Chapter 4: Traffic
Regulations
§401.
Obedience to police officers.
§402.
Fleeing from or attempting to elude police officer.
§403.
Erection and maintenance of signs and markers.
§404.
Obedience to traffic signs.
§405.
Interference with official signs.
§406.
Driving on right side of roadway; overtaking and passing.
§407.
Following too closely.
§408. Right-of-way; approaching or entering intersections; turns at
intersections; entering highway.
§409.
Pedestrians' right-of-way.
§410.
Signals on stopping or turning.
§411.
Speed limits.
§412.
Meeting or overtaking school bus.
§413.
Stopping, standing and parking.
§414.
Moving, stopped or parked vehicle.
§415.
Opening and closing vehicle doors.
§416.
Backing a vehicle.
§417.
Conditions for leaving vehicle unattended on highway.
§418.
Obstruction of driver's view or driving mechanism.
§419.
Vehicle loads.
§420.
Motorcycle protective devices.
§421.
Passenger on motorcycle.
§422.
Bicyclists subject to rules of road.
§423.
Putting objects on roadway.
§424.
Driving vehicle without owner's consent or proper authorization.
§425.
Injuring, tampering with, etc., vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for any person
to refuse or fail to comply with any lawful order, signal or direction of
any policeman with authority to direct, control or regulate
traffic.
Source: YSL 1-93 §24.
(a) Any driver of a motor vehicle who wilfully fails or refuses to bring his vehicle to a stop, or who otherwise flees or attempts to elude a pursuing police vehicle, when given visual or audible signal by a police officer to bring the vehicle to a stop, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) The signal given by the police officer may be by hand, voice, emergency light or siren.
Source: YSL 1-93 §25.
The Chief of Police may cause
appropriate signs to be erected and maintained designating business,
school, and residential districts, and such other signs and markings,
consistent with the provisions of Division 1 of this title, as may be
necessary to direct and regulate traffic, including signs notifying
drivers of vehicles to stop before entering or crossing highways, and such
additional signs as may be appropriate under the provisions of Division 1
of this title.
Source: YSL 1-93 §26, modified.
It shall be unlawful for the driver
of any vehicle to disobey the instructions of any official traffic sign
placed in accordance with the provisions of Division 1 of this title
unless otherwise directed by a policeman.
Source: YSL 1-93 §27, modified.
Commission Comment: The words "these provisions" is changed to "the provisions of Division 1 of this title".
It shall be unlawful for any person
to deface, injure, knock down or remove any official traffic sign placed
or erected as provided in Division 1 of this title.
Source: YSL 1-93 §28, modified.
Upon all highways of sufficient
width, other than one-way highways, the driver of a vehicle shall drive
that vehicle upon the right half of the highway except when the right half
is impassable or when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in
the same direction, in which case he shall pass to the left thereof at a
safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the highway
until safely clear of such overtaken vehicle. The driver of a
vehicle shall not overtake and pass another vehicle proceeding in the same
direction unless the left side of the highway is clearly visible and free
of oncoming traffic for a distance of three hundred feet.
Source: YSL 1-93 §29, modified.
The driver of a motor vehicle shall
not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent,
having due regard to the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon, and
the condition of the highway. The fact that a vehicle operated by a
person has struck the rear portion of a vehicle preceding it on a highway
shall constitute prima facie evidence that such person has violated this
section.
Source: YSL 1-93 §30, as amended by YSL 1-112 §7, modified.
§408. Right-of-way;
approaching or entering intersections; turns at intersections; entering
highway.
(a) Preferential right-of-way at an intersection may be indicated by stop signs or yield signs.
(b) Except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic sign, the driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection. When two vehicles enter an intersection at the same time the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield to the driver on the right. The driver of a vehicle within an intersection intending to turn to the left shall yield to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard. The driver of a vehicle entering a public highway from a private road or driveway or from any unpaved road to a paved road shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on such public highway or paved road. The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles.
Source: YSL 1-93 §31.
The driver of any vehicle shall yield
the right-of-way to a pedestrian on any portion of an unpaved road or
crossing within any marked or unmarked crosswalk of a paved road.
This provision, however, shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle
or the pedestrian from the duty to exercise due care.
Source: YSL 1-93 §32.
The driver of any vehicle upon a
highway intending to stop or turn from a direct line shall give signals
thereof at least one hundred feet before the stop or turn, either by means
of the hand and arm or by a signal lamp or lamps or mechanical signal
device. When a motor vehicle is equipped with illuminated
directional signal devices front and rear, and stop signal lamp or lamps
on rear, such devices, when in proper working order, may be used in lieu
of such hand and arm signals. Otherwise the following hand and arm
signal shall be used:
(a) Stopping. Extend the left hand and arm downward from and beyond the left side of the vehicle at an angle of 45 degrees from the horizontal.
(b) Left turn. Extend the left hand and arm horizontally from and beyond the left side of the vehicle.
(c) Right turn. Extend the left hand and arm horizontally from and beyond the left side of the vehicle with forearm extending upward at an angle of 90 degrees from the horizontal.
Source: YSL 1-93 §33, as amended by YSL 1-112 §8, modified.
(a) No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the highway and the hazard at intersections and any other conditions then existing. Any person who drives a vehicle upon a highway at a speed in excess of that indicated in this section for the particular location shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Except where otherwise designated by the Governor, said indicated speeds are as follows:
(1) Fifteen miles per hour: when passing a school building or the ground thereof, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. during school days; when passing a church on Sunday mornings and Christmas day; when passing public processions or assemblages on or near any highway.
