Chapter 8.04 GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sections:


8.04.010 Adoption of state law.*

There is adopted by reference and made a part hereof as if set out in full those provisions of state law known as the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways as contained in S. C. Code, Title 56, Chapter 5.

(Prior code § 8-1-1)

*  For provisions regarding the cited state law may be incorporated by reference in an ordinance, Op. Att'y. Gen., No. 2460, p. 125 (1967-68). Municipalities may further regulate traffic, provided the additional regulations do not conflict with state law, S. C. Code 1976, Secs. 56-5-30, 56-5-710.

8.04.020 State driver's license and vehicle license required.

No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any street in the city without a currently valid driver's license, nor shall any person operate a vehicle which does not have valid state license tags.

(Prior code § 8-1-2)

8.04.030 Glass and other foreign matter in streets.

It is unlawful to place, throw or deposit upon any street within the city any glass bottle, glass, nails, wire, tacks, cans, or any substance likely to injure any person, animal or vehicle upon such street. Any person who drops or permits to be dropped or thrown upon any street within the city any destructive or injurious material shall immediately remove it or cause it to be removed. Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a street shall remove any glass or other injurious substance dropped upon the highway from such vehicle.

(Prior code § 8-1-3)

8.04.040 Responsibility of vehicle owner.

No person shall allow, permit or let any vehicle registered in his name violate any of the ordinances of the city. All violations of parking ordinances shall be presumed to be with the knowledge of the owner of such vehicle.

(Prior code § 8-1-4)

8.04.050 Closing hospital zones or school zones to heavy traffic.

The city council may direct the closing of any street designated a hospital zone or school zone to heavy vehicular traffic during such periods of the day as the city council may determine to be reasonably necessary for the comfort or health of the inmates or attendants of the institutions, for the benefit or protection of which the zone was established. When such action is taken, appropriate signs must be erected and maintained on such street or section of a street as may be affected so that the public may be fully advised of the action. It shall be unlawful for any person to disregard or violate the warning or direction carried on such signs or notices.

(Prior code § 8-1-5)

8.04.060 Required obedience to traffic laws—Exceptions.

Unless otherwise specified, it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or to fail to perform any act required by this title.

(Prior code § 8-1-6)

8.04.070 Duty of police officers.

Every police officer of the city shall have the duty and power to enforce the provisions of this title, and is authorized to use visible and/or audible signals in directing traffic.

(Ord. O-10-93 § 4 (part), 1993; prior code § 8-1-7)

8.04.080 Emission of smoke, steam, etc.

It is unlawful for any person in charge or control of any vehicle to permit such vehicle or any device thereon to emit unreasonable quantities of smoke, steam, noxious gases or vapor upon the streets of the city.

(Prior code § 8-1-8)

8.04.090 Parking of vehicles, etc.

The chief of police shall regulate the operation and parking of vehicles within the city by the erection or placing of proper signs or markers indicating prohibited or limited parking, restricted speed, one-way streets, through streets, stop streets, "U" turns, play streets, school zones, hospital zones, loading and unloading zones, quiet zones, and other signs and markers indicating the place and manner of operating and parking vehicles within the city.

(Prior code § 8-1-9)

8.04.100 Certain unofficial signs, signals or devices prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to place or maintain or to display upon or in view of any street an unofficial sign, signal or device which purports to be or is in imitation of or resembles an official traffic sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official sign or signal. Every such prohibited sign, signal or device is declared to be a public nuisance, and the chief of police may remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.

(Prior code § 8-1-10)

8.04.110 Interference with signs or signals.

It is unlawful for any person to wilfully deface, injure, move, obstruct or interfere with any official traffic sign or signal.

(Prior code § 8-1-11)

8.04.120 Provisions—Speed bump installation.

Before the mayor and council will authorize the installation of a traffic-calming device, such as a speed hump, the following factors must occur:

(a)

A petition signed by at least eight people in the neighborhood to install a speed hump or other traffic-calming device must be filed with the city administrator.

(b)

(1)

The city administrator, after consultation with several of the residents who signed the petition, will locate the neighborhood on a map which shows the lots within the neighborhood.

(2)

The city administrator will advise the petitioners requesting the traffic-calming device the quantity of lots that comprise the neighborhood where the traffic-calming devices will be installed.

(c)

The city administrator will take appropriate action to determine the quantity and speed of motor vehicles using the street described in the petition.

(d)

The city administrator will advise the original signers of the petition that at least seventy percent of the neighborhood must sign a petition requesting that the city install the traffic-calming device. This expanded petition must be presented to the city administrator.

(e)

The city administrator will then present the mayor and council with the: (1) motor vehicle count; (2) the details concerning the speed of motor vehicles; and (3) that seventy percent of the neighborhood requests that a traffic-calming device to be installed.

(f)

If the city administrator receives a petition signed by seventy percent of the neighborhood, then the city administrator will schedule a public meeting at City Hall for the purpose of receiving public comment from all interested persons meeting will be posted at sites all over the city.

(g)

If a majority of mayor and council vote in favor of installation of the traffic-calming device the city administrator will take appropriate action to install the traffic-calming device as may be available within the budget authorized by council.

(Ord. O-11-02, 2002)