Ordinance 507251
ORDIi:AI CE T.O. 507
Ar Ordirar_ce relatirg to vehicles and the operation thereof
upor the public streets and other public places of the City of
Edmor_.d$; providing for vehicle equipmert; limitirg and restricting
certair sections of the public streets arld other public places of
the City of Edmora.s; prescribing rules of the road for vehicles
operating or public streets or other public places of the City of
Eamords; defirir.g offenses and fixitg penalties; repealing certair
Ordirarees ar_d parts of 0rdirarces ir..corflict with the provisions
of this 0rdirarce; savirg certair acts performers and declarirg ar
emergency.
THE CITi' 0 `_ EBMOL;DS DOES OBDAIT• :
Section 1: The followirg words ar:d phrases, wherever used
ir.. this Ordinar:ce, shall have the mearirg as ir this sectior
ascribed to there, unless where used the cortext thereof shall
clearly indicate to the contrary:
(a) "Alley." A public highway within_ the ordir:ary mean-
irg of alley rot designed for gereral travel and primarily used
as a means of. access to the rear of residerces and busiressjestab-
lishmerts.
(b) "Arterial Highwa ." Every public highway, as hereir.
defired, or portior thereof-desigrated as such by proper authority.
(C) "authorized Emergercy Vehicle." Ary vehicle, as hereir
defired, of ary fire departmert, police departmex t, sheriff's
office, cororer, prosecutirg attorrey, Washir_gtor State ?atrol,
ambularce service, public or private, or ary.other vehicle author-
ized it writir.g by the state comnissior: or egtlipmer..t.
(d) "Bicycle." Every vehicle, as hereir defired, having
a saddle for the use of -the rider, operated. by human, power, ar_d
designed to travel or.: rot more thar three wheels ir cortact with
the grourd, but excluding a farm tractor.
(e) "Business .eistrict." The territory contiguous to
and ircludirg the public highway, as hereir defired, when; fifty
per cert(5` .) or more of the frontage th.ereor and either aide
thereof for a contiruous distarce of three hur:dred (300) feet
or more is occupied by buildirgs- ir use for busiress.
(f) "Center of Irtersecti.;r." The point of irtersectior
of the certer lires of the roadway or irtersectirg public highways.
(G) "City' Street." Every public highway as hereir defined,
or part thereof,locate( within the limits of Edmords, except alleys.
(h) "Combiratior of vehicles." Every combiratior of
motor vehicle ard trailer or motor vehicle and semitrailer, the
prircipal use of which is the trarsportatior of commodities,
merchardise, produce, freight or arirmals.
(i) "Commercial Vehicle." Ary vehicle, the prircipal use
of which is the tre.r.sportatior of commodities, merchardise, produce,
freight, animals or passe:rger, for hire.
(j) 'Crosswalk." The portion of the roadway between the
irtersectior area ar.L a prolongation or correction_ of the farthest
sidewalk lire or ir the evert there are no siddwalks ther between
the irtersectior area and a lire ter (10) feet therefrom, except
as modified by a marked crosswalk.
(k) "Hours of Iarkr:ess." Wherever used ir. this Ordirar_ce,
shall mear the hours from ore -half hour after sunset to ore -half
hour before surrise, a.rd ary other time wher persons or objects
may rot be clearly discerr.ible at a distance of five hundred (500)
feet.
(1) "Marked Crosswalk." Ary portior of a roadway distirct-
ly ind.icateu for reaestriar crossir..g by lires or other markings or.
the surface thereof.
252
(m) "Itctot ruck•" Any motor vehicle as herein defined,
designed or used for the transportation of commodities,
merchandise, produce, freight or animals.
(n) "Motor Vehicle." Every vehicle, as herein defined,
which is in itself a self-propelled unit.
(o) "Motorcycle." Every motor vehicle, as herein defined,
having a 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 farm tractor.
(p) "Muffler." A device consisting of a series of
chambers, or other mechanical designs for the purpose of rec-
eiving exhaust gaS from an internal combustion engine and effec-
tive in reducing noise resulting therefrom.
(q) "Peace Officer." Any officer authorized by law to
execute criminal process or to make arrests for the violation
of the statutes or ordinances or of any particular statute or
ordinance relative to the public highways of this state or city.
(r) "Pedestrian." Any person afoot.
(s) "Person." Every natural person, firm, co -partner-
ship, corporation, association or organization.
(t) "Private Road or Driveway." Every way or place in
private ownership and used for travel of vehicles by the owner
or those having express or implied permission from the owner
but not by other persons.