(2) Twenty miles per hour: in any business or residential district.
(3) Twenty-five miles per hour: outside of a business or residential district.
(b) (1) The Governor is hereby authorized in his discretion to establish by regulation higher speed limits than those indicated herein upon highways or between widely spaced intersections or lower speed limits than those indicated herein in particularly hazardous areas, if signs are erected giving notice of the speed limit so established.
(2) Regulations authorized under the provisions of this section shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of the State Administrative Procedure Act, as the same may be amended from time to time.
(c) The speed limits set forth herein shall not apply to emergency vehicles when operated in emergencies and when the driver thereof sounds an audible signal by horn, bell, siren or exhaust whistle. This provision, however, shall not relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle from the responsibility to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street, road or highway.
Source: YSL 1-93 §34, modified.
Cross-reference: The statutory provisions of the State Administrative Procedure Act are found in chapter 1 of Title 10 (Administrative Law) of this Code.
The driver of a vehicle, upon meeting
or overtaking, any school bus which has stopped on the highway for the
purpose of receiving or discharging schoolchildren, shall stop the vehicle
before reaching such school bus, and said driver shall not proceed until
such school bus resumes motion or he is signaled by the school bus driver
to proceed. Every school bus shall have a sign posted on its front
and rear which shall read: "Care - School Children on Bus - Stop
when Bus Stops"; and shall be readable at a distance of 100
feet.
Source: YSL 1-93 §35, modified.
Any person parking any vehicle,
whether attended or unattended, upon any highway shall park such vehicle
as far to the right thereof as is practicable. It shall be unlawful
for the driver of a vehicle to stop, stand or park such vehicle, whether
attended or unattended, in any of the following places:
(a) Within an intersection.
(b) On a crosswalk.
(c) Within 30 feet upon the approach to any official stop sign located at the side of the roadway.
(d) Within 15 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station.
(e) Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
(f) In front of a private driveway.
(g) On a sidewalk.
(h) Alongside or opposite any street or highway excavation or obstruction when such stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.
(i) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge of a highway.
(j) At any place where official traffic signs have been erected prohibiting standing or parking.
(k) At any place where it is likely to obstruct traffic or constitute a dangerous condition to traffic on the road.
Source: YSL 1-93 §39, modified.
No person shall move a vehicle which
is stopped, standing or parked unless and until such movement can be made
with reasonable safety.
Source: YSL 1-93 §40.
No person shall open the door of a
motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it
is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the
movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the
side of a motor vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time
longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
Source: YSL 1-93 §41.
The driver of a vehicle shall not
back the same unless such movement can be made with safety and without
interfering with other traffic.
Source: YSL 1-93 §42, section title modified.
No person having control or charge of
a motor vehicle shall allow such vehicle to stand on any highway
unattended without first effectively setting the brakes thereon, stopping
the motor, placing it in gear, and removing the ignition
key.
Source: YSL 1-93 §43.
It shall be unlawful for the driver
of any vehicle to drive the same when such vehicle is so loaded as to
obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides or to interfere with
the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle. To
this end no more than two persons (including the driver) shall be seated
in the front seat of any jeep and no more than three persons (including
the driver) shall be seated in the front of any other type of vehicle,
except that one child under seven years of age may be seated in addition
to the above.
Source: YSL 1-93 §44.
No vehicle shall be driven or moved
on any highway:
(a) Unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom;
(b) When any load thereon is not entirely within the body of the vehicle; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply if the load is securely fastened by means of clamps, ropes, straps, cargo nets or other suitable mechanical devices to prevent such load from dropping into the highway or from shifting in any manner; and
(c) With any load consisting partially or entirely of loose paper, empty cartons, crates or any other material susceptible to being blown or carried by wind, unless such load is entirely covered by a tarpaulin, net, canopy or other suitable material, effectively preventing any part of such load from being blown or carried by the wind; provided, however, this subsection shall not apply to any vehicle carrying a load consisting entirely of soil, sand, coral or gravel.
Source: YSL 1-93 §45, modified.
It is unlawful for a person to
operate a motorcycle or motor scooter on a highway unless he and any
passenger on the vehicle wears a safety helmet securely fastened with a
chin strap and safety glasses, goggles or a face shield in the case of a
motorcycle or motor scooter that is not equipped with windscreens or
windshields.
Source: YSL 1-93 §46.
An operator of a motorcycle or motor
scooter shall not carry more than one passenger at any time on a
highway.
Source: YSL 1-93 §47.
Every person riding a bicycle upon a
highway shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a
vehicle under Division 1 of this title, except those provisions which by
their very nature are inapplicable.
Source: YSL 1-93 §48, modified.
Cross-reference: The statutory provisions on bicycle registration are found in chapter 8 of this title.
(a) No person shall throw or deposit upon a highway any glass bottle, glass, nails, tacks, wire or any other object likely to injure any person or vehicle.
(b) Any person who drops, or permits to be dropped or thrown upon any highway, any destructive or injurious material shall immediately remove the same or cause it to be removed.
(c) Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a highway shall remove any glass or other injurious substance dropped upon the highway from such vehicle.
Source: YSL 1-93 §49.
Any person who shall drive a vehicle,
not his own, without the consent of the owner thereof, or a vehicle
belonging to the State without proper authorization, and without, in
either case, intent to steal the same, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not
more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $500.00, or
both.
Source: YSL 1-93 §50, modified.
Any person who shall wilfully break,
injure, tamper with or remove any part or parts of any vehicle shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.
Source: YSL 1-93 §51.