Sec. 488. Uniform traffic code.
Definitions: The following words and phrases when used in
this chapter shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the
meaning respectively ascribed to them, in this chapter, except in
those instances where the context clearly indicates different
meaning.
(a) "Vehicle."—Every device in, upon or by which any person
or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public
highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively
upon stationary rails or tracks; provided, that for the
purposes of this chapter, a bicycle shall be deemed a vehicle.
(b) "Motor Vehicle."—Every vehicle, as herein defined which
is self-propelled.
(c) "Motorcycle."—Every motor vehicle designed to travel
on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, except
any such as may be included within the term "tractor" as
herein defined.
(d) "Tractor Truck." — Every motor vehicle designed and
used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed
as to carry a load other than a part of the load and weight of the
vehicle attached thereto.
(e) "Farm Tractor." — Every motor vehicle designed and
used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing
machines and other implements of husbandry.
(f) "Road Tractor."—Every motor vehicle designed and used
for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry any
load thereon either independently or any part of the weight of a
vehicle or load so drawn.
(g) "Trailer."—Every vehicle without motive power designed
for carrying property or passengers wholly on its own structure
and for being drawn by a motor vehicle.
(h) "Semi-Trailer."—Every vehicle of the trailer type so designed
and used in conjunction with a motor vehicle that some
part of its own weight and that of its own load rests upon or is
carried by another vehicle.
(i) "Pnuematic Tires."—All tires inflated with compressed
air.
(j) "Solid Rubber Tires."—Every tire made of rubber other
than a pneumatic tire.
(k) "Metal Tires."—All tires the surface of which is in contact
with the highway is wholly or partly of metal or other hard,
non-resilient material.
(l) "Person."—Every natural person, firm, co-partnership,
association or corporation, whether acting by themselves or by a
servant, agent or employee.
(m) "Owner".—A person who holds the legal title of a vehicle
or in the event a vehicle is the subject to an agreement for
the conditional sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase
upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and
with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional
vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagee of a vehicle is entitled
to possession then such conditional vendee or lessee or
mortgagee shall be deemed the owner, for the purpose of this
section.
(n) "Highway."—Every way or place of whatever nature
open to the use of the public for the purpose of vehicular travel.
(o) "Pedestrian."—Shall include and mean any person walking
afoot, and not, at the moment, a passenger within a vehicle
or street car.
(p) "Private Road or Driveway."—Every road or driveway
not open to the use of the public for the purpose of vehicular
travel.
(q) "Intersection."—The area embraced within the prolongation
of the lateral curb lines, or if none, then the lateral boundary
lines of two or more highways, which join one another at an
angle, whether or not one such highway crosses the other.
(r) "Safety Zone." — An area or space officially set aside
within a highway, for the exclusive use of pedestrians, and
which is so plainly marked or indicated by proper signs to be
plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.
(s) "Crossing" and or "Crosswalks" shall include and mean
that part of a street connecting sidewalks at or near street intersections,
and the most direct route from curb to curb at street
intersections, and at such other places as may be indicated by
lines drawn or marked upon the highway.
(t) "Business District."—The territory contiguous to a highway
when seventy-five per centum or more of the frontage thereon
for a distance of three hundred feet or more, is occupied by
buildings in use for business purposes.
(u) "Residence District."—The territory contiguous to a highway,
not comprising a business district, when seventy-five per
centum or more of the frontage thereon for the distance of three
hundred feet or more is mainly occupied by dwellings, or by
dwellings and buildings in use for business purposes.
(v) "Department."—The motor vehicle department of this
State, acting directly, or through its duly authorized officers and
agents.
(w) "Reckless Driving."—Shall mean the operation of a vehicle
in a manner potentially offering harm, or injury or damage
to any person, property, or thing, as a result of the act itself or
in combination with circumstances, conditions and acts of others.
(x) "Right of Way."—Shall mean the right of a pedestrian or
vehicle to proceed uninterruptedly in a lawful manner, in preference
or priority to another pedestrian or vehicle approaching in
another direction.
(y) "Traffic."—Shall mean the orderly use of streets by pedestrians
and vehicles, both singly and together.
(z) Whenever herein, any regulation is imposed upon a "vehicle"
it shall be construed to refer to the driver or operator
thereof, when such reference would be applicable.
(aa) "Commissioner."—Shall mean the motor vehicle commissioner
of this State.
(bb) "Passenger Motor Bus."—Shall mean every vehicle running
upon a fixed schedule, engaged in carrying passengers, and
having a seating capacity of six (6) or more persons.
(cc) "Taxicab."—Shall mean a public passenger vehicle designed
and advertised by its manufacturer as a taxicab, and so
constructed as to separate its driver from its passengers by a
glass partition, and which said vehicle shall be equipped with a
mechanical instrument, or device, commonly known as a taximeter.
(dd) "For-Hire Car."—Shall mean a public passenger vehicle
offered for hire, and not conforming to the definition of a taxicab
or passenger motor bus as herein defined.