(u) "Public highway." Every way, lane, road, street,
boulevard, and every way or place irthe City of Edmonds open
as a matter of right to public vehicular travel.
(v) "Railroad." A carrier of persons or property upon
vehicles, other than street cars, operated upon stationary
rails, the routs of which is principally outside incorporated
cities and towns.
(w) "RAi1road Sign pr Signs]." Any sign, signal or device
erected by authority of a public body or official or by a rail-
road and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad
tracks or the approach of a railroad train.
(x) "Resid.erce District,." The territory contiguous to
and including the public highway, as herein defined, not com-
prising a business district, as&herein refined, whet the prop-
erty on such public highway forAcontinuous distance of three
hundred (3OU) feet or more or either side thereof is in the
main improved with residences or residences and buildings in
use for business.
(y) "Safety Zone:" The area or space officially set
apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians
and which is protected or is marked or indicated by painted -
marks, signs, buttons, standards or otherwise, so as to be
plainly discernible.
(z) "School Bus." Any motor vehicle, as herein defined,
owned by a public or governmental agency and operated for the
transportation of children to or from school or school activ-
ities or privately owned and operated for compensation for the
transportation of Children to or from school or school activ-
ities.
(aa) "Sideway," That property between the curb lines or
the lateral lines of a roadway, as herein defined, and the
adjacent property, set aside and intended for the use of pedes-
trians or such portion of private property parallel end in
proximity to a public highway and dedicated to use by pedestrians.
253
(bb) "Traffic Control Signal." Any traffic device, as
herein defined, whether manually, electrically or mechanically
operated, by which traffic alternately is directed to stop or
proceed or otherwise controlled.
(cc) "Traffic Devices." All signs, signals, markings
and devices rot inconsistent with this ordinance placed or
erected by authority or a public body or official having jur-
isdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding
traffic.
(dd) "vehicle." Every device capable of being moved
upon a public highway and in, upon or by which any person or
property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public high-
way, excepting devices moved by human or animal power or used
exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
Section 2: During the hours of darkness every bicycle
shall be equipped with one lamp on the front, exhibiting a
white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred £ A eweiwl
(500) feet to the front and with a lamp on the rear, exhibit-
ing a red light visible from a distance of five hundred (500)
feet to the rear; excepting that a red reflector meeting the
requirements of this ordinance may be used in lieu of a rear
light.
Section 3: At all times during hours of darkness at
least two(2) lighted headlamps shall be displayed, one on each
side at the front of every motor vehicle, and one lighted red
rear lamp, except when such vehicle is parked subject to the .(. i
regulations governing lights on parked vehicles.
Section 4: Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle,y
when operated upon a public highway shall be equipped
h
brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and to
hold such vehicle, including two separate means of applying
such brakes, each of which means shall be effective to apply
the brakes to at least two wheels. If these two separate means
of applying the brakes are connected in any way they shall be
so constructed that the failure of any one part of the operat-
ing mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes
on at least two wheels on the same axle.
Every motorcycle and bicycle, when operated upon a
''..
public highway shall be equipped with at least one friction
brake, which may be operated by hand or foot.
Every trailer or semi -trailer of a
load, of two thousand (2,000) pounds or
upon a public highway shall be equipped
control the movement of and to stop and
and so designed as to be applied by the
motor vehicle from its cab.
614
gross weight, including
more, when operated
with braked adequate to
to hold such vehicle
driver of the towing
Section 5: It shall be unlawful for and person to operate
a motor vehicle which shall not at all times be equipped with
a muffler upon the exhaust thereof in good working order and
in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise
and it shall be unlawful for and person operating ark motor
vehicle to use a cut-out, by-pass or similar muffler elimina-
tion appliance.
Section 6: Every owrer or operator of ary motor vehicle
used upon any public highway of Edmonds shall equip such vehicle
with a mirror or other device to enable the operator thereof
(IL
to have at all times clear and unobstructed view to the rear of
such vehicle sufficient to enable him at all times to observe
conditions existing to the rear of such vehicle within a
distance of not less than two hundred (200) feet.
254
er-vk tzoi
,d.
