§ 62-1. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Authorized emergency vehicle means such vehicles of the county fire marshal and vehicles of a fire department or volunteer fire department, vehicles of the Knoxville Fire Department; vehicles of the county sheriff, the police department of the City of Knoxville, and the state highway patrol; and such ambulances as are licensed or approved as such by the county commission or the council of the City of Knoxville, and such other publicly or privately owned vehicles as are so designated by the county 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 14 inches in diameter.

Controlled access highway means every highway, street 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 public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway.

Crosswalk means any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing of such roadway by lines or other markings on the roadway surface.

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

Daytime means from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Department of engineering and public works or department means the county department of engineering and public works.

Director means the director of the county department of engineering and public works or any employee of the department designated by the director to act on his behalf.

Divided highway means a highway divided into two or more roadways by leaving an intervening space or by a physical barrier or by a clearly indicated dividing section so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic.

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

Explosive means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb.

Farm tractor means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement, for drawing plows, mowing machines and other implements of husbandry.

Gross weight means the weight of a vehicle without load plus the weight of any load thereon.

Handicapped driver means any person who is qualified under the provisions of state law and who has been issued registration, placard, or license plates bearing the stylized wheelchair symbol or the disabled veteran's symbol by the state department of revenue.

Highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

Intersection means:

(1)

The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curblines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict.

(2)

Where a highway includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. If such intersecting highway also includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of two roadways of such highways 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.

Motor vehicle means every vehicle which is self-propelled.

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.

Motor-driven cycle means every motorcycle including every motor scooter, with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower, and every bicycle with motor attached.

Municipality means any incorporated city or town.

Official traffic control devices means all signs, signals whether or not mechanical and other marking devices placed or erected by authority of the county department of engineering and public works or by authority of another public body or official having jurisdiction, 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 a person, other than a lienholder, having the property in or title to a vehicle. The term includes a person entitled to the use and possession of a vehicle subject to a security interest in another person, but excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as security.

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 property or passengers.

Parking lot means any lot or area which is used for the parking of vehicles for which a fee may or may not be charged and which is private or open to the use of the general public.

Pedestrian means any person afoot.

Play street means a temporary or permanent area on a portion of a roadway set aside for such purposes as play, parades, block activities, or the like.

Pole trailer means every vehicle without motor power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregular shaped loads such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.

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 operated upon stationary rails.

Railroad grade crossing means the general area where a roadway and a railroad cross at the same level, within which are included the railroad and roadway facilities for traffic traversing that area.

Railroad sign or signal means any officially erected sign, signal or device intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train.

Registration means the registration certificate or certificates and registration plates issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the registration of vehicles.

Right-of-way means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian.

Roadway means that portion of a street or highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the shoulder. If a highway 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 that complies with the color and identification requirements set forth in the most recent edition of Minimum Standards for School Buses and which is used to transport children to or from school or in connection with school activities.

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.

Shoulder means that part of the graded width of a roadway contiguous with the roadway which has been provided for the accommodation of stopped vehicles, for emergency vehicles, and for the general enhancement of traffic operations and safety. The shoulder may be either paved or unpaved.

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

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

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 and/or discharging passengers.

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 in compliance with the directions of a law enforcement officer or traffic control sign or signal. When required, such term means complete cessation from movement.

Street means the entire width between boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for the purposes of vehicular travel.

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

Trailer 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 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 moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

Vehicle impoundment means removing a vehicle from a roadway, highway or thoroughfare to the nearest garage or other place of safety or to a garage designated or maintained by the sheriff's department.

(Ord. No. O-90-9-112, art. I, 9-10-90)

State law reference

Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 58-8-101.

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.