§ 16-1. Definitions.

(a)

Definitions as set out in G.S. 20-4.01 are hereby adopted as part of this chapter.

(b)

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:

Alley means a public or private way permanently reserved as a secondary means of vehicular or pedestrian access to abutting or other property.

Authorized emergency vehicles means vehicles of the fire department, police department, emergency vehicles and vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by the Chief of Police.

Bicycle means any vehicle propelled by human power and having two tandem wheels 20 inches in diameter or greater. The term "bicycle" also includes single-, three- or four-wheeled vehicles and motorized bicycles which are not required to be licensed as motor vehicles.

Block means that portion of a street located between intersecting streets or alleys, or as terminated.

Boardwalk means a portion of the central business district east of Woody Hewett Ave. to the Atlantic Ocean between Harper Ave. and Hamlet Ave., characterized by public pedestrian rights-of-way and not accommodating regular vehicular traffic.

Business district means that area as displayed on the town zoning map as such as described by chapter 40, zoning.

Commercial vehicles means vehicles designed, maintained or used primarily for the transportation of goods, property or materials and which are registered with the state as commercial vehicles and which display commercial registration.

Controlled access highway means every highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting property or lands and other persons have no or limited legal right of access to or from the state, except at designated areas only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway.

Crosswalk means that portion of any street or roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections, any portion of roadway or street distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface of such street or roadway.

Curb loading zone means a space adjacent to a curb, street or roadway reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials with specified time limitations posted. See also Freight curb loading zone and Passenger curb loading zone.

Drivable corridor means an area of sand beach where vehicular traffic is allowed.

Driver means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of the operation of any vehicle.

Freight curb loading zone means a space adjacent to a curb, street or roadway for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of freight or passengers with specific time limitations posted. Also see Curb lading zone and Passenger curb loading zone.

Full-time parking means use of a public parking space by the same private vehicle on a daily or continuous basis without proper authorization.

Intersection means the area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral curb lines or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of two or more roadways which join one another at an angle, whether or not one roadway crosses the other.

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

Metered parking means parking spaces which generate revenues based on an hourly rate deposited into a coin-operated timing device.

Official traffic control devices means all signs, signals, markings, or devices, not inconsistent with this title, placed or erected by authority of the town council by any designated official having jurisdiction through authority given by the town council, for the purpose of the town, to include traffic control devices placed or erected by the appropriate state or federal authority.

Official traffic signal means any device, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, whereby traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed, or to turn, or to proceed with caution.

Park means the standing of any vehicle, whether occupied or unoccupied, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading and unloading passengers or cargo.

Passenger curb loading zone means a place adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers with specific time limitations posted.

Pedestrian means any person afoot.

Police officer means every sworn officer of the police department or any sworn officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.

Private conveyance means any vehicle other than a taxicab or railroad train for transporting persons for a fare.

Public parking lots means off-street parking facilities which generate revenues based on a flat daily rate deposited into a slotted pay box, unless metered or otherwise authorized by the town.

Right-of-way means the privilege to use a street or roadway for public or private use as so granted.

Senior citizen means a person 65 years of age and older.

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

Standing means any stopping of any vehicle, whether or not the vehicle is occupied during such period of stopping.

Stop, when required, means the complete cessation of movement of any vehicle.

Stop or stopping, when prohibited, means any stopping of any vehicle, except when such stopping means that it shall be necessary to stop such vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or by reason of any traffic control sign or signal or by reason of any emergency.

Through highway means every street or highway or portion thereof at the entrances to which vehicular traffic from intersecting streets or highways is required by law to stop before entering or crossing the same when stop signs are erected as provided in this chapter.

Time limited parking means designated public on-street parking areas available at no charge on a first come, first served basis for a period of time not to exceed the posted limit. Violators of the posted time limit will receive citations. The purpose of time limited parking is to assure turnover after the designated time period, notwithstanding other conditions.

Traffic means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles of all kinds, conveyances, trailers, motorcycles and the like, either singly or together, while using any street or alleyway for travel, including the operation of, the loading or unloading of, or the parking of any vehicle upon any of the public streets of the town.

(Code 1986, § 9-1; Ord. No. 97-403, 8-12-1997; Ord. No. 98-416, 1-13-1998; Ord. No. 01-475, 3-13-2001; Ord. No. 01-477, 4-10-2001)