Section 7: It shall be unlawful for and person to operate
'any motor vehicle upon the public highways of Edmonds with and
sign, poster, card, sticker or other non -transparent material
upon the windshield or rear or side windows of such motor
vehicle other than a certificate or sticker required by law
or rule or regulation of proper and lawful authority, in which
case the same shall be placed in the lower right-hand corner
of the windshield oriyi
Section 8: (1) Every person operating or driving a
vehicle of ang character upon the public hghways of Edmonds
shall operate the same in a careful and prudent manner and at
a rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under
the conditions existing at the paint of operation, taking into
account the amount and character of the traffic, weight of
vehicle, grade and width of highway, condition of surface and
freedom of obstruction to view ahead and ebnsistent with any
and all conditions existing at the point of operation so as
not to unduly or unreasonably endanger the life, limb, property
or other rights of any person entitled to the use of such
public highways.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection
(1) of this section, and except in those instances where a
lower maximum lawful speed is provided by this ordinance or
otherwise, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle
to operate the same at a speed in excess of the following:
(a) Twenty-five (25) miles per hour within
the corporate limits of the City of Edmonds.
(b) Twenty miles per hour in traversing any
intersection of public highways where the operator's view is
obstructed.: Provided, except as otherwise provided in this
section, this provision shall not apply to operators upon
arterial highways.' An operator's view shall be deemed to be
obstructed when at any time during the last 100 feet of his
approch to an intersection he does not have a clear and unin-
terrupted view of such intersection, and of all public highways
entering such intersection for a distance of 100 feet along
the center line of each thereof;
(c) Twenty (20) miles per hour in traveling
Zo upon an arterial highway and traversing an intersection with
z,` .t another public highway not an arterial highway, and the operator
of another vehicle, about to enter the intersection of such
4;,,, 42,4 arterial highway thereat, shall have brought his vehicle to a
complete stop as required by law before entering such arterial
highway.
U n vitiL`
.%sue � si
u
�✓.K.c Gan-r
(d) Twenty (20) miles per hour while travel-
ing upon any public highway and proceeding through any business
district, when such business district is so sign -posted at the
extremities thereof.
(e) Twenty (20) miles per hour when operating
any vehicle upon a public highway of Edmonds when passing any
school house on school days, or school or public playgrounds
between the hours of 8:00A. M. and 5;00 P. M. or when crossing
any marked school crossing during such hours.
Compliance with such speeds under the circumstances
hereinabove set forth shall not relieve the operator of any
vehicle from the further exercise of due care and caution as
further circumstances shall require.
The unlawful operation of a vehicle in excess
of the maximum lawful speeds provided in this section, at the
point of operation and under the circumstances described shall
be prima facie evidence of the operation of a motor vehicle in
j a reckless manner by the operator thereof.
255
All charges for the violation of any of the
provisions of this section, every notice to appear, and every
complaint charging the violation of this section shall specify
approximately the speed at which the defendant is alleged to
have operated such vehicle, the maximum lawful speed at the
point of operation and the reasonable and proper rate of speed
applicable under the conditions existing at the point of oper-
ation.
Section 9: It shall be unlawful for any person to operate,,3: ;-r
a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the
normal and reasonable movement of traffic at the point of
operation thereof, except wen a reduced speed is necessary for
safe operation or in compliance with any law, rule or regulation.
peace officers are hereby authorized to enforce this section by
directions to vehicle operators, and it shall be unlawful for
any person to operate in wilful disobedience to the provisions
of this section or refuse to comply with the directions of snit
peace officer relating thereto. Where any slow moving vehicele
tends to congest traffic any peace officer may cause such vehicle
to be removed from roadway and permit the congested traffic to
be relieved.
Section 10: Whenever any person is operating any vehicle
upon any public highway of Edmonds he shall at all times drive
the same to the right of the center of such highway, except
when in the exercise of care in the overtaking and passing of f(,
another vehicle traveling in the same direction, or where an c.v'.y
obstruction exists it is necessary to -rive to the left of the
eerter of such highway, providing the same is done with due
care and right of way is extended to vehicles traveling in
the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the
public highway.
Section 11: Upon turning to the left at any intersec-
tion it shall be unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to
make such turn to the left unless all wheels of the vehiole
shall pass to the right of the center of such intersection.
Section 12: It shall be the duty of every operator of
any vehicle on approaching public highway intersections to . /7 "Y
look out for and give right of way to vehicles on their right,
simultaneously approaching a given point within the inter-
section , and whether such vehicle first enter and reach the
intersection or rot; provided, this section shall not apply
to operators on arterial public highways.
Section 13: It shall be the duty of any operwtor of any
vehicle upon entering an intersection and having signalled his
intention as required by law to turn such vehicle to the left
to look out for and give right of way to vehicles approaching
in the opposite direction and thereby placed on his right,
simultaneously approaching the given paint within the inter-
section, whether such vehicle first enter and reach the inter-
sectio:n,or not: provided, this section shall not apply to a
vehicle making such a left turn when having entered and turn-
ing to proceed upon an arterial highway.
