stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction or roadways. Such driver shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.
4. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in Section 10-20-080, pedestrians facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal alone shall not enter the roadway.
D. In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be at a traffic sign or a marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made or, in the absence of such sign or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.
E. The motorman of any streetcar shall obey the above signals as applicable to vehicles. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)
10-20-080 Pedestrian-control signals.
The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-307, as amended, are adopted as follows:
Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words “Walk” or “Don’t Walk” or the illuminated symbols of a walking person or an upraised palm are in place such signals shall indicate as follows:
A. Walk or Walking Person Symbol. Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal, and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.
B. Don’t Walk or Upraised Palm Symbol. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partly completed his crossing on the “Walk” signal or walking person symbol shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the “Don’t Walk” signal or upraised palm symbol is illuminated, steady or flashing. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)
10-20-090 Lane-control signals.
The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-308, as amended, are adopted as follows:
Whenever lane-control signals are used in conjunction with official signs, they shall have the following meanings:
A. Downward-Pointing Green Arrow. A driver facing this indicated is permitted to drive in the lane over which the arrow signal is located. Otherwise he shall obey all other traffic controls present and follow normal safe driving practices.
B. Red X Symbol. A driver facing this indication shall not drive in the lane over which the signal is located, and this indication shall modify accordingly the meaning of all other traffic controls present. Otherwise he shall obey all other traffic controls and follow normal safety driving practices.
C. Yellow X (Steady). A driver facing this indication should prepare to vacate the lane over which the signal is located, in a safe manner to avoid, if possible, occupying that lane when a steady red X is displayed.
D. Flashing Yellow Arrow. A driver facing this indication may use the lane only for the purpose of approaching and making a left turn. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)
10-20-100 Flashing signals.
The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-309, as amended, are adopted as follows:
Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in conjunction with a traffic-control device it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
A. Flashing Red (Stop Signal). When a led lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then at a point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersection roadway before entering the intersection and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
B. Hashing 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.
C. This section does not apply at railroad crossings. Conduct of drivers of vehicles approaching railroad grade crossings shall be governed by Section 10-32-070. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)
10-20-110 Display of unauthorized signs, signals or markings.
The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-310, as amended, are adopted as follows:
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 movement of traffic or the effectiveness of an 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 sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
C. Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and the authority having jurisdiction over the highway is empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.
D. No person shall sell or offer for sale any traffic-control device to be used on any street or highway in this state which does not conform to the requirements of this chapter.
E. 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.
F. This section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection of Illinois Adopt-A-Highway signs by municipalities, townships, or counties as provided in the Illinois Adopt-A-Highway Act.
G. Any person failing to comply with this section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)
10-20-120 Interference with official traffic-control devices or railroad signs or signals.
The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-311, as amended, are adopted as follows:
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 other part thereof. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)
10-20-130 Unlawful use or damage to highways, appurtenances and structures.
The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-312, as amended, are adopted as follows:
It is unlawful for any person to wilfully injure or damage any public highway or street or any bridge or culvert, or to wilfully damage, injure or remove any sign, signpost or structure upon or used or constructed in connection with any public highway or street for the protection thereof or for protection or regulation of traffic thereon by any wilfully unusual, improper or unreasonable use thereof, or by wilfully careless driving or use of any vehicle thereon, or by the wilful mutilation, defacing, destruction or removal thereof. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)