Section 14: The operator of any vehicle shall stop as At
required by law at the entrance to any intersection with any �
arterial public highway, and having stopped shall look oat for
and give right of way to any vehicles upon such arterial high-
way simultaneously approaching a given point within the inter-
section, whether or not such vehicle first reach and enter the
intersection.
•+fr y t14. w W
Section 15: It shall be the duty of every operator of
a vehicle while backing such vehicle to lIok out for and yield
the right of way to all other vehicles upon the public highway.
256
Pe
1414,1-231
Section 16: It shall be unlawful for the operator of a
vehicle to emerge from any alley, driveway, building exit, 1va4_,<
private way or private property or from off the roadway of any e?
public highway, or to the roadway of any public highway or
across a sidewalltor into the sidewalk area extending across r�
any such alley, driveway, building exit,_ private way or private
property without bringing such vehicle to a full stop and yield-
ing the right of way to all pedestrians upon such sidewalk and
all vehicles upon such public highway.
,section 17: It shall be unlawful for the operator of any
vehicle to operate over any unprotected hose of a fire depart-
ment when laid down on any public highway or any private road,
street, way or alley.
Section 18: Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic control
signals at intersections and the directions of officers disaharg-444
ing the duty of directing traffic at intersection. Where traffic
control signals are not: in place or in operation, the operator
of a vehicle stall yield the right of way, slowing gown or stop-
ping,if need be, to so yield, to and pedestrian crossing the
roadway within a marked crosswalk or within any unmarked cross-
walk of any intersection.
S+ection 19: 10 !person shall stop, stand, or park a
vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other
traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer
or traffic control device, in any of the following places:
1. On a sidewalk or parking strip;
2. In front of a public or private driveway or within
five (5) feet of the end of the curb radius leading
thereto;
3. Within an intersection;
4. Within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant;
5. On a crosswalk;
6. Within twenty (20) feet of a crosswalk at an inter-
sectior;
7. Within thirty (+30) feet upon the approach to any
flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic control
signal located at the side of ,a roadway;
8. Within thirty COO) feet of the nearest rail of a
a railroad crossing;
9. Alongside or opposite any street 'excavation or
obstruction when such stopping, standing, or
parking would obstruct traffic;
10. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or
parked at the edge of curb of a street.
11. At any place where official signs prohibit
stopping;
(b) 10 person shall move a vehicle not owned
by such person into any such prohibited area or away from a curb
such distance as is unlawful. Parking or standing shall be
permitted inthe manner provided. by law at all other places ex-
cept a time limit may be imposed or.parking r€atrieted at other
places, but such limitations and restrictions shall be as pro-
vided in an ordinance or ordinances of the City of Edmonds now
existing or hereafter passed.
Section 20: Except where angle parking is permitted by
local ordirarce every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway
where there is an adjacent curb shall be so stopped or parked
with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel to and with-
in twelve (12) inches of the right-hand curb. ro person shall
be granted the right, use or franchise for vehicle parking of
any portion of the surface area of any public highway to the
exclusion of any other like person.
Section 21: ITo person operating or in charge of a Motor n.
vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first -4134
stopping the engine, and when standing upon a perceptible grade
without effectively setting the brake thereon and turning the
front wheels to the curb or side of the roadway.
257
Section 22. When there has been any accident or any
wrecked or damaged vehicle is removed from the roadway of a
public highway, spyglass, debris or other injurious substance,
dropped from such vehicle shall be removed from the roadway
by the operators involved unless they be incapacitated.
Section 23: It shall be unlawful for any person to
operate a motor vehicle with more than three (3) persons in
the front or operator's seat thereof.
Section 24: It shall be unlawful for any person to trans- A,L4m
port any living animal on the running board, fenders, hood, or „.,^
other outside part of any vehicle unless suitable harness, cage, w`zyL.
or enclosure is provided and so attached as to protect such
animal from falling of *being thrown therefrom. It shall be
unlawful for any person to transport any person upon the run-
ning board, fenders, hood or other outside part of any vehicle,
except that this provision shall not apply to authorized emer-
gency vehicles.
Section 25: It shall be unlawful for any person to operate
a motor vehicle upon the highways of this city when such person
has in his or her embrace another person which prevents the
free and unhampered operation of such vehicle. Any person so
doing shall be deemed guilty of reckless driving.
Section 26: It shall be unlawful for any person to operate
a motor vehicle in a reckless manner over and along the public/
highways of this city. For the purpose of this section to
"operate in a reckless manner," shall be construed to mean z�-�I'rJ
the operation of a vehicle upon the public highways of this
city in such manner as to indicate either a wilful or wanton
disregard to the safety of persons or property.
Section 27: It shall be unlawful for any person to operate
any vehicle upon the public highways or alleys of this city
while under the influence of or affected by the use of intox-
icating liquor or of any narcotic drug.
Section 28: It shall be unlawful for any person operating
a vehicle upon any publio street of this city to fail to bring •s
such vehicle to a complete stop at any point at which there is
located a stop sign, except when directed to proceed by a peace
officer or traffic control signal.
Section 29: Amy person failing to observe and comply with
the restrictions of any restrictive signs erected or maintained
by competent authority upon any public street of this city shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Section 30: h o operator of a vehicle shall disobey the
instructions of any official traffic -control device placed in
accordance with the provisions of this ordinance, unless at the
time otherwise directed by a peace officer.
Section 31: It shall be unlawful for any person operating
any vehicle upon any public street to fail, refuse or neglect
to obey all signals of any peace officer or duly authorized
flagman who is at the time dischargirg the duty of regulating
and directing traffic.
Section'32: It shall be unlawful for any person while
operating or ir charge of any vehicle to refuse wher requested
by a peace officer to give his nLme and address and the name
and address of the owner of such vehicle, or for such person
to give a false name and address, and it shall likewise be
unlawful for any such person to refuse or neglect to stop wher
signaled to stop by any peace officer or to refuse upon demaneh
of such peace officer to produce his certificate of license
registration of such vehicle or his vehicle operator's license
or refuse to permit such officer to take any such licer_se or
258
certificate for the purpose of exfriinatior thereof, or to
refuse to permit the examination of any equipment of such
vehicle or the weighing of such vehicle or to :refuse _or neg-
lect to produce the certificate of license registration of
such vehicle or his vehicle or his vehicle operator's license
when • requested by ary court. Any peace officer shall on request
produce evidence of his authorization as such.
Section- 33: It shall be unlawful -for-the operator of any
vehicle to fail to stop his vehicle when directed to do so by
any shhool patrol sign or signal displayed by any member of a
school patrol engaged in the performance of his duty and wear-
ing or displaying appropriate insignia, and it shall further be
unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to disregard any other
reasonable directions of any member of the school patrol when
acting in performance of his duties as such.
Aection 34: The cperator.of any vehicle involved in an
accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or total
or claimed damage to either or both vehicles or property to
an apparent extent of Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or more,
shall, withing twenty=four (24) hours after such accident, make
a written report Of such accident to the chief of police of
the city.
Section 35: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in
conflict with, or derogation of, this ordinance or any part of
this ordinance, be and the same are hereby repealed in so far as
the same are in conflict with, or in derogation of this ordin-
ance, or any part hereof.
Section 36: This Ordinance shall not affect any act done,
ratified or confirmed, or ary right accrued, vested or establish-
ed, or any action or proceeding had or commenced in any civil
or criminal cause, before this ordinance and its respective pro-
visions take effect, and any such acts dame, ratified or con-
firmed and any rights accrued, vested or established shall be
preserved and any such actions or proceedings may be prosecuted
and -continued with the same effect and under the same provisions
of the law in effect at the time such act was done, ratified,
or confirmed, or right accrued, vested or established or action
or proceeding had for commenced.
Section 37: Any person violating any of the provisions of
this Ordinance shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprison-
ment in the City Jail not to exceed E inety (90) days, or by fine
of not to exceed Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00), or by both
such fine and imprisonment. Upon the conviction of driving any
vehicle under the influence or affected by intoxicating liquor,
or narcotic drug in violation of this Ordinance, in addition to
such fine and imprisonment the court shall revoke the operator's
license of such parson for a period of one calendar year, and -
thereafter until reapplication.
Section 38: This Ordinance is necessary for the preserva-
tion of the peace, health and safety of the City of Edmonds, and
is necessary to confirm to the Washington Motor Vehicle Act
of the State of Washington, and an emergency is declared to exist
and this ordinc.nee shall take effect upon its passage and pub-
lication.
E,4. FOUNT
Mayor.
ATTEST:' G441.41474A.
I thereby certify that the
above and foregoirg is a true
pgSg and correct copy of Ordinance
PUBLISHED December 31, 1937. o. 507 of the Gity of Edmards,Wash.